what's going on
The present circumstances
What's going on is a greeting or inquiry about current circumstances.
As a casual hello, it's interchangeable with "what's up": Hey, what's going on?
As a genuine question, it asks someone to explain a situation: What's going on here?
What's going on with you two?
The tone—friendly greeting versus concerned demand—depends entirely on context.
- askingPosing questions
- wassupInformal greeting inquiry
- investigatingSeeking facts systematically
- currentDirected flow of charge
- presentGift or current moment
hey · happening · curiosity · surprise · hubbub · wonder · out of the loop · situation · questioning · yo · update · commotion · news · breaking news · concern · inquisitiveness · unfolding · current events
what's going ongoodbye
Departing salutation
see you later · farewell · bye · take care · catch you later
what's going onwhatever
Expression of apathy
leave me alone · not interested · mind your own business · go away · talk to the hand
what, going, outgoing, whatever, ongoing, forthcoming, upcoming, whatnot, undergoing