outgoing

adjective

out·​go·​ing ˈau̇t-ˌgō-iŋ 

-ˌgȯ(-)iŋ

1

a

: going away : departing

an outgoing ship

b

: retiring or withdrawing from a place or position

the outgoing president

c

: directed to an intended recipient

outgoing mail

2

: openly friendly and responsive : extroverted

His outgoing personality made him popular at school.

outgoingness noun

Synonyms of outgoing

• social
• friendly
• hospitable
• extroverted
• gregarious
• spirited

Examples of outgoing in a Sentence

Outgoing mail goes in this box.

a salesman whose aggressively outgoing personality could sometimes be overbearing

Recent Examples on the Web

The auditorium at Miami Dade College’s downtown campus had standing room only, packed full of supporters and politicos, including Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, who sat with outgoing Miami Mayor Francis Suarez and all five city commissioners in the front row. —Miami Herald, 19 Dec. 2025

On Thursday in Boston, the FBI had set up surveillance at the rental car return location at Logan Airport because the individual who rented the car was booked on an outgoing flight Thursday. —Holmes Lybrand, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025

The Arkansas Board of Corrections unanimously voted Friday to rename the North Central Unit in Calico Rock in honor of outgoing Chairman Benny Magness. —Nathan Ansell, Arkansas Online, 19 Dec. 2025

Before the reception began, Queen Camilla held an audience for the ship's outgoing and incoming captains. —Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 18 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for outgoing

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

Kids Definition

outgoing

adjective

out·​go·​ing ˈau̇t-ˌgō-iŋ 

1

a

: going out : departing

outgoing tide

b

: retiring from a position

the outgoing governor

2

: being at ease and friendly when dealing with others

an outgoing person