Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1300-1400
Language: Old French
Origin: futur, from Latin futurus 'going to be'

future

1 adjective
     
Related topics: Grammar
fu‧ture1 S1 W1 [only before noun]
1 likely to happen or exist at a time after the present:
We are now more able to predict future patterns of climate change.
We've been able to save this land from development and preserve it for future generations.
the debate over the future development of the European Union
future wife/husband/son-in-law etc (=someone who will be your wife, husband, son-in-law etc)
2 technicalSLG the form of a verb used for talking about things that are going to happen:
the future tense
3

for future reference

something kept for future reference is kept in order to be used or looked at in the future
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

Dictionary pictures of the day
Do you know what each of these is called?
What is the word for picture 1? What is the word for picture 2? What is the word for picture 3? What is the word for picture 4?
Click on any of the pictures above to find out what it is called.

Explore our topic dictionary

Browse the dictionary