future

Reading level: medium

Estimated CEFR level: A2 — Elementary

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun the time yet to come
  2. noun a verb tense that expresses actions or states in the future
  3. noun bulk commodities bought or sold at an agreed price for delivery at a specified future date

Etymology

From Middle English future, futur, from Old French futur, from Latin futūrus, irregular future active participle of sum (“to be”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰuH- (“to become, be”). Cognate with Old English bēo (“to become, will be; to be”). More at be. Doublet of futur. Displaced native Old English tōweard, which took on a different meaning as toward, and Middle English afterhede (“future”, literally “afterhood”) in the given sense.

In classic literature

Synonyms

hereafter, futurity, time to come

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