my goodness

Sometimes my good·ness gra·cious
Also oh my good·ness

[mahy good-nis]

interjection

1. (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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of my goodness¹

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

“Svetlana! My goodness, you startled me! That is to say . . . good morning.”

Read more on Literature

“My goodness! I’ve heard so many amazing things about you, but I had no idea that the person I’ve been hearing about was you,” I said, recalling our days back in White Sulphur when the girls were little.

Read more on Literature

“Oh my goodness, Mrs. Goble, it’s the least we can do.”

Read more on Literature

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

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

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

Read more on Los Angeles Times