adj. & n.
--adj.
1. a going or expected to happen or be or become (his future career). b that will be something specified (my future wife). c that will be after death (a future life).
2 a of time to come (future years). b Gram. (of a tense or participle) describing an event yet to happen.
--n.
1. time to come (past, present, and future).
2 what will happen in the future (the future is uncertain).
3 the future condition of a person, country, etc.
4 a prospect of success etc. (there's no future in it).
5 Gram. the future tense.
6 (in pl.) Stock Exch. a goods and stocks sold for future delivery. b contracts for these.
Phrases and idioms:
for the future in future. future perfect Gram. a tense giving the sense will have done. future shock inability to cope with rapid progress. in future from now onwards.
Derivatives:
futureless adj.
Etymology: ME f. OF futur -ure f. L futurus future part. of esse be f. stem fu- be