What does outgoing mean?
Outgoing is an adjective with two main meanings that are both common in modern English. When describing a person, it means sociable, friendly, and comfortable in social situations, often contrasting with someone described as reserved or introverted. It can also describe something departing or directed away from a particular place or person, as in outgoing mail or an outgoing flight. In communication and business settings, outgoing often identifies calls, messages, payments, or transfers that are sent outward, contrasted with incoming ones. The word is useful because it captures both a familiar personality trait and a practical distinction based on direction. Its slightly formal tone in business and technical contexts is balanced by its widespread everyday use for describing sociable people.
Friendly, sociable, and willing to interact with other people.
"She was always outgoing at parties and quickly joined the conversation."
Often used of a person's personality, manner, or social behavior.
Moving, directed, or sent away from a place, person, or system.
"The airport handles outgoing flights from more than a dozen countries."
Common in travel, communications, business, and technical contexts; often contrasted with incoming.
The word has two surprisingly different lives: one is the warm, sociable side of a person, and the other is the busy side of calls and mail leaving a switchboard.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does outgoing come from?
Outgoing is formed from the Germanic root out, meaning away from or beyond, combined with the present participle of go. The related word outgo uses the same elements in a noun formation, while outer, outward, and outbound belong to the broader family of English words derived from out. The adjective sense describing a sociable person developed later by extension from the idea of moving out into company or society.
Related word forms
How outgoing is actually used
In descriptions of people, outgoing is usually positive but can sometimes suggest a preference for social activity or assertiveness. In technical and business contexts, it commonly contrasts with incoming.
Easily confused with outgoing
Outgoing can describe a sociable person or something departing, while outgoing more commonly refers to messages, calls, or transactions directed outward.
Incoming describes something arriving or received, whereas outgoing describes something sent or moving away.