: that is to be : future
—usually used postpositively and often in combination
a bride-to-be
Examples of to-be in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Create a to-be list—watch a sunset or a bird nesting—alongside your to-do list.
—
Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024
Drew Scott can’t help but gush about his wife and mother-of-two to-be.
—Alex Cramer, Peoplemag, 28 Jan. 2024
Emotional parents took proud photos on their cellphones before sending the children off, teachers corralled their students into lesson plans, and shy kids met their soon- to-be best friends.
—Heidi Levine, Washington Post, 5 Sep. 2023
Flo Milli’s edit is the first in the collab, but more to-be-revealed artists will curate their own in the coming months.
—Erica Gonzales, ELLE, 8 Apr. 2023
See all Example Sentences for to-be 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024
Drew Scott can’t help but gush about his wife and mother-of-two to-be.
—Alex Cramer, Peoplemag, 28 Jan. 2024
Emotional parents took proud photos on their cellphones before sending the children off, teachers corralled their students into lesson plans, and shy kids met their soon- to-be best friends.
—Heidi Levine, Washington Post, 5 Sep. 2023
Flo Milli’s edit is the first in the collab, but more to-be-revealed artists will curate their own in the coming months.
—Erica Gonzales, ELLE, 8 Apr. 2023
See all Example Sentences for to-be
Dictionary Entries Near to-be
Cite this Entry
“To-be.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/to-be. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share