oncoming

adjective

on·​com·​ing ˈȯn-ˌkə-miŋ 

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

Synonyms

• approaching
• coming
• forthcoming
• imminent
• impending
• nearing
• pending
• proximate
• upcoming

Examples of oncoming in a Sentence

we're looking forward to your oncoming visit

Recent Examples on the Web

Related card An inside look at the grueling world of professional cycling Television footage shows the cyclists racing into oncoming traffic, bunching up into one lane of the road to avoid the line of trucks and cars. —Issy Ronald, CNN, 8 Feb. 2025

More than once, Woodall has to pull me back from oncoming traffic. —Allison P. Davis, Vulture, 6 Feb. 2025

The Crusaders couldn’t stop the oncoming onslaught, and Mitty controlled the rest of the contest to cruise to a 71-50 win. —Christian Babcock, The Mercury News, 12 Feb. 2025

Paddington will feel like two families are better than one, Mary will stare down the oncoming existential crisis of the empty nest, nobody will feel like the country of Peru has been insulted, the bad guys get their comeuppance and the good guys save the day. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1844, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for oncoming

• becoming
• forthcoming
• homecoming
• incoming
• shortcoming
• succumbing
• upcoming
• coming
• cumming
• drumming
• gumming
• humming

Kids Definition

oncoming

adjective

on·​com·​ing ˈȯn-ˌkəm-iŋ 

ˈän-

: coming nearer

oncoming traffic