going

1 of 2

noun

go·​ing ˈgō-iŋ How to pronounce going (audio)
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 goingsJob 34:21 (King James Version)
3
: the condition of the ground (as for walking)
4
: advance toward an objective
when the going gets tough

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
going price
4
: conducting business with the expectation of indefinite continuance
a going concern
Phrases
going on
: drawing near to : approaching
is six years old going on seven

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
Two days after giving up a season-worst 94 points, UCLA was completely locked in on both sides of the ball in the early going. Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2024 Different agencies and organizations use different estimates—no one can seem to agree on the precise going rate. Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 21 Feb. 2024 The Cougars have struggled offensively in the early going, batting a collective .222 while averaging 3 1/2 runs a game. Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2024 In the early going of the 2022 U.S. Senate race in Arizona, DeWit chaired the campaign for Jim Lamon, a business executive who lavished cash on the state GOP under a different leader and aggressively sought Trump’s endorsement for his own race. Ronald J. Hansen, The Arizona Republic, 23 Jan. 2024 The Miami Marlins are being cautious with one of their primary starting pitchers in the early going of spring training. Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 16 Feb. 2024 Things feel a bit sweaty and effortful, especially in the early going — not the finest quality in a farce, though the cast may well settle into the show and tighten up its rhythms. Trey Graham, Washington Post, 13 Feb. 2024 When the going gets rough, blame the worker The paper, which is under peer review, empirically examines what determines an S&P 500 firm’s decision to mandate a return to office and what the consequences are—and aren’t. Jane Thier, Fortune, 13 Jan. 2024 Benita and Paolo’s romance is intercut with the goings on at Sweden’s prestigious Karolinska Institute in 2012. Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 15 Dec. 2023
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 Even though the progress is slow-going, every step forward is celebrated. Dallas News, 2 May 2022 And the easy-going, grayscale elegance is proof that taking a minimalist approach can result in a unique and quirky space without overpowering the eye. Amanda Sims Clifford, House Beautiful, 19 Dec. 2022 Tonalea is good with other cats and is easy-going, a sweet girl who will make a lovely pet. The Republic, The Arizona Republic, 9 Dec. 2022 Knitted ties match well with more easy-going outfits, especially if they’re made from a textured wool, so keep these for more relaxed settings. Christian Gollayan, Men's Health, 29 Nov. 2022 Stewart’s easy-going style that belies the drive beneath his big, easy smile. The Indianapolis Star, 17 Nov. 2022 An easy-going, effortless-looking option that compliments a relaxed environment, creating a warm and welcoming ambiance similar to a beach cabana. Belle Duchene, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Oct. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'going.' 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

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of going was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near going

Cite this Entry

“Going.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/going. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

going

1 of 2 noun
go·​ing ˈgō-iŋ How to pronounce going (audio)
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
3
: being successful and likely to continue successfully
a going concern

More from Merriam-Webster on going

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