ongoing

adjective

on·​go·​ing ˈȯn-ˌgō-iŋ 

ˈän-,

-ˌgȯ(-)iŋ

1

a

: being actually in process

ongoing research

b

: continuing

The investigation is ongoing.

2

: continuously moving forward : growing

the long ongoing history of medicine

ongoingness

ˈȯn-ˌgō-iŋ-nəs 

ˈän-

-ˌgȯ(-)iŋ-

noun

Synonyms

• afoot
• proceeding

Examples of ongoing in a Sentence

the ongoing events at the school

ongoing efforts to find a cure for the disease

There is an ongoing debate over the issue.

Recent Examples on the Web

This also isn't the first time that King has been accused of having an addiction to drugs and/or alcohol in the former couple's ongoing custody battle. —Staff Author, People.com, 17 Mar. 2025

Her attorney told the outlet plea negotiations are ongoing in her case. —Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 17 Mar. 2025

Although the investigation into the fire’s cause is ongoing, videos showed sparkling pyrotechnics on the stage hitting Club Pulse’s ceiling and igniting the blaze as a band played. —TIME, 17 Mar. 2025

Monitoring efforts are ongoing at Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, which sits near the Mexico-Gautemala-Belize border. —Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 17 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for ongoing

• bestowing
• churchgoing
• elbowing
• fallowing
• farrowing
• foregoing
• forgoing
• outflowing
• outgoing
• outgrowing
• seagoing
• tiptoeing

Kids Definition

ongoing

adjective

on·​go·​ing ˈȯn-ˌgō-iŋ 

ˈän-

: being in progress or movement