my goodness

American

[mahy good-nis] / ˌmaɪ ˈgʊd nɪs /

Sometimes my goodness gracious also oh my goodness

interjection

(used as an interjection to express surprise, excitement, mild alarm, etc.).

My goodness, how the time has flown!
Top that with rich, pungent blue cheese and, oh my goodness, I can't even begin to describe the flavor.

Etymology

Origin of my goodness

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"When I brought him up to the surface I realised it was actually a big adult hog - and my goodness did he smell bad," explained Andy.

From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026

"They must be from above smiling down on you and thinking, my goodness me, what a wonderful, wonderful father, husband, sister," she added.

From Barron's • Dec. 31, 2025

“I thought, ‘Oh my goodness, we have a Christmas movie here!’”

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 11, 2025

“Oh my goodness, they are the absolute best,” she says in her soft Texan twang.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 7, 2025

She would not believe in my goodness just because I could tell a story well.

From "Ida B" by Katherine Hannigan

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023