go
1 Americanverb (used without object)
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to move or proceed, especially to or from something.
They're going by bus.
- Antonyms:
- stay
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to leave a place; depart.
People were coming and going all the time.
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to keep or be in motion; function or perform as required.
Can't you go any faster in your work?
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to become as specified.
to go crazy.
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to continue in a certain state or condition; be habitually.
to go barefoot.
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to act as specified.
Go warily if he wants to discuss terms.
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to act so as to come into a certain state or condition.
to go into debt; to go to sleep.
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to be known.
to go by a false name.
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to reach, extend, or give access to.
Where does this door go?
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to pass or elapse.
The time went fast.
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to be applied, allotted, awarded, transferred, etc., to a particular recipient or purpose.
My money goes for food and rent.
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to be sold: I have a bid of two hundred dollars. Going! Going! Gone!
The house went for very little.
I have a bid of two hundred dollars. Going! Going! Gone!
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to be considered generally or usually.
He's short, as basketball players go.
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to serve as a means.
This only goes to prove the point.
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to result or end; turn out.
How did the game go?
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to belong; have a place.
This book goes on the top shelf.
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(of colors, styles, etc.) to harmonize; be compatible; be suited.
Your tweed jacket would go better with these pants.
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to fit around or into; be able to be extended, contained, inserted, etc..
This belt won't go around my waist.
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to be or become consumed, spent, finished, etc..
The cake went fast.
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to be or become discarded, dismissed, put aside, forgotten, etc..
Those practical jokes of yours have got to go!
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to develop, progress, or proceed, especially with reference to success or satisfaction.
How is your new job going?
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to move or proceed with remarkable speed or energy.
Look at that airplane go!
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to make a certain sound.
The gun goes bang.
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to be phrased, written, or composed.
How does that song go?
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to seek or have recourse for a decision, verdict, corroboration, defense, etc.; resort.
to go to court.
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to become worn-out, weakened, ineffective, etc..
His eyesight is beginning to go.
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to die.
The old man went peacefully at 3 a.m.
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to fail, break, or give way.
The dike might go any minute.
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to come into action; begin.
Go when you hear the bell.
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to make up a quantity or content; be requisite.
Sixteen ounces go to the pound.
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to be able to be divided; be contained as a mathematical element.
Three goes into fifteen five times.
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to contribute to an end result.
the items that go to make up the total.
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to have as one's goal; intend (usually used in the present tense, followed by an infinitive).
Their daughter is going to be a doctor.
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to be permitted, approved, or the like.
Around here, anything goes.
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to be authoritative; be the final word.
This is my house, and what I say goes!
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to subject oneself.
Don't go to any trouble.
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(used in the infinitive as an intensifier to indicate the idea of proceeding, especially with the expectation of serious consequences).
He finally had to go ask for a loan.
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Informal. to urinate or defecate.
verb (used with object)
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Informal. to risk, pay, afford, bet, or bid.
I'll go fifty dollars for a ticket, but no more.
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to move or proceed with or according to.
Going my way?
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to share or participate in to the extent of (often followed by a complementary substantive).
to go halves.
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to yield, produce, weigh as a usable amount, or grow to.
This field will go two bales of cotton.
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to assume the obligation, responsibility, or function of.
His father went bail for him.
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Informal. to enjoy, appreciate, desire, or want.
I could go a big steak dinner right now.
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Informal. to say, declare, think, or feel (usually used to introduce reported speech or thought).
I asked the clerk for my receipt, and he goes, “You don't need it.”
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Informal. to endure or tolerate.
I can't go his preaching.
noun
plural
goes-
the act of going.
the come and go of the seasons.
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energy, spirit, or animation.
a man with a lot of go.
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a try at something; attempt.
to have a go at winning the prize.
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a successful accomplishment; success.
to make a go of a new business.
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Informal. approval or permission, as to undertake or begin something.
The boss gave us the go on the new project.
