were going out

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were going out" is not correct in written English.
Did you mean "we're going out"? You can use "we're going out" to indicate that a group of people, including the speaker, is leaving a place to go somewhere else, typically for social activities. Example: "After dinner, we're going out to see a movie."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

My buddies were going out for baseball.

The New York Times - Sports

Beyond us, the lights in the dormitories were going out.

The New Yorker

And we were going out of our minds.

The New Yorker

"You were going out in all sorts of weather.

The Guardian

Too many imaginative babies were going out with the bathwater.

The Guardian - Books

While we were going out, three, four more boats arrived.

The Guardian

Nobody on our crew even knew we were going out.

The New Yorker

Within a few months they were going out.

The New York Times - Magazine

Raychelle Burwell and this boy were going out.

The New York Times

They were going out of their way, when they didn't have to do that for you.

University of California, Berkeley

"They cover up like they were going out into the Arabian Desert," he says.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

If you intend to describe that the mentioned group is leaving a place, use alternatives such as "we are heading out" or "we're leaving".

Common error

A common mistake is using "were going out" when the intended meaning is present continuous. Remember that "were" is past tense. If you mean to say you are currently leaving, use "we are going out".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were going out" functions as a verb phrase, typically used in the past continuous tense to describe an ongoing action or state in the past. This includes describing past social activities, relationships, or departures.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Academia

12%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were going out" is generally used to describe past continuous actions or states, such as social activities, relationships, or departures. However, Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase may not always be grammatically correct, depending on the intended meaning. Consider alternatives such as "we're heading out" or "we're leaving", and pay attention to subject-verb agreement and tense consistency to avoid common errors. Top authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian frequently use this phrase, though careful consideration of context is always recommended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we're heading out

Suggests a departure or movement, similar to going out, with an emphasis on the action of leaving.

we're stepping out

Implies a brief or casual outing, often for leisure or social purposes.

we're leaving

A direct and simple way to indicate departure from a place.

we're off

A casual way of saying that one is leaving or departing.

we're departing

A more formal way of saying that one is leaving.

we're exiting

Focuses on the action of leaving a specific place or location.

we're venturing out

Suggests a more adventurous or exploratory type of outing.

we're on our way

Indicates that the speaker and others are in the process of travelling to a destination.

we're hitting the town

Implies going out for entertainment or social activities in a town or city.

we're going for a stroll

Suggests a leisurely walk or outing, usually for relaxation or pleasure.

FAQs

How to use "were going out" correctly in a sentence?

Use "were going out" to describe a continuous action in the past, for example: "They said that they "were going out" for a walk when the rain started".

What's the difference between "were going out" and "are going out"?

"Were going out" refers to a past continuous action, while "are going out" refers to a present continuous action. For example, "They "were going out" last night" (past), vs. "They "are going out" tonight" (present).

Can "were going out" refer to a romantic relationship?

Yes, "were going out" can imply a past romantic relationship, meaning that two people had a romantic relationship, but they don't anymore. For example: "They "were going out" for a while, but they broke up last year".

What can I say instead of "were going out" to indicate leaving a place?

To indicate leaving a place you can use alternatives such as "were heading out" or "were leaving".