What does tomorrow mean?
Tomorrow is the ordinary English word for the day immediately after today. As a noun, it can stand alone or be used with another expression, as in “See you tomorrow” or “the morning of tomorrow.” As an adverb, it answers the question “when?” without requiring a preposition: “I will call tomorrow.” In addition to its literal temporal meaning, tomorrow often refers broadly to the future, as in statements such as “Tomorrow belongs to those who prepare today,” where it suggests possibility, uncertainty, or hope. The word is used in both formal and informal English in Britain, the United States, and many other English-speaking regions. Its familiar everyday meaning is strengthened by phrases such as “tomorrow morning” and “tomorrow night,” while its broader symbolic sense is common in journalism, literature, public addresses, and motivational expressions. Although “tomorrow” has a plural form, “tomorrows,” ordinary usage almost always treats the concept as singular: people generally speak of “tomorrow,” rather than counting future days as separate tomorrows.
The day immediately following the present day; also, figuratively, an unspecified future time.
"Tomorrow will be warmer and clearer."
The noun can stand alone or be modified by a time expression, such as “tomorrow morning.” Its figurative use for the future is especially common in literary, rhetorical, and motivational contexts.
On the day immediately following the present day.
"They are traveling tomorrow."
When used adverbially, “tomorrow” usually needs no preposition. It can also function figuratively, as in “What you do today determines what you achieve tomorrow.”
The plural is grammatically possible but rare in ordinary usage; “tomorrow” is normally treated as a singular noun.
"The uncertain tomorrows of the coming weeks require careful planning."
Tomorrow hides a time machine: “to” plus “morrow,” with morrow once meaning the next morning.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of tomorrow
Tomorrow developed from Middle English forms such as “to-morwe” and “to-morrow,” which were based on Old English “to” meaning “until” or “up to” and “morce” or “morwe” meaning “morning.” The expression originally referred to the following morning and later came to mean the following calendar day. Its elements are related to “morrow,” “morning,” and the shortened poetic form “morn,” all of which continue a Germanic vocabulary for the early part of the day.
How tomorrow is actually used
Tomorrow is neutral in register and common in everyday speech, writing, and formal contexts. It normally refers to the next calendar day, though literary and rhetorical uses can make it a general symbol of the future.
Easily confused with tomorrow
Today refers to the present day, while tomorrow refers to the day after today.