oncoming

adjective

on·​com·​ing ˈȯn-ˌkə-miŋ How to pronounce oncoming (audio)
ˈän-
1
a
: coming nearer in time or space
the oncoming year
an oncoming car
b
: future
looked forward to his oncoming visit
2
: emergent, rising
the oncoming generation

Examples of oncoming in a Sentence

we're looking forward to your oncoming visit
Recent Examples on the Web The signal was green, and after waiting for oncoming traffic to clear, Hill began a left turn onto eastbound Thunderbird Road. The Arizona Republic, 9 Mar. 2024 Younger kids chased one another and dodged oncoming traffic. Jared Lemus, The Atlantic, 9 Mar. 2024 Many of the victims were university students heading back to class after a public holiday when their passenger train slammed into an oncoming cargo train after the two were accidentally put onto the same track heading in opposite directions. Derek Gatopoulos and Costas Kantouris, Quartz, 28 Feb. 2024 For the Clippers’ new logo, the compass in the middle is connected to an oncoming ship. Shane Young, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 According to the police report, the Toyota crossed into oncoming traffic and hit the Nissan head-on. Daniel McFadin, arkansasonline.com, 3 Mar. 2024 Horse riders preferred to stay to the left to keep their right hands toward oncoming traffic for greetings and, if needed, fighting. Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN, 2 Mar. 2024 The sergeant had positioned their vehicle to block the scene from oncoming traffic, Wisniewski said. Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2024 The chart below shows the oncoming wall of maturities in the corporate world. Robert Barone, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'oncoming.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1844, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of oncoming was in 1844

Dictionary Entries Near oncoming

Cite this Entry

“Oncoming.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oncoming. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

oncoming

adjective
on·​com·​ing ˈȯn-ˌkəm-iŋ How to pronounce oncoming (audio)
ˈän-
: coming nearer
oncoming traffic

More from Merriam-Webster on oncoming

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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