A mild exclamation of surprise, wonder, alarm, dismay, annoyance, or exasperation. Goodness, look at the time! How is it nearly midnight already? My goodness, Bill, would it kill you to take out the trash once in a while? Goodness, that cyclist nearly hit me!

An interjection denoting shock, distress, or surprise. My goodness, you look like something the cat dragged in! My goodness, is that you, James? I haven't seen you in 20 years!