Skip to the word

Added 3 October 2026

forthcoming

/fɔːθˈkʌmɪŋ/ adjective

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about forthcoming at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Approaching or about to take place.
I shall vote in the forthcoming election.
Available when needed; in place, ready.
The money was not forthcoming.
Willing to co-operate or provide information; candid, frank, responsive.
Once I explained why I needed to know, she was really forthcoming.

noun

An act of coming forth.
Something that is yet to come.

verb

present participle and gerund of forthcome

Origin

The adjective is derived from forth (“forwards”) + coming (“approaching (adjective)”); or from Middle English forth commyng, *forthcominge, present participle of forth-comen (“to come forth; to appear, issue”), from Old English forþcuman (“to come forth, come forward”) (present participle *forþcumende), from forþ- (“forth; forward”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *per- (“before, in front; first”)) + cuman (“to come”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gʷem- (“to step”)). Compare Dutch voortkomend (“coming forth, originating from (verb)”), German fortkommend (“getting away; progressing (verb)”). The noun is derived from forth (“forwards”) + coming (“arrival”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Back to today's word