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Definition of ongoing

ongoing

/ˈɑːnˌɡoʊ.ɪŋ/
on · go · ing
Plural:ongoings
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ongoing Lexical Profile

ongoing Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Continuing to exist, happen, or progress; currently underway and not yet completed.

Example

"The university is conducting an ongoing study into the effects of sleep deprivation on memory."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• noun

1

The act or process of continuing or advancing forward.

Example

"The steady ongoing of technological innovation has transformed modern communication."

2

Events, activities, or proceedings, especially those considered unusual or improper (usually used in the plural).

Example

"The neighbors were curious about the strange ongoings at the old mansion next door."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

oneself
onesie
onetime
ongoing
onigiri
onion
onion powder

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the mid-19th century as a compound of the adverb "on" and the present participle "going," modeled on the phrasal verb "go on" meaning to continue.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Ongoing. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/ongoing
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