oncoming

adjective

on·​com·​ing ˈȯn-ˌkə-miŋ 

ˈän-

1

a

: coming nearer in time or space

the oncoming year

oncoming traffic

an oncoming car

b

: future

looked forward to his oncoming visit

2

: emergent, rising

the oncoming generation

Synonyms of oncoming

• upcoming
• approaching
• impending
• coming

Examples of oncoming in a Sentence

we're looking forward to your oncoming visit

Recent Examples on the Web

Police said the pedestrian suddenly left the sidewalk after crossing and ran into the path of oncoming traffic. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 3 Oct. 2026

Air raid sirens blare day and night, warning residents of oncoming fire and sending people running underground. — Dmytro Kuleba, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2026

An oncoming semi-truck was unable to avoid the sedan and crashed into it, CHP said. — Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026

Leslie Goldman, who lives near Studebaker and Stearns, said large piles of dirt — at times higher than cars — have blocked residents from crossing the street or seeing oncoming traffic. — Barbara Kingsley-Wilson, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1844, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for oncoming

• becoming
• forthcoming
• homecoming
• incoming
• shortcoming
• succumbing
• upcoming
• coming
• cumming
• drumming
• gumming
• humming

Kids Definition

oncoming

adjective

on·​com·​ing ˈȯn-ˌkəm-iŋ 

ˈän-

: coming nearer

oncoming traffic