go

SayGOH/ɡoʊ//ɡəʉ/

Formsgoes, going, went, gone

82 meanings of go

Practice

1
move somewhereverbintransitive
To move from one place to another.
Can we go to the park after school?
This train goes through Cincinnati.
UsageSay go to school, but go home.
Similarmove, drift, wend
Oppositestop, stay, halt, remain
2
verbintransitive
To set out to do something, or to mean to do it.
She went to pick up the cup, but it fell first.
Why don't you go and get a proper job?
UsageSay go and see, or I'm going to call him.
Similarintend, plan, aim
Note
3
proceedverbintransitive
To happen or end in a certain way, as in 'How did it go?' or 'It went well.'
That went well.
How did the exam go?
UsageUse with words like well or badly: it went badly.
Similarproceed, progress
Note
4
verbintransitive
To travel somewhere to do something, or to set off and do it.
We went swimming after lunch.
I'll go and buy some milk before the shop closes.
UsageSay go shopping (not ~~incorrect: go to shopping~~) and go swimming.
Oppositestay, stop, remain
5
verbintransitive
To leave a place.
Please don't go!
Are you going already? You just got here!
UsageSay I have to go when you leave.
Similarleave, depart, exit, move
Oppositecome, arrive, stay, remain
Note
6
attendverbintransitive
To attend a school, church, or other place regularly.
I go to school in the village.
My brother and I went to the same school.
UsageSay go to school, with no the.
Similarattend
7
verbintransitive
To move to a new place or position, for example in a game's score.
A win tonight and the Hawks go into first place.
With that goal, our team went ahead for the first time.
Similarmove
Note
8
verbintransitive
To become, usually followed by a word for something bad.
Without treatment, the old dog may go blind.
The bread went stale because I left the bag open.
UsageSay milk goes bad, or hair goes gray.
Similarbecome, get, turn, grow
Note
9
verbintransitive
To reach or lead from one place or time to another, like a road, a fence, or old records.
The trail goes from the parking lot to the top of the hill.
These fields go right up to the road.
UsageUsed with to or back to: the road goes to the river.
Similarextend, stretch, run, reach, lead
10
change amountverbintransitive
To change from one level or setting to another.
The price of milk went from three dollars to four.
Watch the light go from red to green when it's ready.
UsageSay it went from cold to hot.
Similarchange, shift, swing
Note
11
disappearverbintransitive
To stop or disappear.
After a cup of tea, my bad mood went.
The pain will go in a day or two.
UsageSay the pain is gone.
Similardisappear, vanish, end, dissipate
Oppositeremain, stay
12
be givenverbintransitive
To be given to a person or group, often as their share.
First prize will go to the best drawing.
Her old bike went to her little brother.
UsageSay the money goes to charity.
Note
13
verbintransitive
To start doing something, often said as a signal.
You have thirty seconds, starting now. Go!
When I say go, run.
UsageSaid alone (go!) or with a cue: go when I say.
Similarstart (entry), begin, proceed
Oppositestop
Note
14
matchverbintransitive
To look or taste good together, often used with 'with'.
This red doesn't go with the drapes.
White wine goes better with fish.
UsageSay red goes with white.
Similarharmonize, match
Oppositeclash
15
pass (time)verbintransitive
To pass by, used about time.
The summer went by so fast.
Time seems to go faster every year.
UsageAsk where did the day go?
Similarpass, elapse, fly, slip
16
stay that wayverbintransitive
To stay in a certain state for a time or as a habit.
No child in this town should go hungry.
As kids, we went barefoot all summer long.
UsageSay people go hungry when they have no food.
Similarremain, stay
Note
17
verbtransitive or intransitive
To last or get by for a period of time, usually followed by 'without'.
I can't go a single day without coffee.
I've gone ten days without a cigarette.
UsageUsed with a length of time and without: go three days without sleep.
Similarlast, survive, manage, live

