# ongoing

/ˈɑnˌɡoʊɪŋ/ (US) · /ˈɒŋɡəʊɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ongoing
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. currently happening

adjective · CEFR B2 · Academic · General-service

happening right now or continuing over a long period of time.

For teachers: presently in progress or continuing without interruption; often used to describe investigations, debates, or maintenance.

- The police have an ongoing investigation into the robbery that happened last week.
- Despite several rounds of negotiations, there is an ongoing dispute between the union and the management regarding the new pension scheme.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun it describes.

## Examples

- The police have an ongoing investigation into the robbery.
- The two companies are in ongoing negotiations to finalize the merger by the end of the year.
- Despite several rounds of mediation, the ongoing dispute between the union and the board remains unresolved, with both parties refusing to compromise on the core issue of pension contributions.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.