: 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
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.
The filing comes three months after the actor and his soon-to-be ex-wife announced their separation in January. Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026 For this game, the mother-to-be describes her unique cravings without saying the name of the food. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2026 Pregnancy is a time of excitement and anticipation, and mothers-to-be are often brimming with questions, many of them, unfortunately, based on myth and superstition. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026 The Drama, out April 3, follows a soon-to-be married couple whose relationship unravels in the days leading up to their wedding. Hannah Malach, InStyle, 2 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for to-be

Word History

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of to-be was in 1594

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Cite this Entry

“To-be.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/to-be. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

to-be

adjective
tə-ˈbē
: that is to be : future
often used in combination
a bride-to-be
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