future

Universal Words 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). * She will not be well enough to work in the foreseeable future (= during the period of time when you know what is going to happen). * 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 2000 employees. * Recent events throw doubt on the president's political future. 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 future tense) the form of a verb that expresses what will happen after the present IDIOMS in future (BrE) (AmE in the future) from now on: Please be more careful in future. * In future, make sure the door is never left unlocked. moreatDISTANT, FORESEEABLE adjective [onlybeforenoun] 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.