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Informal. a business agreement; deal; bargain.
Thirty dollars? It's a go.
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Boxing. a bout.
the main go.
interjection
adjective
verb phrase
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go into
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to discuss or investigate.
Let's not go into the question of whose fault it was.
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to undertake as one's study or work.
to go into medicine.
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go over
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to repeat; review.
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to be effective or successful.
The proposal went over very well with the trustees.
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to examine.
The mechanic went over the car but found nothing wrong.
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to read; scan.
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go after to attempt to obtain; strive for.
You'll never get what you want if you don't go after it energetically.
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go through
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to bear; experience.
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to examine or search carefully.
He went through all of his things but couldn't find the letter.
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to be successful; be accepted or approved.
The proposed appropriation will never go through.
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to use up; spend completely.
He went through his allowance in one day.
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go ahead to proceed without hesitation or delay.
If you want to use my car, go ahead.
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go for
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to make an attempt at; try for.
He is going for the championship.
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to assault.
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to favor; like.
It simply isn't the kind of life you would go for.
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to be used for the purpose of or be a substitute for.
material that goes for silk.
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go at
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to assault; attack.
He’s lucky I went at him with just my fists when I could have gone at him with a weapon.
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to begin or proceed vigorously.
to go at one's work with a will.
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go back on. back.
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go through with to persevere with to the end; bring to completion.
It was perhaps the biggest challenge of her life, and she resolved to go through with it.
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go up
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to be in the process of construction, as a building.
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to increase in cost, value, etc.
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to forget one's lines during a theatrical performance.
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British. to go to a university at the beginning of a term.
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go down
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to decrease or subside, as in amount or size.
Prices went down. The swelling is going down.
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to descend or sink.
When does the sun go down?
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to suffer defeat.
to go down fighting.
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to be accepted or believed.
This nonsense goes down as truth with many persons.
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to admit of being consumed.
This food goes down easily.
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to be remembered in history or by posterity.
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Slang. to happen; occur.
What's been going down since I've been away?
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British. to leave a university, permanently or at the end of a term.
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Bridge. to fall short of making one's contract.
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Slang: Vulgar. to perform fellatio or cunnilingus.
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go under
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to be overwhelmed or ruined; fail.
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(of a ship) to founder.
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go in with to join in a partnership or union; combine with.
He asked me to go in with him on the purchase of a boat.
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go by
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to be disregarded or not taken advantage of.
Don't let this chance go by.
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to be guided by or to rely upon.
Don't go by what she says.
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go out
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to come to an end, especially to fade in popularity.
Silent movies went out as soon as the talkies were perfected.
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to cease or fail to function.
The lights went out.
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to participate in a social activity.
We usually go out drinking on Friday nights.
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Informal. to have a continuing romantic relationship.
They went out for about a year before getting married.
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to take part in a strike.
The printers went out yesterday in a contract dispute.
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Rummy. to dispose of the last card in one's hand by melding it on the table.
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Cards. to achieve a point score equal to or above the score necessary to win the game.
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go off
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to explode, fire, or perform or begin to function abruptly.
A gun went off in the distance.
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(of what has been expected or planned) to happen.
The interview went off very badly.
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to leave, especially suddenly.
She went off without saying goodbye.
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to die.
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to deteriorate.
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Slang. to experience orgasm.
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go on
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to happen or take place.
What's going on here?
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to continue.
Go on working.
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to behave; act.
Don't go on like that!
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to talk effusively; chatter.
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(used to express disbelief ).
Go on, you're kidding me.
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to appear onstage in a theatrical performance.
I go on in the middle of the second act.
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go in for
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to adopt as one's particular interest; approve of; like.
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to occupy oneself with; engage in.
Europeans in increasing numbers are going in for camping.
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go around
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to be often in company (often followed bywith ).
to go around with a bad crowd.
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to be sufficient for all.
Is there enough food to go around?
