future
n. C / Un. the time that will happen after right now. It can also mean what you plan to do or what will happen to you later in life.
n. the period of time following the present moment; a prospective state or condition. Often used with the definite article to refer to the time ahead.
I hope to travel more in the future.
The company is investing in new technology to ensure a successful future for its employees.
While historians focus on the lessons of the past, scientists often look toward the future to predict how climate change will reshape our coastal cities.
From Middle English future, futur, from Old French futur, from Latin futūrus, irregular future active participle of sum (“to be”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰuH- (“to become, be”). Cognate with Old English bēo (“I become, I will be, I am”). More at be. Displaced native Old English tōweard, which took on a different meaning as toward, and Middle English afterhede (“future”, literally “afterhood”) in the given sense.
Typically takes the definite article 'the' when referring to time in general; can be used without an article in certain abstract or financial contexts.
in a futurein the futureWhen referring to the general time to come, the definite article 'the' is required.