goings-on

plural noun

go·​ings-on ˌgō-iŋ-ˈzȯn 

ˌgȯ(-)iŋ-, 

-ˈzän

1

: actions, events

the goings-on in the world

2

: irregular or reprehensible happenings or conduct

tales of strange goings-on in that old house

Examples of goings-on in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Jackie’s rise to reality stardom began after Friends of Big Bear Valley installed a webcam in 2015 to capture the goings-on of her parents’ nest. — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026

In a typical day, the house manager said, caregivers are typically busiest in the mornings to help get the tenants up, but in the afternoon tenants usually handle their own daily goings-on. — Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 9 Aug. 2026

The final test site was chosen to be far enough from Los Alamos, so the explosion would not be connected with the goings-on at the laboratory there, but close enough that scientists and engineers could easily travel to the site. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 July 2026

But the film redeems itself with its strong anti-colonialist message that provides a surprisingly serious element to the otherwise escapist goings-on. — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1775, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for goings-on

• anton
• argon
• axon
• baronne
• baryon
• baton
• boron
• buisson
• bygone
• capon
• cardon
• chiffon

Kids Definition

goings-on

plural noun

go·​ings-on

ˌgō-iŋ-ˈzȯn, 

-ˈän

: actions or events that are taking place