That part of the sea at a good distance from the shore, or where there is deep water and no need of a pilot; also, distance from the shore; as, the ship had ten miles offing; we saw a ship in the offing.

Implies out at sea, or at a good distance from the shore, where there is deep water and no need for a pilot to conduct the ship.

the part of the sea that can be seen from the shore and is beyond the anchoring area; "there was a ship in the offing"

the near or foreseeable future; "there was a wedding in the offing"

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