goon

1 of 3

noun

ˈgün 

plural goons

1

: a stupid person

2

a

: a man hired to terrorize or eliminate opponents

b

: enforcer sense 2b

goon

2 of 3

verb (1)

gooned; gooning; goons

vulgar slang

: masturbate

especially : to masturbate for a prolonged period of time without orgasm in order to maintain a state of arousal

go on

3 of 3

verb (2)

went on; gone on; going on; goes on

intransitive verb

1

a(1)

: to continue on or as if on a journey

left Detroit and went on to Chicago

life goes on

went on to greater things

(2)

: to travel ahead

Go on without me; I'll catch up.

b

: to keep on : continue

The meeting went on for hours.

c

: proceed

went on to win the election

d(1)

: to continue in the same situation

We can't go on like this.

(2)

: to continue living or managing one's life

I can't go on without him.

2

: to take place : happen

What's going on?

3

: to talk especially in an effusive manner

… the way people go on about their ancestors …

—Hamilton Basso

4

: to start working

The lights suddenly went on.

5

—used to urge someone to do something

Go on! Try it!

6

—used to express incredulity or skepticism

You were a spy? Oh, go on.

see also:

to go on

Synonyms of goon

Noun

• idiot
• moron
• stupid

Verb (2)

• happen
• come down
• come to pass
• be
• come about

Examples of goon in a Sentence

Noun

He was beat up by a couple of goons.

an unfortunate tendency to call those who disagree with him “brainless goons”

Verb (2)

what in the world is going on in there?

my, but Aunt Betty does go on about all of her aches and pains

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Tariffs and trade wars, Canada-bashing, Europe-bashing, the betrayal of Ukraine and embrace of Vladimir Putin, the grotesque self-enrichment of himself and his circle, the unleashing of an armed militia of ICE goons on our streets. — Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2026

Snag the whole thing up for yourself to big-dog these uppity goons. — The Editors, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026

Verb

That wild chase through Somerset House only strengthens her reckless determination to get to the bottom of what’s going on with Reed and the Black Doves in general. — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2026

But beneath the pop-culture surface, this is also a story of families, about all the chatter and the cacophonous who-knows-what that goes on when a parent dies in unusual circumstances. — Damon Wise, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

probably short for English dialect gooney simpleton

Verb (1)

perhaps derivative of goon entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1921, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

circa 2005, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for goon

• boon
• brune
• coon
• croon
• dune
• hewn
• hoon
• june
• loon
• moon
• noon
• poon

Kids Definition

goon

1 of 2 noun

ˈgün 

1

: a stupid person

2

: a person hired to terrorize or beat up or kill opponents

go on

2 of 2 verb

1

a

: to continue on or as if on a journey

life goes on

b

: to keep on : continue

went on talking

2

: to take place : happen

what's going on