Incoming describes something that's arriving or coming toward you right now. When a teacher announces incoming homework assignments, they're telling you about work that's about to be given. When someone yells “Incoming!” they're warning that something (often a ball, a water balloon, or in more serious situations, danger) is headed your way.

The word captures that sense of approach and immediacy. Incoming calls and messages are ones arriving at your phone. An incoming tide is moving toward shore. Schools talk about the incoming class of students, the new group who will arrive next fall.

You'll often hear the word used as a warning or alert. In dodgeball, a teammate might shout “Incoming!” to help you dodge a throw. The word creates urgency because it means something is happening now, not later. When meteorologists track an incoming storm, they're watching it move closer.

The opposite is outgoing, which describes things leaving or departing. Outgoing mail goes away from you, while incoming mail arrives to you. An outgoing president is finishing their term, while an incoming president is about to start.