Coming

Part of speech: adjective, noun

Pronunciation: /ˈkʌmɪŋ/

Definitions

1. An event or time that is about to happen or be experienced ; the act of reaching or entering a specific location or time
2. A future occurrence that is near in time ; the process of arriving to a destination or moment
3. A forthcoming moment or occurrence that is near in time ; the action of approaching or reaching a particular place or point in time

Etymology: The adjective "coming" in the sense "near in time" is simply the ordinary verb "come" turned into a participle. Its ancestor in Old English was "cumende," the present participle of "cuman," meaning "to come," and that Old English form itself grew from a Germanic root that the other Germanic languages still share: Dutch "komend," German "kommend," Swedish "kommande," and Icelandic "komandi" all mean "coming" in exactly the same way. The "-ing" ending is the familiar suffix that turns an action into a participle or verbal noun. English has used it since Old English, and in Middle English the form "cominge" or "comynge" already appeared, which is how the word reached its modern spelling. The meaning "near in time," as in "the coming week," follows naturally from the sense of something that is approaching or on its way.

Synonyms: approaching, arriving, forthcoming, impending, imminent

Antonyms: departing, leaving, going, retreating, receding