What does "forthcoming" mean?

1. (upcoming) happening soon or planned for the near future. 2. (helpful and open) willing to give information or talk about something openly. 3. (available) available or provided when it is needed.

How do you use "forthcoming"?

Usually placed before the noun it describes. Often follows a linking verb like 'be' or 'seem'.

forthcoming

adj.

US //ˈfɔɹθˈkəmɪŋ// UK //fˈɔːθkʌmɪŋ// forth·com·ing

1 upcoming (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

happening soon or planned for the near future.

approaching or about to take place in the near future.

Example

The list of forthcoming events is published on the school website every month.

Example

The author provides a detailed bibliography of both published works and forthcoming titles currently in production at the university press.

Usage

Usually placed before the noun it describes.
- past
- previous
2 helpful and open (adj.)
C1 Advanced Formal

willing to give information or talk about something openly.

willing to provide information, cooperate, or speak candidly about a subject.

Example

The witness was not very forthcoming with details about what she saw.

Example

The administration has been less than forthcoming regarding the specific budgetary cuts planned for the next fiscal year.

Usage

Often follows a linking verb like 'be' or 'seem'.
- evasive
- secretive

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3 available (adj.)
C1 Advanced Formal Academic

available or provided when it is needed.

available, ready, or provided when required; often used in the negative to describe a lack of support or funds.

Example

If the money is not forthcoming, we will have to cancel the project.

Example

Despite several requests for emergency assistance, the promised medical supplies were not forthcoming during the height of the crisis.
- unavailable

Etymology 1

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”).

Etymology 2

From forthcome + -ing.