# upcoming

/ˈəpˌkəmɪŋ/ (US) · /ʌpkˈʌmɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/upcoming
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. happening soon

adjective · CEFR B1

happening or appearing in the near future.

For teachers: occurring or appearing in the relatively near future; typically used to describe scheduled events or releases.

- We are all very excited about our upcoming trip to Japan next month.
- The marketing department is currently finalising the promotional strategy for the upcoming product launch scheduled for early September.

Usage: Almost always placed before the noun it describes.

Teaching tip: While 'upcoming' and 'forthcoming' are similar, 'upcoming' is more common in general and American English, whereas 'forthcoming' can feel slightly more formal or British.

## Examples

- We are preparing for the upcoming winter holidays.
- The local council will discuss the new housing project during the upcoming town hall meeting next Tuesday.
- Political analysts are closely monitoring the upcoming elections, as the results are expected to significantly influence the nation's economic policy for the next decade.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.