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going on

Meaning in simple English, pronunciation and examples

Pronunciation: US /ˌɡoʊɪŋ ˈɑːn/ · UK /ˌɡəʊɪŋ ˈɒn/

going on means: Something is happening or taking place.

phrase

HAPPENINGA2

Something is happening or taking place.

  • What's going on?
  • There's a party going on upstairs.
  • I didn't know what was going on outside.

How to use it: something be going on (Something strange is going on.)

Similar words: happening, taking place

Common phrases: going on here, going on outside

NEARLY TIMEB2

A particular time, age, or length of time is almost reached.

  • It's going on nine.
  • She was going on eighteen when we met.
  • It's going on two months since his last visit.

How to use it: be going on + time/age/period (It's going on three years since we moved.)

Similar words: approaching, nearing

Common phrases: going on noon, going on ten

preposition

ALMOSTB2

Almost reaching a particular time or age.

  • It's going on midnight.
  • He's twelve going on thirteen.
  • It was going on six when we left.

How to use it: going on + age/time (My daughter is fifteen going on sixteen.)

Similar words: nearly, almost, approaching

Common phrases: going on sixteen, going on midnight

Questions about going on

What does going on mean?

Something is happening or taking place.

What is going on in other languages?

Türkçe: olmak · Español: pasar · Français: se passer · Deutsch: geschehen · Italiano: succedere · 日本語: 起こる

How do you pronounce going on?

In American English /ˌɡoʊɪŋ ˈɑːn/; in British English /ˌɡəʊɪŋ ˈɒn/.

How do you use going on in a sentence?

What's going on? There's a party going on upstairs.

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going on in other languages

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