adj · noun · verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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CMU ARPABET:AO1 N K AH2 M IH0 NG
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
approaching; coming closer
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
Look carefully before pulling out into oncoming traffic.
1894, Ivan Dexter, Talmud: A Strange Narrative of Central Australia, published in serial form in Port Adelaide News and Lefevre's Peninsula Advertiser (SA), Chapter XIII, http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks16/1600641.txt The attack was made so unexpectedly that Garfield had no time to escape the oncoming spears, three of which struck him in the body.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
Approach, onset
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
present participle and gerund of oncome
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: form-of, gerund, participle, present
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adjective satellite
Meaning 4
moving toward one
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
the beginning or early stages
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the onset of pneumonia
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: onset
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: start
History
Etymology
From on- + coming (adjective).
From Middle English on comynge, oncomynge, oncoomynge; equivalent to on- + coming (noun).
Equivalent to oncome + -ing.
Across languages
Translations
13 source translations are retained for this English entry.
