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Definitions

down the pike

ADJECTIVE
eventual
Synonyms
STRONGEST
conditional consequent inevitable possible prospective ultimate
WEAK
closing contingent dependent down the road ending endmost ensuing final hindmost in the cards indirect last later latter overall resulting secondary succeeding terminal ulterior vicarious
Antonyms
STRONGEST
beginning unlikely
WEAK
past
ADJECTIVE
future
Synonyms
STRONGEST
eventual forthcoming imminent impending planned prospective subsequent ultimate
STRONG
approaching coming final inevitable unfolding
WEAK
booked budgeted close at hand coming up destined down the line down the road fated from here in from here on from here to eternity from now on in in the cards in the course of time in the offing just around the corner later likely looked toward near next scheduled to-be ulterior unborn up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
distant later past
ADVERB
presently
Synonyms
STRONGEST
immediately soon
STRONG
shortly
WEAK
anon before long before you know it by and by directly down the line down the road in a minute in a moment in a short time now nowadays pretty soon today without delay
Antonyms
STRONGEST
later never
WEAK
eventually

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Senators, after all, are the points of contact for governors who want to complain about federal funding cuts coming down the pike that might screw up their budgets.

From Slate • May 20, 2025

Big investments in reducing emissions from the transportation sector — which makes up the bulk of the state’s greenhouse gas pollution — are also coming down the pike.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 11, 2024

Now, in conjunction with accelerating climate change, El Niño means a wide array of exacerbated hazards may be coming down the pike.

From Salon • Oct. 18, 2023

“Any contraction that is happening was coming down the pike regardless, in my opinion.”

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 9, 2023

Even though the next morning he would leave on a dangerous mission, even though he knew something terrible was coming down the pike, those words of Mr. Benedict’s had made all good things seem possible.

From "The Mysterious Benedict Society" by Trenton Lee Stewart