future
FYOO-chuh
Future (noun) means the period of time that has not yet happened. Example: “No one can predict the future with certainty.”
noun
1
The period of time that has not yet happened.
"No one can predict the future with certainty."
"She's saving money for the future."
"In the future, I would like to live by the sea."
adjective
1
Happening or existing at a time yet to come.
"They discussed future plans for the company."
"He met his future wife at university."
"Please keep this letter safe for future reference."
How to use future
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTime that hasn't happened yet, or anything belonging to that time.
Common pairings
in the future
future plans
near future
foreseeable future
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like future.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
No one can predict the _____ with certainty.
Etymology
From Old French futur, from Latin futūrus, "about to be" — the future form of the verb "to be." This word pushed the older English term tōweard out of use, which survives today only in the word "toward."
Synonyms
View more →
time to come
days ahead
tomorrow
what lies ahead
hereafter
the years ahead
futurity
future tense
next
succeeding
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for future
See all rhymes for future →Frequently asked questions
What does “future” mean?
The word “future” means the period of time that has not yet happened. In plain terms, time that hasn't happened yet, or anything belonging to that time.
How do you pronounce “future”?
“Future” is pronounced FYOO-chuh (/ˈfju.t͡ʃɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “future” in a sentence?
Here is “future” used in a sentence: “No one can predict the future with certainty.”
What is the opposite of “future”?
The opposite of “future” — its antonyms — are past and present.
What part of speech is “future”?
Depending on how it is used, “future” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “future” come from?
The word “future” comes from Latin. From Old French futur, from Latin futūrus, "about to be" — the future form of the verb "to be." This word pushed the older English term tōweard out of use, which survives today only in the word "toward.".
Is “future” a common word?
“Future” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “future” have?
“Future” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the period of time that has not yet happened.
What is the difference between the future and the past?
The past is the time that has already happened and cannot be changed. The future is the time that has not yet happened and is still open, unknown, and shaped by present choices. Between them sits the present — the moment now. The past is memory; the future is possibility.
What is the opposite of the future?
The clearest opposite of the future is the past — the time already gone, as against the time still to come. The present, meaning now, is sometimes contrasted with the future too. So 'future' sits at one end of time, with the past at the other and the present in between.
Can the future be predicted?
The future can be forecast but never known for certain. Using patterns, data, and trends, people predict weather, economies, and outcomes with varying accuracy, yet surprises always remain. Short-range and well-understood events are easier to foresee; the further ahead and more complex the matter, the less reliable any prediction becomes.
What is an example of the future?
Tomorrow, next year, and the coming century are all part of the future. Plans and hopes point to it — a wedding next spring, retirement in thirty years, or where technology will be in a decade. Anything that has not happened yet, from the next minute onward, belongs to the future.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include future:
