outgoing

1 of 2

adjective

out·​go·​ing ˈau̇t-ˌgō-iŋ How to pronounce outgoing (audio)
-ˌgȯ(-)iŋ
Synonyms of outgoing
1
a
: going away : departing
an outgoing ship
b
: retiring or withdrawing from a place or position
the outgoing president
c
: directed to an intended recipient
outgoing mail
2
: openly friendly and responsive : extroverted
His outgoing personality made him popular at school.
outgoingness noun

outgoing

2 of 2

present participle of outgo entry 1

Synonyms of outgoing

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Adjective

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Examples of outgoing in a Sentence

Adjective Outgoing mail goes in this box. a salesman whose aggressively outgoing personality could sometimes be overbearing
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
One night, the outgoing team warned me about a difficult dynamic with a patient’s doula. — Debra Eluobaju, STAT, 3 Sep. 2026 With only a few hours of the window remaining on Tuesday, Palace were concluding an extraordinary 10 incoming and outgoing deals. — Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026 In a news release, Donnie King, outgoing president and chief executive officer, said beef pressures that have intensified have required decisive action. — Dylan Sherman, Arkansas Online, 3 Sep. 2026 The Independence City Charter calls for a special election if a council seat is vacated with more than 15 months left in the outgoing councilmember’s term. — Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for outgoing

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of outgoing was before the 12th century

Rhymes for outgoing

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Browse Nearby Words

outgoer
outgoing
outgoings
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Outgoing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outgoing. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

outgoing

adjective
out·​go·​ing ˈau̇t-ˌgō-iŋ How to pronounce outgoing (audio)
1
a
: going out : departing
outgoing tide
b
: retiring from a position
the outgoing governor
2
: being at ease and friendly when dealing with others
an outgoing person
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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