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
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for going on
Verb
-
Gossip blogs on the Housewives have become an entire cottage industry, and that’s a far more likely explanation as to why this tends to keep happening.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
5 Nov. 2025
-
What happened to us at this company is happening at another company in another sector.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Nov. 2025
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
-
The cobwebs are coming down, and the twinkle lights are going up!—
Caroline Ritzie,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
5 Nov. 2025
-
As for borrowing against home equity, lending rates have been coming down slowly.—
Jeanne Sahadi,
CNN Money,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Minnesota set the tone for how this game would unfold in the first quarter, with a goal of rattling Goff and speeding up his internal clock.—
Colton Pouncy,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
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But any agreement reached will be just one touchstone in a thorny and volatile great power rivalry between the world’s superpower democracy and an authoritarian China, whose growing military assertiveness under Xi in the East and South China Seas is rattling US allies in the region.—
Betsy Klein,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
The vaccination rates for flu, measles, and tetanus are also going down.—
Phillip Reese,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
Female Candidates ⬆ Virginia’s Abigail Spanberger and New Jersey’s Mikie Sherrill win as moderate women running on competence, not identity.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Springsteen’s coming off a massive E Street Band tour and disappearing into himself.—
Henry Selick,
IndieWire,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Stocks had been coming off a monthslong hot streak.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Going on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/going%20on. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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