What does "incoming" mean?

1. (arriving) arriving or coming in now. 2. (starting a new role) starting a new job or position, especially in government or a company. 3. (enemy fire) bullets or bombs that are being shot at you.

incoming

adj. · n.

US //ˈɪnˌkəmɪŋ// UK //ˈɪnkʌmˌɪŋ// in·com·ing

1 arriving (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

arriving or coming in now.

describing something that is currently arriving or about to arrive.

Example

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

Example

The system is designed to filter all incoming emails for potential security threats before they reach the main server.
- outgoing
2 starting a new role (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

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

succeeding to an office, position, or role.

Example

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

Example

The incoming administration faces the immediate challenge of stabilising the economy while maintaining public confidence.
- outgoing
- incumbent

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3 enemy fire (n.)
C1 Advanced Technical Military

bullets or bombs that are being shot at you.

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

Example

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

Example

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

Etymology 1

From in (adverb) + coming (adjective).

Etymology 2

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