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

Taylor’s series, about the goings-on at a dude ranch and in the lives of its mostly young staff members, also starred Joe Torres, Debi Kalman, Kelly Brown, Josh Tygiel, David Brisbin, and David Lascher, whom Taylor dated in her Nickelodeon days. — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Sep. 2026

Morris contributed a logical note to sneaky goings-on, and Lupus made his silent bit seem credible. — Ed Olmstead, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2026

Half of the game's length is swallowed up by me trudging from point A to point B while characters yap endlessly about the current goings-on. — Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 10 Sep. 2026

No one is born understanding what a yield curve is, and even financial experts sometimes struggle to articulate the goings-on of the cryptic $160 trillion market. — Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 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