be going to
/ˈɡoʊɪŋ tu/
Word Rarity
Common
Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.87 in modern English
13
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
4
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
phrase
Expresses the prospective aspect relative to a given time frame: something that will happen, or is intended, at the time, to happen.
phrase
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see be, going, to.
Example Sentences
- "I'm going to throw out the milk if nobody’s going to drink it."
- "I was going to cut the grass, but it started raining."
- "Mary is going to have another baby. I'll most probably have blue eyes, because both parents do."
- "I’ve already agreed on a price, so I’m going to buy it regardless."
- "I’ve been going to stop by for ages, but I’ve only just found time."
- "I have been told about a row house going to be available soon."
Etymology
From Middle English goyng to, first attested in 1483—some earlier attestations have been claimed, though these are disputed—and grammaticalized over the course of the Early Modern period. Possibly influenced by the comparable use of Middle French aller (“go”), which arose somewhat earlier and is preserved in modern French.
Origin
- Source language: Middle English
- First known use: first attested in 1483