will be obsolete

USAGE SUMMARY

"will be obsolete" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is typically used to indicate something that will become outdated or no longer in use in the future. Example: "In the next decade, paper textbooks will be obsolete as more schools switch to digital learning materials."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"And I think spitting will be obsolete as well".

The New York Times - Sports

In a couple years, DVDs will be obsolete.

The New York Times

By 2010, the entire surface fleet will be obsolete.

The Economist

Their arguments will be obsolete 10 years from now".

The Guardian - Tech

I think it will be obsolete in six months' time!

The Guardian - Tech

Many of today's television sets will be obsolete long before they have died of old age.

The Economist

None of that necessarily means that BlackBerry 10 will be obsolete before anyone sees it.

The New York Times

The iPhone, iPod or iPad you buy today will be obsolete within a year.

The New York Times

Some day, she said, that Chevron oil refinery on the waterfront will be obsolete.

The New York Times

For non technicians, whatever is learnt today will be obsolete a few years hence.

The Economist

A young man predicted that all direct-view models will be obsolete in two years.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing technological advancements, use "will be obsolete" to highlight the transient nature of technology and the importance of staying updated.

Common error

Avoid using "will be obsolete" when referring to things that may evolve or adapt instead of disappearing entirely. Consider whether "will be updated" or "will be transformed" might be more accurate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "will be obsolete" functions as a predicate adjective, indicating a future state of being outdated or no longer in use. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its use in predicting the obsolescence of various technologies, practices, and even professions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "will be obsolete" is a common and grammatically correct construction used to project the future state of something becoming outdated or no longer in use. Ludwig's examples demonstrate the phrase's frequent appearance in contexts related to technology, societal trends, and predictions about the future. Predominantly found in news and media, its usage extends to scientific and business domains. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a phrase used to forecast decline, making it suitable for analytical discussions and forward-thinking commentary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

will lose its relevance

Focuses on the loss of importance or applicability over time.

will be outmoded

Similar to outdated, but with a stronger connotation of being old-fashioned.

will become outdated

Replaces "obsolete" with "outdated", emphasizing the aspect of losing currency or relevance.

will be antiquated

Similar to outmoded, suggesting something is very old and no longer useful.

will be rendered useless

Highlights the loss of functionality or purpose.

will be superseded

Focuses on the idea of being replaced by something newer or more advanced.

will be discontinued

Focuses on the formal cessation of something's production or use.

will fall into disuse

Highlights the gradual abandonment of something, leading to its obsolescence.

will be a thing of the past

Emphasizes the temporal aspect, indicating that something will no longer exist in the future.

will go the way of the dinosaur

Uses a metaphor to suggest complete extinction and irrelevance.

FAQs

How can I use "will be obsolete" in a sentence?

You can use "will be obsolete" to describe something that will become outdated or no longer used in the future. For example, "Many current computer programs "will be obsolete" within a few years due to rapid technological advancements."

What can I say instead of "will be obsolete"?

You can use alternatives like "will become outdated", "will be superseded", or "will lose its relevance" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "will be obsolete" or "will become obsolete"?

Both "will be obsolete" and "will become obsolete" are correct and convey essentially the same meaning. The choice often depends on stylistic preference, though ""will be obsolete"" is slightly more concise.

What's the difference between "will be obsolete" and "will be outdated"?

While both indicate something is losing its usefulness, ""will be obsolete"" suggests complete disuse and irrelevance, while "will be outdated" may simply mean something is no longer the newest or most efficient option but still functional.