upcoming

SayUP-kum-ing/ˈʌpˌkʌmɪŋ/

Noun pluralupcomings (some meanings)

6 meanings of upcoming

1
adjective
Going to happen or appear soon, in the near future.
Like a birthday you can already see marked on the calendar.
We are all excited about the upcoming school trip.
The upcoming holiday gives everyone a few days off.
Similarforthcoming, impending, coming, approaching, imminent
Oppositepast, previous
Note
2
adjective
Becoming more and more successful and likely to do well soon.
Like a young player everyone thinks will soon become a star.
The gallery features several upcoming artists from the region.
She's an upcoming chef who just opened her first restaurant.
Similarrising, emerging, promising, up-and-coming
Oppositeestablished
Note
3
noununcountable
The act of coming up or rising.
Like the way a bubble slowly rises to the top of a glass.
The diver waited for the upcoming of bubbles to the surface.
We watched the slow upcoming of the moon above the hills.
Similarrise, rising, emergence, ascent
Oppositefall, descent
4
nouncountable
The punishment or bad result that someone deserves.
Like trouble that finally catches up with someone after they did wrong.
The bully finally got his upcoming when the teacher caught him.
Cheaters always get their upcoming in the end.
Similarcomeuppance, punishment, retribution, deserts
5
noununcountable
The activity of coming up.
The slow upcoming of the dough took all morning.
The upcoming of the seedlings through the soil is fun to watch.
Similarrise, growth, emergence
Oppositefall
Note

Less common meaning

6
verbobsolete
Present participle of upcome, an old verb meaning to come up. It is not used this way today.
Note

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1–4

From the words "up" and "coming".

Meanings 5–6

From "upcome" plus the ending "-ing".