going

1 of 2

noun

go·​ing ˈgō-iŋ 

ˈgȯ(-)iŋ

1

: an act or instance of going

2

goings plural : behavior, actions

For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.

—Job 34:21 (King James Version)

3

: the condition of the ground (as for walking)

The going on that path is rough.

4

: advance toward an objective

when the going gets tough

It's been slow going so far.

going

2 of 2

adjective

1

a

: that goes

—often used in combination

easygoing

outgoing

b

: working, moving

Everything was in going order.

2

: living, existing

the best novelist going

3

: current, prevailing

the going price

4

: conducting business with the expectation of indefinite continuance

a going concern

see also:

going on

Synonyms of going

Noun

• process
• progress
• advance
• progression
• procession
• advancement

Adjective

• usual
• conventional
• current
• prevailing
• customary

Examples of going in a Sentence

Noun

Debris in the street made the going difficult.

The going got better as we neared the town.

She wrote four books in two years, and that's pretty good going by any standards!

Adjective

He's the best novelist going.

what's the going price for a good used washing machine?

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

He wasn’t tested a ton through the early goings of the playoffs, due to his team’s total dominance in front of the blue paint and his opponents through three rounds. —Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 10 June 2026

The throwback elements of Rush’s show – the zigzagging colored lasers, the bursts of pyro that momentarily stunned with their booms, the gratification of watching musicians so focused on their music that running around the stage was not an option – reminded of a simpler era of concert-going. —Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 8 June 2026

Adjective

Mix and match earth tones, and lay pillows flat for a super easy-going, effortless look. —Angela Belt, House Beautiful, 23 Jan. 2023

Additional statements by Musk and Tesla reinforced the false impression given by Musk's going-private claim, the lead plaintiff says. —Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica, 13 Jan. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1562, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing going

• be going
• be going to
• get going
• going anywhere
• going-away
• going bananas
• going concern
• going down the pan
• going down the plughole
• going for the gold
• going forward
• going full speed ahead
• going/getting nowhere fast
• going into effect
• going nowhere fast
• going on
• going on the dole
• going out of my mind
• going out of my mind with worry
• going-over
• going places
• going rate
• going/running through your mind
• going spare
• going strong
• going through a rough time
• going to be sick
• going to the dogs
• going to the movies
• going under the knife
• hard/heavy going
• have a lot going for you
• have (something) going for one
• heads are going to roll
• heavy going
• keep going
• keep (someone or something) going
• nice going
• rough going
• rough/tough going
• slow going
• there's no going back
• the way things are going
• when the going gets tough
• when the going gets tough, the tough get going
• while the going is good

Rhymes for going

• bestowing
• churchgoing
• elbowing
• fallowing
• farrowing
• foregoing
• forgoing
• ongoing
• outflowing
• outgoing
• outgrowing
• seagoing

Kids Definition

going

1 of 2 noun

go·​ing ˈgō-iŋ 

1

: departure sense 1

2

: the condition of the ground especially for walking or driving

3

: advance toward an objective : progress

going

2 of 2 adjective

1

: being in existence : alive

best novelist going

2

: current entry 1 sense 1b, prevailing

the going price

3

: being successful and likely to continue successfully

a going concern