FUTURE1 the time after now2 at some time in the future3 at a specific time in the future4 what will happen to someone or something in the future5 likely to happen in the future6 likely to be or do something in the futureRELATED WORDSoppositePASTsee alsoPREDICTSOONAFTERTIMEPASTMODERNPOSSIBLE1 the time after now 现在之后的时间the future /ðə ˈfjuːtʃəʳ/ [singular noun]the time, especially a fairly long time, after now 将来，未来 Ellen's finishing college soon but she doesn't really have any plans for the future. 埃伦马上要大学毕业了，但她对未来没有任何计划。 As for the future, Tucker said she intends to take a well-deserved break before deciding what to do next. 至于未来，塔克说她该好好休息了，打算先休息一段时间然后再决定接下来做什么。of the futurethat will exist in the future 未来的 The car of the future may run on solar-powered batteries. 未来的汽车有可能靠太阳能电池来驱动。future [adjective only before noun]future date/time We agreed to consider the matter again at a future date. 我们同意将来某个时候再来考虑此事。ahead /əˈhed/ [adverb]in the future - used especially when you know you will have problems or difficulties in the future 将来，未来〔尤指知道自己将碰到困难或麻烦〕the day/week/months ahead David had his breakfast and thought about the day ahead. 戴维吃了早餐，思考这一天将要面临的事。 Unemployment in the region is expected to grow in the months ahead. 这一地区的失业率估计在以后几个月将会增加。lie ahead The government faces some difficult decisions in the months which lie ahead. 政府在未来的几个月内要面临一些艰难的抉择。ahead of I know there are some big problems ahead of us, but I'm sure we can overcome them. 我知道前头有很大的困难，可我确信我们能克服它。to come /tə ˈkʌm/ [adverb]generations/years/a long time to comefor a long time in and affecting many people in the future 未来的世世代代/年年岁岁/一长段时间 In years to come, people will look back on the 20th century as a turning point in history. 将来人们回顾今日，会觉得20世纪是历史的一个转折点。 Nuclear power stations will still be needed for a long time to come. 在未来很长一段时间内，人们仍将需要核电站。be still/yet/more etc to come /biː ˌstɪl tə ˈkʌm/ [verb phrase]to not have happened yet but going to happen in the future, especially soon in the future 马上将发生，即将到来 The best is still to come -- there's chocolate ice cream for dessert. 最好的还在后头呢—甜食是巧克力冰淇淋。 The worst of the storm was still to come. 这场暴风雨最猛烈的一阵还没来呢。from now on /frəm ˌnaʊ ˈɒn/ [adverb]use this to say that something will always happen in the future, starting from now 从现在起 From now on, I'm not letting anyone borrow my car. 从现在开始我不让任何人借我的汽车了。 From now on, you kids will have to make your own lunch. 现在起你们这些孩子得自己做午餐了。 From now on, homeowners will have to get a city permit if they want to build an addition onto their homes. 自即日起，房主如要扩建房屋，须得到市政府发出的许可证。in future /ɪn ˈfjuːtʃəʳ/ [adverb]Britishstarting from now - use this especially to tell someone that they must do something starting from now 【英】从现在开始，今后 In future, I expect you to be at work no later than 9.15. 今后我要求你上班不要晚于9点15分。 In future, prisoners must serve at least half of their sentence before qualifying for any type of early release. 自现在起，囚犯必须至少服满其刑期的一半才有资格获得任何形式的提前释放。in the long/short/medium term /ɪn ðə ˈlɒŋ, ˈʃɔːʳt, ˈmiːdiəm ˌtɜːʳmǁ-ˈlɔːŋ-/ [adverb]use this to talk about what will happen over a period from now until a long, short etc time in the future 以后长期/短期/中期内 We don't know what will happen in the long term. 我们不知道今后长时期内将发生什么事。 Aid to these countries is bound to run into billions of dollars in the long term. 就长期而言，对这些国家的援助肯定会高达几十亿美元。 Analysts say the reports could have a major impact on the stock market in the short term. 分析师说这些报告可能在今后短期内对股票市场产生重大的影响。