- present participle of outgo.
outgoing
Americanadjective
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going out; departing.
outgoing trains.
-
leaving or retiring from a position or office.
A farewell party was given for the outgoing members of the board of directors.
-
addressed and ready for posting.
outgoing mail.
-
of or relating to food prepared for delivery or consumption off the premises.
outgoing orders at the pizza parlor.
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interested in and responsive to others; friendly; sociable.
an outgoing personality.
noun
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Chiefly British. Usually outgoings. expenses; money expended.
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the act of going out.
The ship's outgoing proved more difficult than its incoming.
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something that goes out; effluence.
an outgoing measured in kilowatt hours.
adjective
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departing; leaving
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leaving or retiring from office
the outgoing chairman
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friendly and sociable
noun
Etymology
Origin of outgoing
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English (gerund); out- + going
Explanation
The adjective outgoing describes someone with a friendly, easy personality. Your outgoing friend might not understand how hard it is for shy people to speak in front of an audience. If you're the only member of your outgoing family who is reserved, you might feel silent and invisible in their sociable midst. People who are outgoing are perfectly comfortable in social situations. A completely different meaning of outgoing describes someone who is departing, like an employee who will soon retire, or an outgoing club treasurer who isn't running for re-election.
Vocabulary lists containing outgoing
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Cracker Barrel’s outgoing CEO, Julie Masino, 55 years old, sought to update the chain’s look and menu to reach a younger audience.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
The Burnham government points outgoing back to a £2 cap should particularly help passengers in rural and coastal areas, where single fares can be higher.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
Researchers can control the direction of the outgoing beam by changing the phase of the light sent to each antenna.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 22, 2026
The new leader takes over from the unpopular Keir Starmer just two years after the outgoing prime minister led Labour to power in a landslide election victory after 14 years of Conservative rule.
From Barron's ● Jul. 20, 2026
While Jimmie had been very social and outgoing, Jim was a bit bashful, a loner, very quiet, and liked to read.
From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
