to-be
adjective
future; soon to be the thing specified (usually used in combination).
to-be
American
[tuh-bee]
/ təˈbi /
adjective
-to-be
British
adjective
Etymology
Origin of to-be
First recorded in 1590–1600
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Toné! was born in 1986 when its to-be co-founders realized they could find success as their own entity.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 7, 2025
“I lied that my Nana was a Holocaust survivor. My to-be best friend had a Nana who was a real Holocaust survivor, and I really wanted to bond up.”
From New York Times • Jan. 8, 2022
The company said certified or to-be certified pharmacy technicians who are responsible for administering flu and COVID-19 vaccines will be given $1,000 reward throughout a six-month retention period.
From Reuters • Sep. 17, 2021
Homologous chromosomes move to opposite poles during meiosis I so the number of sets of chromosomes in each nucleus- to-be is reduced from two to one.
From Textbooks • Apr. 25, 2013
But his jabbing at me about being late does not leave me much room for wanting to-be nice.
From "The Misfits" by James Howe
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.