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Offing vs Coming - What's the difference?

offing | coming |

As nouns the difference between offing and coming

is that offing is (nautical) 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 while coming is the act of arriving; an arrival.

As verbs the difference between offing and coming

is that offing is while coming is .

As an adjective coming is

approaching; of the future, especially the near future; the next.

offing

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • (nautical) 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.
  • *1610', , ''Purchas His Pilgrimes , p84
  • *:I came to an Anchor in seven fathomes water in the offing to Sea.
  • * 1719 ,
    • I, poor miserable Robinson Crusoe, being shipwrecked during a dreadful storm in the offing , came on shore on this dismal, unfortunate island, which I called The Island of Despair ; all the rest of the ship's company being drowned, and myself almost dead.
  • *1851 ,
    • That's the Grampus's crew. I seed her reported in the offing this morning; a three years' voyage, and a full ship.
  • (nautical) 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.
  • * 1719 ,
    • …I saw the land run out a great length into the sea, at about the distance of four or five leagues before me; and the sea being very calm, I kept a large offing to make this point.
  • * 1768-71', published '''1893 ,
  • *:However, what with the help of this Ebb, and our Boats, we by Noon had got an Offing of 1 1/2 or 2 Miles, yet we could hardly flatter ourselves with hopes of getting Clear…
  • *1846 ,
  • *:We beat off shore during the whole of the night, when the weather moderated, and at daybreak we found out that we had not gained much offing , in consequence of the current…
  • (figuratively) The foreseeable future. Chiefly in the phrase in the offing .

    • Coordinate terms

    * (nautical range of sight) (l)

    Derived terms

    * in the offing

    Verb

    (head)

    • coming

    English

    Etymology 1

    Verb

    (head)

    • Etymology 2

    From (etyl) present participle of

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The act of arriving; an arrival
    • Derived terms
    * second coming

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Approaching; of the future, especially the near future; the next.
    • We expect great things from you this coming year.
    She will have two or three paintings in the coming exhibition.
  • * Byron
    • your coming days and years
  • Deserved.
    • When he was fired, nobody was surprised or upset because they thought he had it coming .
  • Newly in fashion; advancing into maturity or achievement.
    • Ergonomic wallets are the coming thing.
  • (obsolete) Ready to come; complaisant; fond.
    • (Alexander Pope)

    Derived terms

    * coming on * up-and-coming

    Anagrams

    * gnomic