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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of going on
Before going on hiatus in 2022 so that the group’s seven members could complete their mandatory military service, BTS was unequivocally the biggest band in the world.
—
Mitch Therieau, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
So yeah, there’s a lot going on in that opening four minutes.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 26 Mar. 2026
Regardless of whether the debt is fraudulent, that check can provide a more confident understanding of what’s going on.
—William Tong, Dallas Morning News, 20 Mar. 2026
The 49ers got to the quarters — three wins away from a first NCAA Tournament bid in 21 years — by going on an 18-0 run in the second half to take a 39-27 lead and take control of the game.
—Langston Wertz Jr, Charlotte Observer, 13 Mar. 2026
Democrats aren’t waiting to see how things pan out before going on the offensive.
—Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 13 Mar. 2026
Gavalas started going on missions crafted by Gemini, including one that almost led him to carry out a mass attack in September 2025 near the Miami International Airport, according to the lawsuit.
—Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Here’s the science of what’s going on.
—Big Think, 6 Mar. 2026
The show continued filming without him before going on a pre-planned hiatus in November, and the creative team wrote Billy out of subsequent episodes rather than recasting the character.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Feb. 2026
Mitch Therieau, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
So yeah, there’s a lot going on in that opening four minutes.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 26 Mar. 2026
Regardless of whether the debt is fraudulent, that check can provide a more confident understanding of what’s going on.
—William Tong, Dallas Morning News, 20 Mar. 2026
The 49ers got to the quarters — three wins away from a first NCAA Tournament bid in 21 years — by going on an 18-0 run in the second half to take a 39-27 lead and take control of the game.
—Langston Wertz Jr, Charlotte Observer, 13 Mar. 2026
Democrats aren’t waiting to see how things pan out before going on the offensive.
—Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 13 Mar. 2026
Gavalas started going on missions crafted by Gemini, including one that almost led him to carry out a mass attack in September 2025 near the Miami International Airport, according to the lawsuit.
—Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Here’s the science of what’s going on.
—Big Think, 6 Mar. 2026
The show continued filming without him before going on a pre-planned hiatus in November, and the creative team wrote Billy out of subsequent episodes rather than recasting the character.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for going on
Verb
-
That transparency now extends into Colorado’s industry regulations after state legislators, motivated by recent scandals, passed new laws to prevent the same kind of situation from happening at funeral homes or mortuaries ever again.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Now, the impossible is happening.—
Silvia Hernandez,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This rambling 1,200-acre Southern California ranch has both and much more, plus a supremely private and scenic locale on the outskirts of the historic community of San Juan Capistrano.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
10 Mar. 2026
-
In addition to the lake, there are 26 miles of trails for rambling at Hot Springs National Park as well as a number of hiking paths leading into and out of downtown.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Oil prices have spiked sharply since the conflict started, nearing $120 a barrel on Monday, before coming down.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Anger is coming down the pike; the Bears are hoping things will move expeditiously toward acceptance.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
All the while, Israel struck the world’s largest natural gas field and Iran targeted energy facilities in Qatar, rattling global markets and threatening even higher oil and gas prices.—
Claire Malon,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Mar. 2026
-
OpenAI has also been working to outline clearer spending targets after rattling markets with ambitious infrastructure commitments in late 2025.—
Ashley Capoot,Kate Rooney,
CNBC,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Why, then, are apartment rents going down in many cities?—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
17 Mar. 2026
-
The likelihood of Ritchie being in the rotation by the end of this month may not as be as high, even with Joey Wentz going down with a torn ACL on Tuesday and two other pitchers already on the shelf.—
Chad Bishop,
AJC.com,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The federal government’s ability to wreak havoc and attempt to silence our communities depends mightily on the machines running on our streets and in data centers.—
Jennifer Piper,
Denver Post,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Whitney recommends using the first full day to absorb the energy of a new place while everyone is still running on adrenaline.—
Jordi Lippe-McGraw,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Detroit, coming off a 3-2 loss to Ottawa on Tuesday, snapped a two-game skid and moved into a tie in points with the Senators for ninth place in the Eastern Conference standings — and a point back of the New York Islanders.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Sabalenka is coming off a title at Indian Wells and is the second player to reach both finals at the Sunshine Double in consecutive years since Maria Sharapova in 2012-13.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Going on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/going%20on. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
