English Reference
Noun

going

n. uncountable
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈɡoʊɪn/ UK /ɡˈəʊɪŋ/ go·ing UK spelling goings

n.the speed or difficulty of a task, or the condition of the ground for walking or driving. You use it to describe how easy or hard it is to make progress.

n.the condition of the ground for travel, or the rate of progress in an activity. Often used in the context of horse racing or hiking to describe surface conditions.


SIMPLE

The going is slow because the path is very muddy.

CONTEXTUAL

We made good going on the first day of the hike while the weather remained clear and dry.

COMPLEX

The heavy rain overnight has made the going soft on the racecourse, which may favor the older horses accustomed to more difficult terrain.

Usage

Commonly used in the phrases 'heavy going', 'tough going', or 'good going' to describe progress.

Usage going wrong · going to get · going to make

Off the back of an excellent World Cup for Spain, he is going to be very popular heading in to gameweek one.

BBC News· 14 Aug 2026

I remember people saying to me, ‘OK, well this is really going to affect your career’.

The Guardian· 14 Aug 2026

Common in culture writing

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Very common
Updated