Cool MateApproaching vs Forthcoming vs Imminent vs Upcoming
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Approaching
Forthcoming
Imminent
Upcoming
| Approaching | Forthcoming | Imminent | Upcoming | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //əˈprəʊtʃɪŋ//🇺🇸 //əˈproʊtʃɪŋ// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌfɔːθˈkʌmɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌfɔːrθˈkʌmɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈɪmɪnənt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈɪmɪnənt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈʌpkʌmɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈʌpkʌmɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | Getting closer to something or someone. | Coming soon or about to happen. | Something that is going to happen very soon. | Something that is going to happen soon. |
| Example | The train is approaching the station quickly. | the forthcoming elections | the imminent threat of invasion | the upcoming presidential election |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | C1 | C1 | C1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective | adjective | |
| Collocations | approaching danger, approaching deadlines, approaching distance, approaching storm, approaching target | be, readily, immediately, be, not very, about | imminent danger, imminent threat, imminent arrival, imminent decision, imminent change | upcoming events, upcoming deadlines, upcoming holidays, upcoming shows |
| Antonyms | departing, leaving, moving away | distant, remote, uncertain | distant, remote, unlikely | past, previous |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'approach' as a noun instead of a verb., Using incorrect prepositions, e.g., 'approach to' instead of 'approach'., Not specifying what is being approached. | Confused with 'forthcoming' vs 'forth comings' (think of it as a single word)., Using it to describe people who are unwilling to share (it actually means they are ready to share). | 'Imminent' is not interchangeable with 'imminent' when describing future events., Confusing 'imminent' with 'immediate', which means happening right away., Using 'imminent' for events far in the future. | Using 'upcoming' with verbs instead of nouns., Confusing 'upcoming' with 'upcome', which is not standard., Using 'upcoming' in past contexts. |
| Usage notes | Use in both formal and informal contexts. Suitable for any situation where someone is getting closer physically or metaphorically. Be careful in formal writing to clarify intent. | Use 'forthcoming' when referring to something that is expected to happen soon, like events or information. It's more formal than just saying 'coming soon.' Avoid in casual conversations. | Use 'imminent' to describe things that are about to happen, especially in serious or urgent situations. It is not typically used in casual conversation. | Use 'upcoming' to describe events or deadlines that are near. It's suitable for both spoken and written contexts. Avoid using it in very formal contexts where synonyms like 'forthcoming' may be more appropriate. |
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Frequently asked questions: Approaching vs Forthcoming vs Imminent vs Upcoming
What's the difference between Approaching, Forthcoming, Imminent, and Upcoming?
Approaching: Getting closer to something or someone. Forthcoming: Coming soon or about to happen. Imminent: Something that is going to happen very soon. Upcoming: Something that is going to happen soon.
Which is more common: Approaching, Forthcoming, Imminent, and Upcoming?
Upcoming is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Approaching: The train is approaching the station quickly. Forthcoming: the forthcoming elections Imminent: the imminent threat of invasion Upcoming: the upcoming presidential election
Can I use Approaching, Forthcoming, Imminent, and Upcoming interchangeably?
Not always. Approaching, Forthcoming, Imminent, and Upcoming are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.