Which meaning best describes the word ongoing?

• A. Continuing
• B. Happening at the present time
• C. In progress
• D. Lingering

Answer: (C)

Ongoing describes something that continues over time and has not yet finished. That sense fits best with in progress, a standard way to label a task or process that is currently underway and not complete. For example, a project can be ongoing, meaning work is still happening and the outcome isn’t finalized yet.

Continuing is close, but in progress more precisely conveys the idea of a task or activity that is actively underway. Happening at the present time focuses on the immediate moment, which can be true for ongoing things but doesn’t emphasize the ongoing duration. Lingering suggests persistence beyond what’s expected, often with a negative nuance, which isn’t the intended sense of ongoing.