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Glite Dictionary
goings-on

goings-on

14 4.1
Things that happen, often unusual, secret, or maybe dishonest
  • noun
  • /ˈɡoʊɪŋz ɑn/
  • UK
translation icon : sucesos
  • The investigation revealed some questionable goings-on at the local charity.

Examples

  • Newsle is a free app that keeps you updated on the goings-on of your LinkedIn connections.

    Blog text (8)

  • I used to report back to Dolly about all the goings-on at the agency.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • Guess you know about the goings-on at the bank.

    Hell or High Water (2016)

  • I am keeping track of all the goings-on on this street.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • I find it a quick way to get the latest goings-on in the world of education.

    Blog text (12)

  • And there were strange goings-on on the bond market today.

    A Good Year (2006)

  • Fueling an interest in politics and the goings-on of the world should start well before college.

    Blog text (1)

  • Mrs. Fitzherbert is still here, but she finally had enough of the Prince's goings-on and refuses to see him.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • The news was not about the Kennedys or Cuba or Vietnam, for those far-off goings-on did not concern us.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Fortunately, the bull elephant spent his time placidly watching the goings-on and flapping his ears idly.

    Fiction book (1998)

Synonyms

happening
vsgoings-on
19 3.4

An event that is unusual or important

focuses on events that are secret or possibly dishonest
haps
vsgoings-on
  • Slang
1 9.9

Recent news or gossip about what is happening

emphasizes secret or possibly dishonest activities rather than casual news
dealings
vsgoings-on
3.0

Contacts and activities with people and groups, often in business or official situations

refers to events often secret or possibly dishonest rather than formal transactions

Antonyms

transparency
146 3.7

Being clear so people can see or understand how something works

normalcy
  • US
36 4.1

The usual state when life returns to the expected routine

How Suspicious

to scheme
14 6.5
goings-on
  • UK
14 4.1
shenanigan
  • Informal
52 8.6
mischief
34 2.7
happening
19 3.4

Surface Forms

goings-on singular
goings-ons plural

Morphology

goings-on = go (semi-transparent) = on + go + ing + s

The expression is based on 'go' + 'on', but the noun is lexicalized and refers to happenings or activities rather than the literal action of going onward. [Postprocessing: moved 'on' from base_words to prefix]

Etymology

Goings-on comes from the everyday phrase going on (from go + on), which means 'happening' or 'continuing'. So goings-on is a way to talk about the things that are happening, often with the idea that they are strange or secret, like when people whisper, 'What's going on?'.