long-/short-/medium-term [adjective] The country's oil and natural gas reserves are capable only of meeting short-term needs. 该国的石油和天然气储备仅够满足短期的需求。2 at some time in the future 将来的某个时候in the future /ɪn ðə ˈfjuːtʃəʳ/ [adverb]at some timein the future, but you do not know exactly when 将来，未来 It's likely that global warming will become a major problem in the future. 全球气候变暖将来很可能会成为大问题。 What do you think life in the future will be like? 你认为将来的生活会是怎样的？in the near futureat a time not long from now 在不久的将来，不久 The new software will be available in the UK in the near future. 在不远的将来这种新软件就可在英国买到了。in/for the foreseeable futureat a time not long from now 在可预见的将来 It is unlikely that the company will achieve a very high profit margin in the foreseeable future. 这家公司在可预见的将来不大可能赚得很高的利润率。some time /ˌsʌm ˈtaɪm/ [adverb]at a time in the future that has not been arranged yet 〔将来〕什么时候，某个时间 Come over and see us some time. 以后什么时候过来看看我们。 We should get together some time. 我们什么时候应该碰碰头。some time next week/next year/in 2005 etc The project should be completed some time next year. 这个项目到明年的时候应该完工了。one day/some day /ˌwʌn ˈdeɪ, ˌsʌm ˈdeɪ/ [adverb]at some time in the future, especially a long time from now 〔将来的〕哪一天，有一天 Perhaps one day we could all go to London together. 以后哪一天我们也许可以一起去伦敦。 One day, I'd like to visit the Grand Canyon. 我想今后哪天去大峡谷游览。 She always knew that some day he would leave her. 她始终明白有一天他会离她而去。one of these days /ˌwʌn əv ðiːz ˈdeɪz/ [adverb]at some time in the future - used especially when you think that something will probably happen or that someone will probably do something 总有一天〔尤用于认为某事可能发生或某人可能会做某事时〕 One of these days you're going to be sorry. 总有一天你会后悔的。 Richard's going to have a heart attack one of these days if he doesn't slow down. 理查德如不放慢速度，总有一天会心脏病发作的。the day will come (when) /ðə ˌdeɪ wɪl ˈkʌm (wen)/use this to emphasize that something will definitely happen at some time in the future 这一天终将到来，总有一天 The day will finally come when a woman or a black man is elected president of the United States. 终有一天哪位女性或黑人会当选为美国总统。 Let's hope that the day will come when it's no longer necessary to have such a vast amount of money spent on the military. 我们期望终有一天不再需要把这么多的钱花在军费上。3 at a specific time in the future 将来某个确切的时候from now /frəm ˈnaʊ/ [adverb]an hour/10 years/2 weeks etc from nowan hour, 10 years etc from the time when you are speaking 从现在起一小时/十年/两星期等 The package should arrive a few days from now. 包裹自此刻算起应该于几天后到达。 There may be no rainforest left 30 years from now. 从现在起算30年后可能就不再有热带雨林了。 A couple of months from now, you'll probably have forgotten all about him. 几个月后你可能就把他彻底忘记了。then /ðen/ [adverb]at a time in the future, that you have just mentioned 到时候，那时候 I should be finished work by noon. Would you like to get together then? 到中午我应该把工作做完了。到时候你愿意聚一聚吗?until then School starts in September, and until then I'll be staying with friends. 9月份开学，这之前我住在朋友们家里。 They're sending the results next week, so I won't know anything until then. 他们下周把结果送来，所以这以前我什么都不会知道。by then Tell him he has two weeks to finish the job. If he's not finished by then, he's fired. 告诉他给他两周时间完成工作，如果到时不能完成，他就会被解away/off /əˈweɪ, ɒfǁɔːf/ [adverb]6 months/4 days/a week etc away/offif something that you know will happen is 6 months, 4 days, a week etcaway oroff, it will happen after 6 months, 4 days, a week etc have passed 离〔距〕…六个月/四天/一星期等 The next general elections are still two years away. 距离下一次大选还有两年时间。 