'upcoming' originates from the combination of 'up' and 'coming', where 'up' indicates direction or movement towards a higher position, and 'coming' means approaching or arriving.

'upcoming' evolved from the Old English word 'cuman', meaning 'to come', combined with 'up', which has been used in English since the 9th century.

Initially, it meant 'approaching or arriving', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.