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to pass or circulate, as in transmission or communication.
The rumor is going around that he was forced to resign.
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go about
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to occupy oneself with; perform.
The shoemaker goes about his work with a smile.
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Nautical. to change course by tacking or wearing.
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go along
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to move or proceed.
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to accompany in travel.
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to agree; concur.
I can't go along with you on that idea.
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go with to have a continuing romantic relationship with; date.
He went with her for two years.
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go against to be in conflict with or opposed to.
It goes against the company's policy.
idioms
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go for broke. broke.
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go bananas. bananas.
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go native. native.
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go the whole hog. whole hog.
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let oneself go,
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to free oneself of inhibitions or restraint.
Let yourself go and get mad once in a while.
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to let one's physical appearance decline; stop taking care of one's appearance.
aging TV stars who've really let themselves go.
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go ape over / for. ape.
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go to it, to begin vigorously and at once.
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go down on, to perform fellatio or cunnilingus on.
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let go,
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to release one's grasp or hold.
Please let go of my arm.
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to free; release.
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to cease to employ; dismiss.
Business was slack and many employees were let go.
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to become unrestrained; abandon inhibitions.
She'd be good fun if she would just let go and enjoy herself.
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to dismiss; forget; discard.
Once he has an idea, he never lets go of it.
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let go with, to express or utter with abandon.
He let go with a sudden yell.
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go steady. steady.
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on the go,
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very busy; active.
She's always on the go.
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while going from place to place; while traveling.
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no go. no-go.
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go it alone, to act or proceed independently, without assistance, companionship, or the like.
If you don't want to form a partnership, I'll go it alone.
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to go, (of food) for consumption off the premises where sold.
coffee to go.
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from the word “go”, from the very start; since the beginning.
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go at it,
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to fight or argue vehemently or violently.
My brothers went at it all the time when they were younger, but never did more damage than a black eye or two.
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to have sex or engage in passionate kissing and caressing; make out.
There were couples going at it in all of the parked cars on Lover’s Lane.
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go for it, to pursue a goal with determination.
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go there, to discuss or think about a specific, typically undesirable topic (usually used negatively).
No personal questions, please—I don't go there.
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go together,
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to be appropriate or harmonious.
The rug and curtains don't go together.
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Informal. to keep company; date; court.
They have gone together for two years.
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go to!,
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you don't say! I don't believe you!
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let's do it! come on!
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go and, to be so thoughtless, unfortunate, or silly as to.
It was going to be a surprise but he went and told her.
noun
abbreviation
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general office.
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general order.
verb
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to move or proceed, esp to or from a point or in a certain direction
to go to London
to go home
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(tr; takes an infinitive, often with to omitted or replaced by and) to proceed towards a particular person or place with some specified intention or purpose
I must go and get that book
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to depart
we'll have to go at eleven
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to start, as in a race: often used in commands
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to make regular journeys
this train service goes to the east coast
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to operate or function effectively
the radio won't go
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(copula) to become
his face went red with embarrassment
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to make a noise as specified
the gun went bang
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to enter into a specified state or condition
to go into hysterics
to go into action
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to be or continue to be in a specified state or condition
to go in rags
to go in poverty
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to lead, extend, or afford access
this route goes to the north
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to proceed towards an activity
to go to supper
to go to sleep
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(tr; takes an infinitive) to serve or contribute
this letter goes to prove my point
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to follow a course as specified; fare
the lecture went badly
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to be applied or allotted to a particular purpose or recipient
her wealth went to her son
his money went on drink
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to be sold or otherwise transferred to a recipient
the necklace went for three thousand pounds
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to be ranked; compare
this meal is good as my meals go
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to blend or harmonize
these chairs won't go with the rest of your furniture
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to be known (by a name or disguise)
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to fit or extend
that skirt won't go round your waist
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to have a usual or proper place
those books go on this shelf
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(of music, poetry, etc) to be sounded; expressed, etc
how does that song go?
