Phrasal Verbs Related to the Future

Phrasal Verbs Related to the Future (Talking about Plans, Hopes, and What Lies Ahead)

When we talk about the future, we rarely use the future tense alone. Native speakers prefer phrasal verbs to express plans, expectations, delays, hopes, and sudden changes. These small verb–particle combinations make English sound natural, flexible, and alive—especially when discussing what hasn’t happened yet. In this lesson, you’ll learn useful phrasal verbs related to the future, with clear meanings and natural example sentences to help you use them with confidence.

Look forward to

Meaning: to feel excited or pleased about something that will happen in the future.

(Note: it’s followed by a noun or -ing form.)

• I’m really looking forward to starting my new job next month.
• She’s looking forward to seeing her family after a long year abroad.

Plan ahead

Meaning: to think carefully about the future and make preparations in advance.

• If you plan ahead, you can avoid a lot of unnecessary stress.
• We need to plan ahead if we want the project to succeed.

Set out

Meaning: to begin a journey or to start something with a clear goal or intention.

• He set out to build his own business before turning thirty.
• They set out early, hoping to arrive before sunset.

Work towards

Meaning: to make a continuous effort to achieve a future goal.

• She is working towards a promotion at work.
• We’re all working towards a more balanced lifestyle.

Hold off

Meaning: to delay doing something until a later time.

• They decided to hold off on making a final decision.
• I’ll hold off buying a new phone until prices drop.

Put off

Meaning: to postpone something, often because you don’t want to deal with it yet.

• He keeps putting off thinking about his future.
• Don’t put off important decisions for too long.

End up

Meaning: to reach a final situation or result, often unexpectedly.

• She studied law but ended up working in marketing.
• We might end up moving abroad one day.

Go ahead

Meaning: to decide to do something after hesitation or discussion.

• After careful thought, they decided to go ahead with their plans.
• You can go ahead and apply—you’ve got nothing to lose.

Fall through

Meaning: to fail to happen as planned.

• Their travel plans fell through at the last minute.
• If the deal falls through, we’ll have to rethink everything.

Look ahead

Meaning: to think about the future and prepare for it.

• It’s important to look ahead rather than dwell on the past.
• The company is looking ahead to the next decade.

Final tip for learners

When writing or speaking about the future—especially in exams—try to mix future tenses with phrasal verbs. Instead of sounding mechanical, your English will sound thoughtful, natural, and confident.

The future isn’t just about what will happen—it’s about what you’re working towards, looking forward to, and brave enough to go ahead with.

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