offing

Meaning

Noun

1. The area of the sea in which a ship can be seen in the distance from land, excluding the parts nearest the shore, and beyond the anchoring ground.
2. The distance that a ship at sea keeps away from land, often because of navigational dangers, fog and other hazards; a position at a distance from shore.
3. (figuratively) The foreseeable future. Chiefly in the phrase in the offing.

Verb

present participle and gerund of off

off

• Adv
• Adj
• Prep
• Verb
• Noun

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Synonyms

high seas

coast

forthcoming

main

off

Translations

ανοικτό πέλαγος

offene See

مُسْتقْبل قرِيب

مُسْتقْبل وشِيك

hohe See

offenes Meer

πέλαγος

ανοικτή θάλασσα

large

haute mer

iminente

beira-mar

posteridade

en perspectiva

عرض البحر

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɒfɪŋ/

Etymology

From off + -ing. Attested since before 1600. Early texts also spell the term offin and offen.