Oncoming means moving toward you or approaching from the opposite direction. When you're driving down a road, oncoming traffic refers to cars traveling toward you in the opposite lane. When you see oncoming headlights at night, those are vehicles heading your way.

The word carries a sense of something getting closer, often requiring you to pay attention or respond. A baseball player watches for the oncoming pitch. A hiker notices oncoming storm clouds gathering on the horizon. In each case, something is approaching and you need to be aware of it.

Oncoming can describe anything moving toward you: an oncoming train, an oncoming wave at the beach, or even an oncoming deadline for a school project. The word suggests forward motion in your direction and often implies you need to prepare for what's approaching. When a crossing guard holds up a stop sign, she's protecting students from oncoming cars that might not see them in time to stop safely.