- 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.
The changing-of-command ceremony was memorable, including 17-gun salutes for each of the outgoing and incoming admirals and a 19-gun salute for my new friend, the CNO.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
Karoline Leavitt, the president’s outgoing White House press secretary, said the United States has “more than enough firepower” to carry out any operation the president wishes to order.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026
And in the Washington state race to replace outgoing Republican Congressman Dan Newhouse, Amanda McKinney, the president's pick, also finished first.
From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026
The couple formed part of a 99-strong group of guerrillas who struck a deal with outgoing President Gustavo Petro to disband two months ago.
From Barron's ● Aug. 4, 2026
They both helped Brown with the influx of messages, telegrams, and letters and with the outgoing medical bulletins.
From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow
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.
