/ ˈfjuːtʃə(r); NAmE / noun , adjective
■ noun
1.
the future [ sing. ] the time that will come after the present or the events that will happen then :
We need to plan for the future.
What will the cities of the future look like?
The movie is set in the future.
The exchange rate is likely to fall in the near future (= soon) .
What does the future hold?
2.
[ C ] what will happen to sb/sth at a later time :
Her future is uncertain.
This deal could safeguard the futures of the 2 000 employees.
3.
[ sing. , U ] the possibility of being successful or surviving at a later time :
She has a great future ahead of her.
I can't see any future in this relationship.
4.
futures [ pl. ] ( finance ) goods or shares that are bought at agreed prices but that will be delivered and paid for at a later time :
oil futures
the futures market
5.
the future [ sing. ] ( grammar ) (also the ˌfuture ˈtense ) the form of a verb that expresses what will happen after the present
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IDIOMS
- in future
—more at distant , foreseeable
■ adjective
[ only before noun ] taking place or existing at a time after the present :
future generations
at a future date
future developments in computer software
He met his future wife at law school.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : via Old French from Latin futurus , future participle of esse be (from the stem fu- , ultimately from a base meaning grow, become).