going
/ˈɡəʊɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɡəʊɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈgō-iŋ ˈgȯ(-)iŋ/ (ame, mw) · /ˈɡəʊ.ɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɡoʊ.ɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · /-ɡəʊ.ɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /-ɡoʊ-/ (ame, ipa)
going — noun
1. the speed at which a person or group makes progress through a task or activity,
the speed at which a person or group makes progress through a task or activity, measured by how much gets done in a given time.
With three helpers, the going on the painting was much faster than Hui expected.
adjective + going for progress speed
The going on this crossword is slow because every clue is a tricky one.
Hugo and his cousins made good going on the drive north and arrived two hours ahead of schedule.
After chapter one, the going became smoother and Tyler finished the book in two days.
文法句型
adjective + going
make + adjective + going
用法筆記
Frequently paired with an adjective before 'going' to express the quality of progress (slow going, easy going, heavy going). The adjective carries the evaluative meaning; 'going' itself simply names the dimension of progress.
常見錯誤
2. the level of difficulty or challenge that something presents — for example, a bo
the level of difficulty or challenge that something presents — for example, a book, a task, or a period of time that feels mentally or physically demanding.
The calculus exam was tough going even for Cole, who usually gets top marks.
tough going — mentally demanding
The novel's first half is heavy going, but the second half is much quicker.
heavy going — slow and difficult to get through
This hiking trail is rough going for anyone who is not used to steep climbs.
Learning Japanese was slow going at first, but after six months Ada could converse.
- challenge
more formal; 'going' is more informal and idiomatic
文法句型
adjective + going
用法筆記
Used in the pattern 'it is [adjective] going' or '[noun phrase] is [adjective] going'. The adjective signals the degree of difficulty: 'tough', 'heavy', 'rough', 'hard' indicate high difficulty; 'easy' indicates low difficulty. Distinguish from sense 1 (noun/1) where the focus is on speed rather than difficulty.
常見錯誤
3. the physical condition of a surface that people walk, ride, or drive on, especia
the physical condition of a surface that people walk, ride, or drive on, especially when that condition affects how easy or safe travel is.
After the heavy rain, the going on the dirt path was extremely slippery and muddy.
ground/terrain condition after weather
The going on the golf course was perfect after the groundskeeper cut the grass.
Riders complained that the going on the racetrack was too soft for safe galloping.
Cyclists avoided the park since the going on the gravel was too bumpy.
- terrain
broader and more formal; 'going' is specific to travel-condition assessment
文法句型
adjective + going
用法筆記
Most common in sports contexts (horse racing, golf, hiking) and farming. The adjective describes quality: 'good', 'bad', 'soft', 'hard', 'heavy', 'sticky'. A learner will encounter this sense mainly in British sports reporting.
4. the moment when someone departs from a location, a position, or a circumstance,
the moment when someone departs from a location, a position, or a circumstance, often with emotional weight or a sense of finality.
His sudden going left the department without a manager for the final quarter.
possessive + going for departure with consequences
We felt sad at Élise's going, though she had found a wonderful new job.
The going of the last ferry meant the islanders were stuck until morning.
The abrupt going of their lead singer shocked the band and their fans deeply.
- arrival
the opposite act — coming to a place instead of leaving it
文法句型
possessive + going
用法筆記
Frequently takes a possessive determiner or 'the' + of structure: 'his going', 'the going of the train'. More formal than everyday alternatives like 'leaving' or 'departure'. Common in written narratives and news reports.
常見錯誤
going — adjective
- goingpositive
- more goingcomparative
- most goingsuperlative
1. available for people to use, take, or access — for example, jobs, food, opportun
available for people to use, take, or access — for example, jobs, food, opportunities, or resources that exist at the present time.
Few jobs are going in this small town, so young people often move away.
there is/are + noun + going — available/existing
Is there any pizza going? I skipped lunch and I am starving.
The best scholarship going for art students comes from the City Foundation.
There were no vegetarian options going at the barbecue, so Zayd ate only the salad.
- unavailable
formal; no direct informal antonym exists in this pattern
文法句型
there is/are + noun + going
the best/only + noun + going
用法筆記
Used post-positively (after the noun) or in existential constructions. Cannot be placed before the noun: ✅ 'the best opportunity going' ❌ 'the going opportunity'. Common in everyday speech about jobs, food, and opportunities.
常見錯誤
2. describing the standard price, rate, or fee that buyers and sellers accept in th
describing the standard price, rate, or fee that buyers and sellers accept in the current market for a product or service.
What is the going rate for a part-time English tutor in Taipei these days?
going rate — current standard price
The going price for a second-hand bicycle like this one is about three thousand dollars.
Mira checked the going salary for software engineers before she accepted the job offer.
The going wage for farm workers there barely covers rent and food.
- current
broader, not limited to prices; 'going' specifically implies market consensus
- standard
suggests an agreed norm; 'going rate' is the norm at this moment
- prevailing
more formal; used in legal and business documents
文法句型
going + noun
用法筆記
Almost always used before a noun indicating money: 'rate', 'price', 'salary', 'wage', 'fee', 'charge'. The pattern 'going rate/price/salary' is very common in job ads, market reports, and informal business talk.
常見錯誤
3. in a state of active operation, movement, or function — describing a machine, sy
in a state of active operation, movement, or function — describing a machine, system, event, or activity that is currently running or being sustained.
After the power cut, the old generator was still going and kept the lights on.
be going — machine in operation
The party was still going when the neighbours called the police at 2 am.
Joaquín cannot fix the car yet, so he is keeping it going until payday.
The old pump in the yard is still going, though it makes a strange noise.
- stopped
not operating or moving
文法句型
be going
keep [noun] going
用法筆記
Often appears in the expression 'keep [something] going', meaning to maintain something in working order or to prevent it from stopping. Also common in 'get [something] going' (start it). The sense overlaps with the idiom 'keep going', but here the adjective modifies a specific object.
常見錯誤
going — suffix
1. used at the end of a word to describe the activity of regularly visiting or atte
used at the end of a word to describe the activity of regularly visiting or attending a particular kind of place, such as a church, school, beach, or theatre.
Nkechi's Sunday churchgoing has been a family tradition since her grandmother's time in their small Nigerian village.
churchgoing — regularly attending church
Nkechi's family has a tradition of theatregoing and sees every new play in town.
Regular beachgoing helps many people in coastal towns stay active and social.
Cinemagoing became popular in the 1930s when ticket prices dropped across the country.
- attendance
more formal; 'going' as a suffix is more neutral and everyday
文法句型
[place/activity] + going
用法筆記
The -going suffix attaches to a noun naming a place to form a compound: 'churchgoing', 'theatregoing', 'beachgoing', 'schoolgoing'. The resulting noun refers to the habit or practice of attending that place. Not productive for all places — 'cinema-going' is common but 'park-going' is not.