Mary was desperately looking forward to her retirement, which was less than a year off. 玛丽急切地等着退休，还有一年不到的时间。 The wedding was more than a year away but she had already bought a dress for it. 距婚礼还有一年多时间，可她已经买好了一套礼服。 The exams are still a few weeks off -- you've got plenty of time to prepare for them. 离考试还有几个星期—你有足够的时间准备。come July/summer/next year etc /kʌm dʒʊˈlaɪ/spokensay this when something will happen at a particular time in the future 【口】到7月份/夏天/明年等 Come Monday, we'll be in our new house. 到星期一，我们就在新房子里了。 A mild winter is nice, but it means that come summer you're going to have a bug problem. 暖冬确实不错，但这也意味着到夏天你就会碰到臭虫的麻烦了。4 what will happen to someone or something in the future 某人或某物将来要发生的事somebody's future /somebodyˈs ˈfjuːtʃəʳ/what will happen to someone in their job, life etc 某人的将来〔未来〕 I'm worried about my future. 我在为我的前途担心。 I had a meeting with my boss to discuss my future. 我和老板见了次面讨论我的将来。 You really should start thinking about your future. You're not a child anymore. 你真该考虑一下自己的将来了，你不再是个小孩啦。the future of something /ðə ˈfjuːtʃər əv something/what will happen to something - use this especially to talk about whether something will be successful, will continue to exist etc 某事的未来〔前途，命运〕 The memo refers to a meeting in Los Angeles, where the future of the network was discussed. 这份备忘录提及在洛杉矶的一次会议，会上讨论了网络的未来。fate /feɪt/ [countable noun usually singular]what will happen to someone - used about an important official decision, or about an event in which something very bad happens 命运；前途〔尤指重大的正式决定或坏事〕 Congress will meet to discuss the fate of the US nuclear defense shield. 国会将开会讨论美国核防卫盾计划的前途。decide somebody's/something's fate The fate of the prisoners will be decided by a panel of three judges. 囚犯的命运将由三名法官组成的审判小组来决定。 He urged a nationwide referendum to decide the fate of the country. 他竭力主张通过全民公决来决定国家的命运。somebody's/something's fate is sealedfixed and definite 某人/某物的命运确定了 His fate was sealed when The New York Times learned of the situation and began preparing an article about it. 当《纽约时报》了解了情况并且开始对此事组织文章时，他的命运就被决定了。seal the fate ofdecide it definitely 决定…的命运 This afternoon's debate is likely to seal the fate of the imprisoned aid workers. 今天下午的辩论很可能将决定被囚禁的援助人员的命运。destiny /ˈdestɪni, ˈdestəni/ [countable noun usually singular]what someone is going to do in their life and what is going to happen to them during it 〔一生的〕命运 The government wants to give people more control over their own destinies. 政府想给人民更多的权力来控制自己的命运。be somebody's destiny to do something Susan wondered whether it was her destiny to marry Jorge and live in Mexico. 苏珊不知道是否命中注定该嫁给约格，并到墨西哥生活。the outlook /ði ˈaʊtlʊk/ [singular noun]a general idea of what people expect to happen in the future, and whether they expect things to go well or badly 前景，前途 The economic outlook is better than it has been for several years. 经济前景比过去几年好。long-range/short-range outlook Company officials insist the long-range outlook for share holders will be brighter. 公司高层坚称股东的远期前景将更为乐观。the outlook for With drought conditions continuing, the outlook for farmers is not very good. 干旱情况在继续，农民的前景不乐观。prospect /ˈprɒspektǁˈprɑː-/ [countable noun]the idea or possibility that something will happen in the future 预期；可能性，机会 I hope I never have to have a brain operation - it must be an appalling prospect. 我希望自己不必做脑部手术，这种事想起来太可怕了。the prospect of something/doing something The prospect of putting weapons in space is frightening to many people. 把武器放入太空的可能性对许多人来讲都是可怕的。 