Less common meanings

18
verbintransitive
To choose one thing from several choices, used with "for" or "with."
I think I'll go with the chicken, please.
We looked at three cars and went for the blue one.
Similaropt, choose, pick
19
nouncountable or uncountable
A try at doing something.
My first go at baking bread was a disaster.
Have a go at the puzzle before you look at the answer.
UsageSay give it a go: try it.
Similartry, attempt, shot, stab, bash
Note
20
turn to playnouncountable or uncountable
Your turn in a game or at doing something.
It's your go.
Let your brother have a go on the machine.
UsageSay it's your go: it's your turn.
Similarturn, move
Note
21
quote speechverbcolloquialtransitive
To say something, out loud or to yourself.
I go, as if! And she's all like, whatever.
He goes, that's not fair, and walks off.
UsageIn formal writing, use say or said instead, matching the tense.
Similarsay
22
make a soundverbtransitive
To make a certain sound.
Ducks go "quack."
The balloon went "pop," and the baby laughed.
UsageSay a dog goes "woof".
Similarsay
Note
23
use the toiletverbcolloquialintransitive
To use the toilet, to pee or to poop.
Can we stop the car? I really have to go!
The puppy went on the kitchen floor again.
Similarpee, urinate, piss, wee, poop
24
belongverbintransitive
To belong in a certain place or have it as its usual spot.
The forks go in the top drawer.
This jigsaw piece goes on the other side.
UsageAsk where does it go?
Similarbelong
25
be workingverbintransitive
To work, said of a machine or engine.
Give the old lawnmower a kick and it might go.
Don't put your hand in while the motor's going!
UsageStill going strong means still working well.
Similarwork, function, run, operate
Note
26
help makeverbintransitive
To be one of the things that together make something or cause a result.
Many small kindnesses go to make a happy home.
Hard work and a little luck went to make her a star.
UsageIt goes to show means it proves.
Similarhelp, serve
Note
27
verbintransitive
To be thrown out or removed because it is not wanted.
That ugly old couch has got to go.
When we cleaned the garage, the broken bikes were the first things to go.
UsageSay the old sofa has to go.
Oppositestay, remain
Note
28
verbintransitive
To be spent or used, often until nothing is left.
Our savings go fast when the car needs repairs.
I'm never sure where all my money goes each month.
UsageSay most of my pay goes toward rent.
29
apply toverbintransitive
To be true for a person or thing, or to apply to them.
No phones at the table, and that goes for you too, Dad.
The same rules go for kids and grown-ups.
UsageSay the same goes for you: that is true for you too.
Similarhold, apply
30
dieverbintransitive
To die, said gently.
When I go, I want my ashes scattered at sea.
He went just like that, from a stroke.
UsageHe's gone can mean he has died.
Similardie, pass, perish, expire, succumb
Note
31
be soldverbintransitive
To be sold, often for a certain amount of money.
The painting went for two hundred dollars.
At that price, these shoes will go fast.
UsageSay it went for $50: it sold for $50.
Similarsell
32
turn to playverbintransitive
To take your turn in a game.
Roll the dice, and then it's my turn to go.
Can I go first? I'm the youngest.
UsageAsk who goes first?
Similarmove
33
verbintransitive
To fit through or around something.
Will the sofa go through the door?
The belt barely went around his waist.
Similarfit
34
collapseverbintransitive
To break apart or fall down.
Careful, that ceiling could go at any moment!
The dam went in the night.
UsageOften in warnings with could or might: it could go at any moment.
Similarcollapse, crumble, disintegrate
Oppositehold
Note
35
verbintransitive
To be put together or told in a certain way.
The rhyme my grandma taught me goes, "Red sky at night, sailor's delight."
How does the rest of the poem go?
UsageAsk how does the song go?
Similarrun
Note
36
a yesnouncountable or uncountable
Permission to start, or a plan that has been allowed to start.
Is Saturday's trip still a go?
The launch is a go.
UsageIt's a go means it is approved.
Similarapproval, clearance, permission, authorization
Note
37
be obeyedverbintransitive
To be the final word that everyone must follow, used about an order or opinion.
Whatever the boss says goes, understood?
In this house, what Mom says goes.
Similarstand, prevail, hold
38
fully readyadjective
Ready and working, in the phrase all systems are go.
All systems are go.
Life support is go, the voice said.
UsageUsed after is or are, often with for: the mission is go for launch.
Similarready, operational, functional
Note
39
energynoununcountable
Energy and the drive to do things.
That little car has plenty of go.
The old horse still has plenty of go.
UsageSay she has lots of go: lots of energy.
Similarenergy, vitality, vigour, spirit, zest
Note
40
board gamenoununcountable
A board game from China, played with black and white stones.
They played go every evening after dinner.
A game of go can last for hours.
UsageSay play go.
Similarbaduk, weiqi
Note
41
cheer onverbintransitiveimperative
A word you shout to cheer someone on or to say they did well.
Go, Sam! You're almost at the top!
You passed the test? Go you!
UsageShout go, team! to cheer.
Note
42
for its kindverbintransitive
Used with as to compare one thing with others of the same kind.
