1
as in happening
to take place
what in the world is going on in there?
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in rambling
to talk at length without sticking to a topic or getting to a point
my, but Aunt Betty does go on about all of her aches and pains
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of going on
Out of nowhere, cassette tape sales were on fire, with sales more than doubling in the first quarter of 2025 while going on to hit numbers not seen in 20 years.
—
Brad Moon, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
There is always something going on in Miami.
—Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
The way Easterwood sees it, people don’t think voting in local elections affects them as personally as what’s going on at the White House and at the state level.
—Kansas City Star, 7 Nov. 2025
Bottom line The most likely scenario moving forward has the Oilers activating Walman this weekend, with Regula possibly going on IR.
—Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Jones first rose to prominence during his time as a standout at Syracuse University alongside his younger brother, fellow former NFL star Chandler Jones, from 2006 to 2009, before going on to get drafted in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL Draft.
—Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Oct. 2025
This is my first column since going on book leave in May.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
There’s nothing going on outside anyway.
—Zuzana Říhová, Literary Hub, 26 Sep. 2025
Instagram is a good place to check up with Jeff Bezos’ new wife and at least get an idea of what’s going on in her life.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 5 Sep. 2025
Brad Moon, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
There is always something going on in Miami.
—Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
The way Easterwood sees it, people don’t think voting in local elections affects them as personally as what’s going on at the White House and at the state level.
—Kansas City Star, 7 Nov. 2025
Bottom line The most likely scenario moving forward has the Oilers activating Walman this weekend, with Regula possibly going on IR.
—Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Jones first rose to prominence during his time as a standout at Syracuse University alongside his younger brother, fellow former NFL star Chandler Jones, from 2006 to 2009, before going on to get drafted in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL Draft.
—Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Oct. 2025
This is my first column since going on book leave in May.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
There’s nothing going on outside anyway.
—Zuzana Říhová, Literary Hub, 26 Sep. 2025
Instagram is a good place to check up with Jeff Bezos’ new wife and at least get an idea of what’s going on in her life.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 5 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for going on
Verb
-
Sustained, strong winds with even stronger gusts are happening.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Emotions were on full display with many expressing sadness and frustration, not only over Wednesday's federal raid, but raids happening around the Twin Cities over the last 40 days.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
What on Earth was Gabriel rambling on about before, anyway?—
Jessica Wang,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Roger Naylor shares 10 favorite Arizona destinations from his 50 years of rambling here.—
Roger Naylor,
AZCentral.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
For more than 15 years, the Oak Park Farmers Market has spanned McClatchy Park in Sacramento on Saturdays, and the market’s tents are now permanently coming down.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
15 Jan. 2026
-
The analysts, who raised their price target to $206 from $195 and kept their buy rating, said consumers getting tax breaks and inflation coming down should help.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Look past the saber rattling and campaign rhetoric.—
Brian Jones,
Oc Register,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Roughly one week later, Johnson reportedly heard the metal cage rattling from inside his home but later realized that the wrong bear had been captured.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Bright and LoConti had followed a familiar path that millions of mothers like them were also going down.—
Will Carless,
USA Today,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Those injury issues bled into his junior year, with the 6-foot running back going down on the first day of fall camp in late July.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Four of those children, including Jonah Bevin, were adopted from Ethiopia in 2012, three years before Matt Bevin won the gubernatorial race in Kentucky, running on a platform that included overhauling the state's foster care system.—
Lucas Aulbach,
Louisville Courier Journal,
8 Jan. 2026
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The entire ecosystem is self-contained and independent of external input, running on the energy released when bacteria convert toxic hydrogen sulfide into sulfate.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
But the Nets, who were coming off a 54-point blowout loss to the crosstown New York Knicks, responded with a 12-2 run, then led for much of the opening quarter.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
24 Jan. 2026
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The Raiders, coming off a 3–14 season, are currently without a head coach after firing Pete Carroll following his first season on the job.—
Trevor Woods,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Going on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/going%20on. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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