I had read a great deal about Professor Chomsky and I felt very excited at the prospect of meeting him. 我看过关于乔姆斯基教授的很多著作，想到将要见到他我非常激动。 We are facing the prospect of a very hard winter. 我们将遇到一个严寒的冬季。prospects for Prospects for a peace settlement in the region are not very hopeful at the moment. 目前在该地区达成和平协议的希望不是很大。5 likely to happen in the future 将来很可能会发生be on the horizon /biː ɒn ðə həˈraɪzən/ [verb phrase]if something, especially an important change or event,is on the horizon, it seems likely to happen at some time in the future 可能即将发生的〔尤指重要的变革或事件〕 The prospect of real democracy is on the horizon for this Latin American country of 57 million. 对这个5,700万人口的拉丁美洲国家而言，真正民主的前景已见曙光。 After two weeks of talks a solution to the dispute is finally on the horizon. 经过两个星期的谈判，争议终于可望解决了。be in store /biː ɪn ˈstɔːʳ/ [verb phrase]if something unexpected such as a surprise or a sudden problemis in store for someone, it is soon going to happen to them 〔意外之事〕即将发生be in store for There was a surprise in store for Paul when he got to his office. 保罗回到办公室时，有一件意想不到的事等着他。 Russell said expulsion may be in store for some of the students involved in the fighting that broke out Friday. 拉塞尔说参与星期五发生的打架的一些学生可能会遭到开除。what fate/the future holds in store (for somebody)what is going to happen to someone in the future 等待〔某人〕的是什么样的命运 When she first arrived in the US she was afraid of what the future might hold in store for her here. 她刚到美国时担心在这里等待着自己的将是什么样的命运。 None of us know what the future has in store. 我们都不清楚等待我们的是什么样的命运。6 likely to be or do something in the future 将来可能成为某物或做某事future /ˈfjuːtʃəʳ/ [adjective only before noun] He's an extremely talented football player -- he could well be a future captain of England. 他是个极有天赋的足球运动员，很可能成为未来的英格兰队队长。 It was then that Milstead took the first steps toward a future career in law enforcement. 米尔斯特德就是从那时起跨出了将来以执法为职业的第一步。 Before the scandal erupted, Grieg was talked about as a future presidential candidate. 丑闻发生之前，有言论认为葛理格是未来的总统候选人。potential /pəˈtenʃəl/ [adjective only before noun]potential customer/client/witness etcsomeone who might become a customer etc in the future 潜在的顾客/客户/证人等 Police believe they may have found a potential witness. 警方认为他们也许已经找到有可能作证的人了。 It's wrong to regard all soccer fans as potential troublemakers -- it's only a small minority who are responsible for the violence. 认为所有足球迷都可能会惹是生非是不对的—暴力生事的只是一小部分人。 By denying these people a decent education, you're losing out on potential captains of industry and political leaders. 不让这些人接受良好的教育，就可能失去了未来的工业和政治领袖。prospective /prəˈspektɪv/ [adjective only before noun]prospective candidate/employee/husband etcone who wants to get or may be chosen for a job, position etc in the future 未来有可能的候选人/雇员/丈夫等 My mother keeps introducing me to men she considers to be prospective husbands. 母亲不停地给我作媒，把她认为合适的对象介绍给我。 Texaco has introduced a compulsory HIV testing program for all prospective employees. 德士古公司引进了一个为所有潜在的雇员进行艾滋病病毒测试的强制方案。in the making /ɪn ðə ˈmeɪkɪŋ/ [adjective phrase]likely to do very well in your area of work or sport in the future 有望培养出的〔人才、顶尖选手等〕 When I first saw her play tennis I knew that she was a future Wimbledon champion in the making. 我第一次看她打网球就知道她是一位未来的温布尔登冠军。have a great/bright/brilliant etc future /hæv ə ˌgreɪt ˈfjuːtʃəʳ/to be likely to be very successful in the future 前程远大，前途辉煌 She's a very talented musician, and we think she has a great future. 她是个很有才华的音乐家，我们认为她前程似锦。 He's obviously got a bright future in this organization. 显然，他在这个组织里前程光明。