How to Use to-be in a Sentence

to-be

adjective
  • The streamer just dropped the first five episodes of a sure-to-be chaotic season, and there's a lot to unpack.
    Jacqueline Tempera, Women's Health, 24 Mar. 2023
  • The Cavaliers could be one of those happy-to-be-there teams, where two or three wins in the first round might sate them.
    Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2023
  • And, of course, soon-to-be trendy handbags from emerging brands like Puppets and Puppets, and Pipatchara.
    Frances Solá-Santiago, refinery29.com, 16 Feb. 2023
  • Two suspects have pleaded guilty in the killing of a young father-to-be who was killed during a robbery more than three years ago.
    Carol Robinson | Crobinson@al.com, al, 28 Feb. 2023
  • Westbrook’s soon-to-be current and former teams will face each other on April 5.
    Staff Writer follow, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2023
  • Add in a grim economy and the result is shaky confidence for some soon-to-be college grads.
    Alexandra Sternlicht, Fortune, 17 Feb. 2023
  • This mighty name is perfect for your soon-to-be adventurer.
    Jamie Ballard, Woman's Day, 23 Mar. 2023
  • And the worst part is that neither is likely to find someone who will understand that more than their soon-to-be-ex-partner.
    Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 26 Mar. 2023
  • The soon-to-be former couple ends the scene lying on a bed, agreeing in their exhaustion to sleep next to (but not with) each other for one more night.
    Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Mar. 2023
  • Forever is a long time to be stuck with the wrong china (or spouse for that matter), but have no fear: Rachel Zoe is here to help brides and grooms-to-be (with the former, not the latter).
    Lindzi Scharf, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Feb. 2023
  • The soon-to-be-launched Infinity 42 is basically the same BluE tech in monohull form.
    Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 16 Feb. 2023
  • Although the soon-to-be mom of two wore them after performing for a cool 118 million people, the plush pink slippers are perfect for lounging around the house, too.
    Claire Harmeyer, Peoplemag, 18 Feb. 2023
  • In doing so, Henry cast doubt on Richard’s claim to the throne and strengthened his own hold on power by legitimizing his soon-to-be wife, Elizabeth of York.
    Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Mar. 2023
  • My youngest came downstairs crying and displayed a text from her mother’s soon-to-be-ex, which didn’t only throw mom under the bus, but completely napalmed her.
    Amy Dickinson, Anchorage Daily News, 25 Mar. 2023
  • As people began to discuss who might fill Young’s position last year, Peltola looked around at her soon-to-be empty nest.
    Madison Feller, ELLE, 28 Mar. 2023
  • The two-time and soon-to-be three-time MVP is one of the most talented offensive forces in the league's history, though his road to becoming a complete player was a more arduous one.
    Michael Shapiro, Chron, 1 Mar. 2023
  • In the 2005 romantic comedy, Fonda plays Viola, the reluctant soon-to-be mother-in-law of Charlie (Lopez).
    Brie Stimson, Fox News, 25 Mar. 2023
  • With a sure-to-be massive Joe Burrow extension looming, every dollar matters.
    Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2023
  • But the other actors in the band are quite charming (especially Suki Waterhouse as a rad keyboardist and Sebastian Chacon as the happy-to-be-here drummer).
    Leah Greenblatt and Darren Franich, EW.com, 3 Mar. 2023
  • The expecting mother-to-be says her new sleepwear pieces also double as great maternitywear.
    André-Naquian Wheeler, Vogue, 21 Feb. 2023
  • Photo: Courtesy of Neiman Marcus Every season, a new selection of soon-to-be bestsellers hits our favorite fashion retailers.
    Irina Grechko, refinery29.com, 21 Mar. 2023
  • There is a clear danger to this trend of slightly unrealistic but realistic-enough-to-be-believable images.
    Anne Branigin, Washington Post, 26 Mar. 2023
  • Cruz, who waged a bitter campaign against the then New York businessman and reality television star, refused to endorse the soon-to-be Republican nominee on the convention floor.
    Gromer Jeffers Jr., Dallas News, 24 Mar. 2023
  • When choosing luggage, to-be travelers tend to look for style, quality, space, ease of maneuverability, and, of course, durability.
    Naydeline Mejia, Women's Health, 31 Mar. 2023
  • That was where a soon-to-be-infamous 34-year-old political neophyte walked out to a cheering throng of Republicans and declared victory in one of America’s most important House contests.
    Ross Barkan, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2023

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'to-be.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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