offing
Americannoun
-
the more distant part of the sea seen from the shore, beyond the anchoring ground.
-
a position at a distance from shore.
idioms
noun
-
the part of the sea that can be seen from the shore
-
likely to occur soon
Etymology
Origin of offing
Explanation
The offing is what's predicted or promised in the future. If you accompany your friend to a family gathering but there doesn't seem to be any food available, you might ask if any snacks are in the offing. In the offing means "impending" or "in the near future." When your teacher tells you a quiz is in the offing this week, you know it's time to study for it. Offing's nautical meaning is the most distant part of the ocean seen from land, or an area that's far enough from the shore that it's safe for a ship to travel. This literal "at a distance" definition led to the figurative use that's more common today.
Vocabulary lists containing offing
"The Odyssey," Vocabulary from Part 1 of the epic poem
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The Castle
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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.
One of them is Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who pulled his negotiators out of Washington on Friday after it became clear that a deal wasn’t in the offing.
From Slate ● Aug. 25, 2026
All that remains in the offing, however, as none of the major prospects have formally declared their candidacies.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 2, 2026
Instead the film seems to suggest that a sequel is in the offing and invites the audience to settle on its own interpretation about the events so far.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026
Nvidia shares were buoyed Wednesday by optimism that chief executive Jensen Huang’s last-minute inclusion in the U.S trade delegation to Beijing could indicate an important announcement in the offing.
From MarketWatch ● May 14, 2026
It was a sticky moment: Harry knew that she had sensed Ron’s name in the offing.
From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling
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.
