future

[ fyoo-cher ]

noun

1. time that will be or come after the present:

   In the future, the fines for these infractions may be much greater.

2. something that will exist or happen in time to come:

   The future is rooted in the past.

3. a condition, especially of success or failure, to come:

   An oracle had predicted the mighty hero's tragic future.

4. Grammar. future tense ( def ).
5. Usually futures. Stock Exchange. speculative purchases or sales of commodities to be received or delivered later on.

adjective

1. coming or happening after the present time:

   All these decisions are uncertain, as they depend on future events.

   On some future day when you are least expecting it, I will return.

2. relating to or connected with time to come:

   I’m afraid my future plans are already made, and they don’t include farming.

3. Grammar. designating a tense or other verb construction that refers to events or states happening after the present time.

future

/ ˈfjuːtʃə /

noun

1. the time yet to come
2. undetermined events that will occur in that time
3. the condition of a person or thing at a later date

   the future of the school is undecided

4. likelihood of later improvement or advancement

   he has a future as a singer

5. grammar
   1. a tense of verbs used when the action or event described is to occur after the time of utterance
   2. a verb in this tense
6. in future
   from now on; henceforth

adjective

1. that is yet to come or be
2. of or expressing time yet to come
3. prenominal destined to become

   a future president

4. grammar in or denoting the future as a tense of verbs

Derived Forms

• ˈfutureless, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of future¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English futur, from Anglo-French, Old French, from Latin fūtūrus “about to be, going to be,” future participle of esse “to be” ( essence ( def ) ); akin to Welsh bod “to be” ( eisteddfod ( def ) )

Word History and Origins

Origin of future¹

C14: from Latin fūtūrus about to be, from esse to be

Idioms and Phrases

see in the near future .

Example Sentences

Once organizers can tap into those values and find a “shared understanding,” the goal is to have an “overwhelming majority” to win a similar measure in the future.

From Salon

Ultimately, abortion funds are focused on the future and maintaining access where and when they can throughout the United States.

From Salon

Marie Antoinette was born in Austria in 1755 and sent to France to be the child bride of the future King Louis XVI.

From BBC

In the letter, he described how, in the wake of Miss Edwards's loss, he has tried to warn future generations of the consequences of gang culture to "make sure Elle's murder was not to be in vain".

From BBC

The forecasts published on Friday will also form part of the public debate, and private negotiations between universities and ministers considering whether tuition fees should rise further in the future.

From BBC

Related Words

• destiny
• fate
• millennium
• outlook
• prospect