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to fail or give way
my eyesight is going
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to break down or collapse abruptly
the ladder went at the critical moment
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to die
the old man went at 2 am
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(often foll by by)
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(of time) to elapse
the hours go by so slowly at the office
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to travel past
the train goes by her house at four
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to be guided (by)
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to occur
happiness does not always go with riches
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to be eliminated, abolished, or given up
this entry must go to save space
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to be spent or finished
all his money has gone
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to circulate or be transmitted
the infection went around the whole community
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to attend
go to school
go to church
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to join a stated profession
go to the bar
go on the stage
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(foll by to) to have recourse (to); turn
to go to arbitration
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(foll by to) to subject or put oneself (to)
she goes to great pains to please him
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to proceed, esp up to or beyond certain limits
you will go too far one day and then you will be punished
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to be acceptable or tolerated
anything goes in this place
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to carry the weight of final authority
what the boss says goes
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(foll by into) to be contained in
four goes into twelve three times
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(often foll by for) to endure or last out
we can't go for much longer without water in this heat
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(tr) cards to bet or bid
I go two hearts
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informal (tr) to have as one's weight
I went 112 pounds a year ago
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to start to act so as to
go shut the door
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to leave so as to
go blow your brains out
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informal to perform well; be successful
that group can really go
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not_standard (tr) to say: widely used, esp in the historic present, in reporting dialogue
Then she goes, ``Give it to me!'' and she just snatched it
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informal to be so foolish or unlucky as to
then she had to go and lose her hat
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to intend or be about to start (to do or be doing something): often used as an alternative future construction
what's going to happen to us?
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slang to become crazy, enraged, or out of control
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slang to become crazy or extremely enthusiastic about
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to be mislaid; go missing
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to act as surety
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See bush 1
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See half
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(often foll by with) to cause trouble or unhappiness (to)
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slang to do something or move energetically
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informal to act or proceed without allies or help
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informal to approve of or be in agreement with (something): usually used in the negative
I don't go much on the idea
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informal to surpass or outdo (someone)
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informal See hog
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to relax one's hold (on); release
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euphemistic to dismiss (from employment)
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to discuss or consider no further
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to act in an uninhibited manner
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to lose interest in one's appearance, manners, etc
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remaining
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informal (of food served by a restaurant) for taking away
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noun
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the act of going
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informal
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an attempt or try
he had a go at the stamp business
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an attempt at stopping a person suspected of a crime
the police are not always in favour of the public having a go
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an attack, esp verbal
she had a real go at them
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a turn
it's my go next
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informal the quality of being active and energetic
she has much more go than I
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informal hard or energetic work
it's all go
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informal a successful venture or achievement
he made a go of it
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informal a bout or attack (of an illness)
he had a bad go of flu last winter
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informal an unforeseen, usually embarrassing or awkward, turn of events
here's a rum go
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informal a bargain or agreement
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informal very popular; in fashion
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informal from the very beginning
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See get-up-and-go
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informal impossible; abortive or futile
it's no go, I'm afraid
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informal active and energetic
adjective
abbreviation
noun
Etymology
Origin of go1
First recorded before 900; Middle English gon, Old English gān; cognate with Old High German gēn, German gehen
Origin of go2
First recorded in 1840–50; from Japanese, shortening of earlier igo, from Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese wéi qí “encirclement board game”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“I reach out to my favorite stars, my favorite celebrities, and I go, ‘It’s Kendra.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026
"I know she's always wanted to go travelling and this was like the perfect opportunity for her to go and do it," says the 24-year-old finance assistant.
From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026
Chad Seaman, a researcher at Akamai, joked at one point that the internet could go down if Brundage spent too much time on his exams.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026
Amazon informed sellers that the surcharge, which will go into effect on April 17, will be calculated on fulfillment fees, not on the sale price of items.
From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026
He pressed the key chain into her hand but didn’t let go of it or her.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
