ongoing

adjective

on·​go·​ing ˈȯn-ˌgō-iŋ How to pronounce ongoing (audio)
ˈän-,
-ˌgȯ(-)iŋ
1
a
: being actually in process
ongoing research
b
: continuing
The investigation is ongoing.
2
: continuously moving forward : growing
the long ongoing history of medicine
ongoingness
ˈȯn-ˌgō-iŋ-nəs How to pronounce ongoing (audio)
ˈän-
-ˌgȯ(-)iŋ-
noun

Examples of ongoing in a Sentence

the ongoing events at the school ongoing efforts to find a cure for the disease There is an ongoing debate over the issue.
Recent Examples on the Web More than 25,000 people took shelter in the city’s metro stations while the attack was ongoing, with videos and images shared on social media showing crowds crammed together underground in images reminiscent of the early days of the war. Andrew Carey, Victoria Butenko and Yulia Kesaieva, CNN, 21 Mar. 2024 The Israeli military said Thursday its raid of al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City was ongoing and that 140 militants were killed. Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2024 For its part, the Hamilton Jewish Federation criticized the Playhouse Cinema for bowing to pressure in the wake of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks in southern Israel and the ongoing war in Gaza. Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Mar. 2024 The new residents are eight hundred and fifteen medical evacuees from the ongoing war, along with five hundred and forty-two of their relatives. Eliza Griswold, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2024 By crossing over into different industries and genres, recording artists have not only broadened their own horizons but also contributed to the ongoing evolution of their respective fields. Anto Dotcom, Rolling Stone, 20 Mar. 2024 Law enforcement officials said the case is ongoing. Jeannette Neumann, Fortune, 20 Mar. 2024 Kyle Richards is protecting her peace amid ongoing family drama. Liza Esquibias, Peoplemag, 20 Mar. 2024 Lake didn't ask the crowd on Tuesday to donate to her ongoing election challenges, which have been repeatedly rejected. Libby Cathey, ABC News, 20 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ongoing.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of ongoing was in 1877

Dictionary Entries Near ongoing

Cite this Entry

“Ongoing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ongoing. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

ongoing

adjective
on·​go·​ing ˈȯn-ˌgō-iŋ How to pronounce ongoing (audio)
ˈän-
: being in progress or movement

More from Merriam-Webster on ongoing

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