As dogs go, Max is pretty quiet.
As kids' movies go, this one is pretty funny.
UsageSay it's cheap, as hotels go.
Note
43
offer a priceverbtransitive or intransitive
To offer or pay a certain amount of money, as in a sale, an auction or a bet.
I'll go twenty dollars for the bike, but no more.
Fifty dollars? Sorry, I can't go any higher.
Similaroffer, bid, pay
Note
44
sessionnouncountable or uncountable
One period of time spent doing something.
He read the whole book in one go.
We painted the long fence in three goes.
UsageIn one go means without stopping.
Similarsitting, stint
Note
45
hard timenouncountable or uncountable
A time or experience, often a hard one.
She had a rough go after she lost her job.
It's been a tough go for the farmers this year.
UsageA hard go means a hard time.
Similartime
46
weakenverbintransitive
To start to fail or get worse and worse.
Grandpa says his memory is starting to go.
My phone's battery has started to go, and now it dies before lunch.
UsageSay his memory is going: getting worse.
Similarfail, deteriorate, decline
Note
47
verbintransitive
To be accepted or thought of as all right.
On the last day of school, almost anything goes.
Swearing doesn't go in our house, so watch your language.
UsageAnything goes means there are no rules.
Note
48
verb
To travel back or forward in time, in a story or in your mind.
49
verb
To open or move to a file, website, or memory.
50
verb
To cover some distance, or move in some way.
51
verb
To follow a certain road or way.
52
verb
To move down a road or path.
53
verbobsolete
To walk.
‘As for that,’ seyde Sir Trystram, ‘I may chose othir to ryde othir to go.’
1485, Thomas Malory, Le Morte d'Arthur
54
verbcolloquial
To do something, often something silly.
55
verb
To stretch along something.
56
verb
To act as something, such as to promise bail for someone.
57
verb
To help lead to a result or show something is true.
58
verb
In cricket, of a wicket, to be lost when a batter is out.
59
verb
To achieve a certain number of wins and losses, or other results, in sports.
60
verb
To make a sound.
61
verb
To use something, like the law, to settle a problem.
62
verb
To try hard or take trouble.
63
verb
To look at or think about something carefully.
64
verb
In pool or snooker, for a ball to have a clear path into a pocket.
65
verb
To be someone's boyfriend or girlfriend.
66
verb
To date or sleep with people of a certain race, or start doing so.
67
verbobsoleteUS
To get into a fight with someone.
You've shown me his weak points, and I'll go him whether you stick by me or not.
1900, Burt L. Standish, Frank Merriwell's Tricks: Or True Friends and False
68
verbslangAustralian
To attack someone physically.
69
verb
To take a certain part or share.
70
verb
To weigh or produce a certain amount.
71
verbcolloquial
To want or like something, such as a drink.
72
verbdialectalAustraliaMulticultural London EnglishSingaporeUK
Informal in Britain, Australia and Singapore: to go to a place, leaving out the words "to the".
73
verb
To be pregnant for a certain time.
74
nounrare
Moving from place to place, or leaving.
They talk easily together and they hear the come and go of the breeze in the soon to be turning burnt leaves of the high trees.
2009, Mark Raney, David Midgett
75
noundated
Something that happens, often surprising.
“It’s a rum go and no mistake.”
2018, Colin Dexter, Russell Lewis
76
noun
Something done, or the working or running of something.
77
noundated
What is fashionable now.
We are blowing each other out of the market with cheapness; but it is all the go, so we must not be behind the age.
1852, Jane Thomas (née Pinhorn), The London and Paris ladies' magazine of fashion (page 97)
78
noundated
Loud fun.
79
nounarchaic
A glass of strong alcohol.
“Then, if you value it so highly,” I said, “you can hardly object to stand half a go of brandy for its recovery.”
1868, In a City Bus, in the Eclectic Magazine
80
noundated
One helping of something.
81
noun
In cribbage, the point when a player cannot lay down a card without going over 31.
82
nounobsoleteBritish
A man who dresses in the latest fashion.
He's a go among the goes, is Mr. Kestrel. He's only got to sport a new kind of topper, or tie his crumpler a new way, and every gentry-cove in town does just the same.
2012, Kate Ross, A Broken Vessel

More uses

be going toused to talk about the future or about plans, as in it's going to rain

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of go apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1–39, 41–47

This is a very old English word for moving from one place to another. It comes from Old English "gān" and goes back to ancient Germanic and Indo-European roots.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Go is an old English word inherited from Old English gān. en.wikipedia.org
Go has Germanic and Indo-European roots. en.wikipedia.org

Meaning 40

This is the name of a board game. It comes from the Japanese word "go", a short form of "igo", which came from Chinese "weiqi", meaning "encirclement board game".

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Go is the name of a board game. en.wiktionary.org
English go comes from Japanese go, a shortened form of igo. en.wiktionary.org
Japanese igo derives from Chinese weiqi, literally meaning encirclement board game. en.wiktionary.org