incoming

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "incoming" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in various contexts to refer to something that is approaching or arriving. For example, you could say: "I heard the incoming mail truck drive up to the mailbox."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

At 97, he is obviously not as physically robust as people remember him – as with one of his successors at No 11, Lord Lawson, one sees a slimmer version – but still mentally alert, a genial host, who proudly showed us (I was with Alun Evans, incoming British Academy chief executive) around various studies, and an impressive collection of books, paintings and photographs.

The Guardian

The panel agreed that more staff are needed and Dr Ruth May, incoming nurse director at the regulator, Monitor, said: "In the post-Francis era, we have needed and will continue to need more nurses".

The Guardian

Katharine Viner, incoming editor-in-chief, Guardian US, said: "I'm thrilled that Eamonn will be joining me at this exciting point in the development of the Guardian's US edition.

The Guardian

If the yes campaign turns the general election into another contest over Scotland's constitutional future, under the stronger centre-left platform favoured by incoming SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, pro-union voters would themselves vote tactically to block a nationalist campaign and support the strongest pro-UK candidate.

The Guardian

Most of the firing appeared to be from Amisom troops after short bursts of "incoming" fire from al-Shabaab.

The Guardian

Prepare for incoming numbers and percentages.

The Guardian

The Business Council, a group of executive grandees, no longer puts an incoming chief executive immediately on its membership list, the New York Times reported recently: it prefers to wait and see if the newcomer will last any longer than his predecessor.Why is life at the top suddenly so fleeting?

The Economist

But how are such attacks carried out?A website is technically a "service", a software-based system that responds in a particular way to incoming requests from client software in this case a web browser.

The Economist

"No single market should drive the growth and composition of a country's incoming postgraduate body," said Zainab Malik, director of research for British Council education intelligence.

The Guardian

Rogers had previously spent a good two minutes while in the middle calling for a spectator in a white shirt to move so that he could have better visibility of the incoming bowler.

The Guardian - Sport

The number of instances of "bed-blocking" was the same as the last week, with 4,000 hospital beds unavailable for incoming patients because of delays in transfers of occupants to care elsewhere.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "incoming" to clearly indicate something or someone that is arriving or about to arrive. It's effective in contexts ranging from messages and data to personnel and events.

Common error

Avoid using "incoming" when you mean something is currently happening or in progress. "Incoming" indicates arrival or imminence, while "ongoing" describes a continuous process.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "incoming" is as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate something that is arriving, approaching, or succeeding something else. Ludwig AI confirms its use across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "incoming" functions primarily as an adjective denoting arrival or succession. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a grammatically sound and widely used term across diverse fields. With a frequency rated as "Very common", "incoming" appears most often in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Scientific contexts. While alternatives like "arriving" or "approaching" exist, "incoming" maintains a specific nuance in emphasizing imminence or succession, cementing its place in effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

arriving

Focuses on the action of reaching a destination; more specific about the act of arrival.

entering

Emphasizes the act of going into a place or state; slightly less broad than "incoming".

approaching

Highlights the movement towards a destination; may not always imply arrival.

succeeding

Specifically refers to taking over a position or role; applicable in contexts of succession.

prospective

Indicates something that is likely to happen or become; suggests potential rather than current arrival.

new

Emphasizes the novelty or recentness of something; may not always imply movement.

future

Refers to what will exist or happen in the time ahead; broader and less immediate than "incoming".

next

Indicates the following item in a sequence; applicable in contexts of succession or order.

oncoming

Describes something approaching, often with a sense of force or impact; more directional.

impending

Suggests that something is about to happen, often with a sense of urgency or threat; more about timing.

FAQs

How can I use "incoming" in a sentence?

You can use "incoming" to describe something that is approaching or arriving, such as "incoming mail", "incoming calls", or "the incoming administration".

What's a synonym for "incoming"?

Depending on the context, you could use "arriving", "entering", or "approaching" as alternatives to "incoming".

When should I use "incoming" vs. "oncoming"?

"Incoming" generally refers to something arriving or becoming available, while "oncoming" typically describes something moving directly towards you, often with force. Consider using "oncoming" when referring to traffic or potential threats.

Is "incoming" formal or informal?

"Incoming" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the specific situation and subject matter.