1
as in happening
to take place
what in the world is going on in there?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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
The same goes for its overall profile, though, there’s a lot going on in its front fascia—the side venting is seemingly there for function, but the massive grille is… a lot.
—Peter Nelson, Forbes.com, 20 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
West Elm Crescent Stitch Quilt and Shams Set With all the Labor Day sales going on, there’s no better time than now to refresh your home.
—Toni Sutton, People.com, 25 Aug. 2025
There’s a lot going on in the Taylor Swift fandom right now.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 11 Aug. 2025
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
The same goes for its overall profile, though, there’s a lot going on in its front fascia—the side venting is seemingly there for function, but the massive grille is… a lot.
—Peter Nelson, Forbes.com, 20 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
West Elm Crescent Stitch Quilt and Shams Set With all the Labor Day sales going on, there’s no better time than now to refresh your home.
—Toni Sutton, People.com, 25 Aug. 2025
There’s a lot going on in the Taylor Swift fandom right now.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for going on
Verb
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What’s happening now simply makes that old equation visible to everyone else.—
Josiah Bates,
Time,
14 Oct. 2025
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Venus’s movement into Libra couldn’t be happening at a better time!—
Lisa Stardust,
Refinery29,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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What on Earth was Gabriel rambling on about before, anyway?—
Jessica Wang,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Sep. 2025
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Roger Naylor shares 10 favorite Arizona destinations from his 50 years of rambling here.—
Roger Naylor,
AZCentral.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Moody, with three seconds left and a steady mist coming down, nailed a 38-yard field goal to give the Bears the 25-24 win.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
14 Oct. 2025
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The Dodgers stole two games at the raucous Citizens Bank Park, with both games coming down to the wire.—
Noah Camras,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The rapid escalation of trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies has sunk stocks, rattling investors and industries by igniting fears of a repeat of the tit-for-tat tariff battle in spring, when levies on Chinese and American imports soared to around 145% and 120% respectively.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
12 Oct. 2025
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Two sisters with a tragic story are said to linger upstairs at Langston’s Western Wear, and unexplained voices and rattling glassware have been heard at Gabriella’s Italian Grill, a Prohibition-era building with a gangsters and gambling history.—
Beth Luberecki,
USA Today,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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And some might be afraid of their property values going down, or that their neighborhood will be rampant with crime.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
14 Oct. 2025
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Thank you for not going down that road.—
Breanne L. Heldman,
PEOPLE,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But the recruitment ads have been running on more than one music or streaming platform, with fans flagging concerns with the ads on Hulu, Max, YouTube, and Pandora, over the past six months.—
Tomás Mier,
Rolling Stone,
15 Oct. 2025
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However, the battery is powered by an internal combustion engine, acting like a generator, running on gasoline.—
Liam Rappleye,
Freep.com,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Almost a year ago to the day, with concerns over the wideouts and the Bills coming off back-to-back losses, Beane traded for Amari Cooper, and although the five-time Pro Bowl receiver didn’t light up the stat sheet, his presence was credited for opening up the offense.—
Tim Graham,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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The Vikings are coming off a 37-7 loss to Point Loma.—
John Maffei,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Going on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/going%20on. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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