When it comes to sex in 2025, it seems there’s one big question: What on earth is gooning?
The nsfw term was one of the top five most googled slang words this year, with 28,000 searches from curious Brits — that’s roughly 77 searches a day.
It was also the UK’s top kink in 2024, with Sensuali’s Kink Index revealing a 778% surge in searches for it over the past five years.
In a nutshell, if you’re a fan of meditation, just add some healthy masturbation into the mix and deprive yourself of a climax — and there you have it: gooning.
Gooning doesn’t always have to involve meditation, though; instead, sex expert Ness Cooper says it’s similar to edging.
Ness tells Metro: ‘It’s simply like edging but more intense. Edging is when someone slowly masturbates to the point of orgasm and then stops. In gooning, people are more likely to repeat this process over an extended period.
‘Gooning is meant to put people into a trance-like state due to
edging so often and so soon after each round. Standard edging can have
more forceful stops, while gooning can feel more like teasing.
‘For some, it can involve watching porn. Some may also carry out fetish
tasks between and during stages of gooning.
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‘Some suggest it can lead to euphoric feelings from repeated exposure to feel-good hormones.’
Fetish tasks could be absolutely anything, including the Giantess fetish, which was the most searched-for fetish in 2023.
Ness explains that gooning is an activity often given to submissives by their dominant.
‘Due to the emotional connection as well as pleasurable sensations and hormones, it can make some feel a fake form of loved-up vibes or decoration for their Dom,’ she adds.
But where on earth did the concept of having a goon come from?
Ness clarifies that while edging and gooning have been practiced for a long time,the term gooning has only recently been coined.
She explains: ‘Some dominants and porn producers started using the term on paid for porn sites just before the pandemic hit.
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‘At first, many used it as a word to humiliate their submissives more during a sexual act, by making it less personal to the sub and more about an action the sub does for the dom.
‘There’s a lot of power play around words here. Now it’s used as a general term for prolonged edging even if you’re not submissive. It’s generally used by cis-men performing edging, however, more and more women are gooning now too.’
Gooning does come with a warning, though. Lube is essential!
According to Ness, the practice can lead to fissures if performed over a long period of time, and genitals can become very sensitive, and you may need a break.
The most searched for terms in the UK's 2024 Kink Index:
- Gooning +778%
- Femboy +504% – Men or non-binary individuals presenting themselves in feminine ways.
- Thirst Trap +335% – Posting enticing content on social media to attract attention or validation.
- Throuple +230% – A romantic relationship involving three individuals in a consensual partnership.
- Edging +91% – Deliberately delaying orgasm to prolong sexual pleasure.
- Findom +83% – Financial domination, where one gains pleasure from controlling another’s finances.
- Shibari +62% – The intricate art of Japanese rope bondage.
- OWO +57% – An emoticon representing a surprised or curious facial expression.
- Pegging +30% – Sexual practice where a woman uses a strap-on to anally penetrate a male partner.
- Vore +26% – Fetish involving the fantasy of being consumed or consuming another being.
‘Some may find changing position during gooning helpful, as it can lead
to some muscles in the glutes and pelvic floor tensing up when performed
in one position for a very extended period,’ she advises.
It sounds like a lot of effort to us – if you’re a pillow princess, it may not be for you – so why is prolonged sexual arousal so popular?
Ness explains that it’s a good way to relieve stress. She says: ‘Many of the hormones released before as well as during, and after orgasm can help reduce stress and make you feel better.’
This article was originally published on January 23, 2024.
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