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

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

The sibling drama, meanwhile, rather fades out of view amid these loftier goings-on; the film’s narrative begins to feel devised by the old parlor game Consequences, repeatedly wrenched in erratic new directions. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 31 Aug. 2026

She’s given a worthy avatar in Mason, who brings an appropriately surreal understanding to the goings-on in Effie’s life, but never turns Effie into a caricature. — Charles Lewis Iii, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 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