oncoming
oncoming Lexical Profile
oncoming Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Moving forward or approaching directly toward someone or something, especially in the opposite direction of travel.
"The driver waited for a safe gap in the oncoming traffic before making a left turn."
Soon to happen, arrive, or take place in time.
"Villagers stocked up on firewood to prepare for the oncoming winter."
• noun
The approach, arrival, or beginning of something, such as a season, night, or condition.
"The sudden drop in temperature signaled the oncoming of autumn."
Word Nuance & Usage
As an adjective, "oncoming" is used almost exclusively in the attributive position (directly before a noun, as in "oncoming traffic") rather than after a linking verb.
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in Middle English from the prefix "on-" and "coming" (from Old English "cuman", meaning "to come"), originally used as a verbal noun meaning "an approach" or "arrival" before developing its modern participial adjective sense in the 17th century.