- the quality of being good
- the essential goodness of human nature
- evidence of God’s goodness
- (formal) At least have the goodness (= good manners) to look at me when I'm talking to you.
- We like to think that goodness exists in everyone.
Which Word? good / goodnessgood / goodness- The noun good means actions and behaviour that are morally right. You can talk about a person doing good:
- The charity does a lot of good.
- He wanted to use his power and influence for good.
- Goodness is the quality of being good. You can talk about a person’s goodness:
- Her goodness shone through.
Definitions on the go
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- the part of something that has a useful effect on somebody/something, especially somebody’s health
- These vegetables have had all the goodness boiled out of them.
- Branches pruned from the trees are shredded so the goodness goes back into the soil.
Word OriginOld English gōdnes (see good, -ness).
Idioms
See goodness in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee goodness in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic EnglishGod/goodness/Heaven knows (informal) Some people may find this use of God offensive.
- used to emphasize that you do not know something
- God knows what else they might find.
- ‘Where are they?’ ‘Goodness knows.’
- used to emphasize the truth of what you are saying
- She ought to pass the exam—goodness knows she's been working hard enough.
Goodness! | Goodness me! | My goodness! | Goodness gracious!
- (informal) used to express surprise
- Goodness, what a big balloon!
- My goodness, you have been busy!
- Goodness me, no!
honest to God/goodness
- used to emphasize that what you are saying is true
- Honest to God, Mary, I'm not joking.
out of the goodness of your heart
- because of kind feelings, without thinking about what advantage there will be for you
- You're not telling me he offered to lend you the money out of the goodness of his heart?
thank God/goodness/heaven(s) (for something)
- used to say that you are pleased about something
- Thank God you're safe!
- ‘Thank goodness for that!’ she said with a sigh of relief.
- Thank heavens I've found my keys.
to God/goodness/Heaven
- used after a verb to emphasize a particular hope, wish, etc.
- I wish to God you'd learn to pay attention!
Check pronunciation:
goodness