goodness
goodness — noun
1. the healthy substances in food that help your body grow, repair itself, and stay
the healthy substances in food that help your body grow, repair itself, and stay strong
Aylin always saves the water from boiled vegetables because it contains the goodness.
uncountable: the goodness / all the goodness
Eli eats raw carrots because he believes they give him more goodness that way.
The soup lost all its goodness after boiling on the stove for hours.
Brown rice keeps more of its natural goodness because the outer layer stays on.
- nutrition
more scientific and general; 'goodness' implies natural, unprocessed benefit
- nourishment
focuses on what the body needs to grow and stay healthy; 'goodness' is more everyday and informal
- benefit
wider in meaning, covering non-food advantages; 'goodness' is specific to food
用法筆記
Only used as an uncountable noun. Often appears with possessive determiners ('its goodness', 'all the goodness') or before 'of' ('the goodness of whole grains').
2. the inner quality that makes a person kind, honest, and morally good in the way
the inner quality that makes a person kind, honest, and morally good in the way they treat others
Iker showed his goodness when he gave his lunch to a homeless stranger.
The story teaches children about the goodness of helping others without reward.
uncountable: the goodness of + gerund
Ritu's grandmother was famous in the village for her kindness and goodness.
Small acts of goodness can make a big difference in a troubled world.
- virtue
more formal and suggests a moral quality developed through effort; 'goodness' feels more innate
- kindness
focuses specifically on gentle, caring behaviour; 'goodness' is broader in scope
- morality
refers to a system of principles rather than a personal quality; 'goodness' is more about character than rules
- evil
the most direct opposite; deliberate harm or cruelty
- wickedness
stronger and more dramatic; suggests active malice rather than simple lack of goodness
用法筆記
Commonly paired with other abstract nouns like 'kindness', 'mercy', and 'grace'. 'Goodness' emphasises a natural, inborn quality of character rather than an acquired habit.
常見錯誤
goodness — exclamation
1. used on its own to show that you are surprised, shocked, or strongly moved by so
used on its own to show that you are surprised, shocked, or strongly moved by something unexpected
Goodness! Amihan nearly dropped her phone when she heard the news.
standalone exclamation: Goodness!
Oh my goodness! Felix had no idea the party was a surprise for him.
variants: oh my goodness / goodness gracious / my goodness
Goodness gracious! Ava screamed as the puppy ran through the open door.
My goodness! Sumin could not believe how fast the children had grown.
用法筆記
Can be used alone ('Goodness!') or in longer forms such as 'oh my goodness', 'my goodness', and 'goodness gracious'. Common in everyday speech across all age groups.