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)

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

Synonyms

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

One of the things that bothers me about the goings on in our country today is this spirit of hate and spite. —Bea L. Hines, Miami Herald, 1 Aug. 2025

However, since his Ferrari debut this season, the going hasn't been easy. —Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 July 2025

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

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

Phrases Containing going

• be going
• be going to
• get going
• going-away
• going bananas
• going concern
• going down the pan
• going down the plughole
• going for the gold
• going full speed ahead
• going/getting nowhere fast
• going nowhere fast
• going on
• going on the dole
• going out of my mind
• going out of my mind with worry
• going-over
• going rate
• going spare
• going strong
• 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

• blowing
• boing
• bowing
• crowing
• flowing
• glowing
• growing
• hoeing
• knowing
• lowing
• rowing
• sewing

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