ongoing

adjective

on·​go·​ing ˈȯn-ˌgō-iŋ 

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 

ˈän-

-ˌgȯ(-)iŋ-

noun

Synonyms

• afoot
• proceeding

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

Pakistani students walk across the Pakistan-Iran border after returning from Iran in Taftan, in Balochistan province, on June 19, 2025, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. —Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 June 2025

And, in severe cases, the brain’s physical architecture begins to shift in response to the ongoing sense of danger. —Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025

Geneva resident Heidi Cristina likes coming to Swedish Days in the city, bringing her daughter Kendall, 8, on Saturday morning to the ongoing festival along with some of Kendall’s friends. —David Sharos, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2025

The designer also used the creation of this collection as a way to push back against the ongoing global political and economic turmoil. —Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 20 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for ongoing

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

Kids Definition

ongoing

adjective

on·​go·​ing ˈȯn-ˌgō-iŋ 

ˈän-

: being in progress or movement