noun
Very common
going
GOH-ihng
Going (noun) means the act of leaving; a departure. Example: “Her sudden going left the office in chaos.”
noun
1
The act of leaving; a departure.
"Her sudden going left the office in chaos."
"Nobody was sad at the manager's going, because the team had struggled under him."
"We were all sorry to hear about your going, and we will miss you."
2
The condition of the ground for walking, riding, or racing on.
"The going was heavy after days of rain, slowing every horse in the race."
"Hikers should expect rough going on the last stretch of the trail."
"The going on the moor was soft and muddy, so we walked slowly."
3
Progress in general, especially how easy or difficult something is proving to be.
"It was slow going trying to fix the old engine."
"Revising for the exam was hard going, but she kept at it every evening."
"Once we had the right tools, the going got much easier."
adj
1
Currently operating, available, or continuing successfully.
"Is the old photocopier still going, or has it finally broken down?"
"They bought the shop as a going concern with existing staff and customers."
"What's the going rate for a freelance translator these days?"
How to use going
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the act of leaving, how conditions are for moving/progressing, or (as an adjective) currently active or available.
Common pairings
tough going
the going rate
a going concern
slow going
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like going.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- goings
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Her sudden _____ left the office in chaos.
Etymology
The -ing form of "go," used as a noun and adjective since Old English times.
Synonyms
View more →
departure
leaving
exit
withdrawal
going away
parting
exodus
release
loss
passing
expiration
sledding
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for going
See all rhymes for going →Frequently asked questions
What does “going” mean?
The word “going” means the act of leaving; a departure. In plain terms, either the act of leaving, how conditions are for moving/progressing, or (as an adjective) currently active or available.
How do you pronounce “going”?
“Going” is pronounced GOH-ihng (/ˈɡoʊ.ɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “going” in a sentence?
Here is “going” used in a sentence: “Her sudden going left the office in chaos.”
What part of speech is “going”?
Depending on how it is used, “going” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “going” come from?
The word “going” comes from Old English. The -ing form of "go," used as a noun and adjective since Old English times.
Is “going” a common word?
“Going” is a very common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “going” have?
“Going” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the act of leaving; a departure.
What is the difference between 'going' and 'departure'?
Both mean the act of leaving, but going is the more everyday, informal word, while departure sounds more formal and is used for scheduled events like flights and trains. Going often appears in the fixed phrase 'comings and goings,' describing people's constant arrivals and departures.
What is the opposite of 'going' as a noun?
The opposite is coming — arrival rather than departure. The two are almost always paired in the everyday phrase 'comings and goings,' which captures the steady flow of people arriving and leaving a place. On its own, going points specifically to the moment or act of leaving.
What is an example of 'going' used as a noun?
It is most common in the phrase 'comings and goings' — 'The neighbours watch all the comings and goings on the street.' You might also meet it in older or literary phrasing like 'his sudden going,' meaning his departure. In both, going names the act of leaving.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include going:
