English Reference

Word

incoming

Phoneticsin·com·ing

US/ˈɪnˌkəmɪŋ/

UK/ˈɪnkʌmˌɪŋ/

Definitions

01arriving

B2

adj. arriving or coming in now.

adj. describing something that is currently arriving or about to arrive.

“The hotel staff worked quickly to prepare for the incoming guests.”

“The system is designed to filter all incoming emails for potential security threats before they reach the main server.”

Antonyms

02starting a new role

B2

adj. starting a new job or position, especially in government or a company.

adj. succeeding to an office, position, or role.

“The incoming president promised to make many changes in his first month.”

“The incoming administration faces the immediate challenge of stabilising the economy while maintaining public confidence.”

Formal

Synonyms

03enemy fire

C1 · Military

n. bullets or bombs that are being shot at you.

n. enemy fire, such as artillery or missiles, directed at one's own position.

“The soldiers dove into the trench to hide from the incoming.”

“The unit was pinned down by heavy incoming, making it impossible to coordinate a safe extraction of the wounded.”

Technical

Synonyms

Real-World Examples

“Many students on Saturday had just completed the university’s “New Trojans Experience” for incoming students, an event alluding to the nickname for the school’s athletic teams.”
The Guardian · 16 Aug 2026
“Many students had just completed the university’s “New Trojans Experience” for incoming students.”
BreakingNews.ie · 15 Aug 2026

Etymology

From in (adverb) + coming (adjective).

From Middle English incomming, in comyng, in-comyng, incomyng, in-comynge, incomynge, inne comyng, yn comyng, equivalent to in (adverb) + coming (noun).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Collocations

incoming students

Domain

Military

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

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English Reference