impending future

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "impending future" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used to describe a future event that is about to happen or is imminent, but it is often redundant since "future" already implies something that is yet to come. Example: "As we approach the impending future of technological advancements, we must prepare for the changes they will bring."

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

England have tacitly acknowledged an impending future of prosaic batting in their urge to have Eoin Morgan play Test cricket again.

The Guardian - Sport

Stephen Poliakoff's drama is a stylish mix of period elegance and reactionary austerity with a bleak eye on the impending future.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

REPO! THE GENETIC OPERA A rock musical set in an impending future where organ transplants have become the norm and people are having trouble making their payments.

The New York Times

This impending future creates a conundrum for "thing makers" as the way that services must be supported is profoundly different from the way that devices are.

Harvard Business Review

Under the headline, "Gigantic robots, controlled by wireless, to fight our battles", the Californian paper ran a sensational – and terrifying - story about the impending future of warfare.

BBC

And from then on both confide in each other about their impending future with McCann.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

The websites-from-the-future were sent to the year 2007 to warn American people of the impending dystopian future and to prevent it from ever forming in the first place.

Wikipedia

The websites-from-the-future were sent to the year 2007 to warn the American people of the impending dystopian future and to prevent it from ever forming in the first place.

Wikipedia

Congrats on your impending union, future doctor! .

Huffington Post

Matt Damon, Thomas Friedman, and Michael C. Hall take us through human stories illustrating our impending dangerous future, if we let business continue as usual.

Huffington Post

Most women had a particularly genuine ambivalence about the impending and future (work) role.

BMC Public Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

If you wish to emphasize the threatening or unavoidable nature of the future, consider using "looming future" instead of "impending future".

Common error

Avoid using "impending future" when the imminence is already clear from the context. For example, instead of saying "the impending future of AI is uncertain", simply say "the future of AI is uncertain" to avoid redundancy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "impending future" functions as an adjective-noun combination where "impending" modifies "future". It typically describes a future period or event that is close, imminent, or about to occur. Ludwig AI indicates that its usage is grammatically acceptable, although it can sometimes be redundant.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "impending future" combines an adjective and a noun to describe a time yet to come that is close or imminent. While grammatically sound, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is sometimes considered redundant because "future" inherently implies something that is yet to happen. Its usage spans various contexts, from news and media to scientific and academic discourse, signaling anticipation or urgency about upcoming events. Consider alternatives like "imminent future" or "approaching future" to avoid potential redundancy and to tailor the phrasing to the specific context and desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

looming future

Emphasizes the threatening or unavoidable aspect of the future.

approaching future

Focuses on the future as something that is drawing nearer.

imminent future

Highlights the nearness and certainty of the future.

coming future

A more straightforward way to refer to the future that is on its way.

near future

Indicates the future that is close in time.

forthcoming future

Implies that the future is about to be revealed or made available.

developing future

Suggests a future that is in the process of unfolding or being created.

oncoming future

Similar to approaching, but can suggest a more forceful or inevitable arrival.

evolving future

Highlights the changing and adaptive nature of the future.

ensuing future

Refers to a future that directly follows a specific event or situation.

FAQs

What does "impending future" mean?

"Impending future" refers to a period of time that is about to happen or is close at hand. It often suggests a sense of anticipation, urgency, or inevitability about what's to come.

How can I use "impending future" in a sentence?

You can use "impending future" to describe trends, events, or changes that are on the horizon. For example: "The report warns of the "looming future" of climate change."

Is "impending future" redundant?

While grammatically correct, "impending future" can sometimes be redundant because "future" already implies that something is yet to come. Consider whether "impending" adds meaningful emphasis to your sentence.

What are some alternatives to "impending future"?

Alternatives to "impending future" include "imminent future", "approaching future", or simply "the future", depending on the context and the level of emphasis you want to convey.