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go

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90% of the time, speakers of English use just 7,500 words in speech and writing. These words appear in red, and are graded with stars. One-star words are frequent, two-star words are more frequent, and three-star words are the most frequent.

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verb

/ɡəʊ/

present tense
I/you/we/they	go
he/she/it	goes
present participle	going
past tense	went
past participle	gone

Other entries for this word

Related dictionary definitions

more dictionary definitions

1
[intransitive] to move or travel to a place that is away from where you are now
Where did Sue go?
go to/into/through/across etc:
She went into the bathroom and rinsed her face in cold water.
The fastest way to get to the library is to go through the park.
We're planning to go to Spain this winter.
go by car/train/plane etc:
They'll be going from London to Paris by train.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
1. a.
  to leave a place
  What time are you going tomorrow?
  I'm tired; let's go.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
2. b.
  to move or travel to a place, or to leave a place, in order to do a particular thing
  go to:
  They've gone to a concert in town tonight.
  go to prison/jail:
  He went to prison for life.
  go to lunch/dinner:
  Are you ready to go to lunch yet?
  go to the doctor('s)/dentist('s)/hairdresser('s) etc:
  I'm leaving early to go to the dentist.
  go to/into hospital:
  He went into hospital for a routine operation last Tuesday.
  go and do something:
  I have to go and pick up my friends at the airport.
  go to do something:
  Jim went to buy some more ice cream about ten minutes ago.
  go shopping/fishing/dancing etc:
  On hot days the kids would go swimming in the river.
  go for a swim/ride/walk etc:
  They went for a walk round the neighbourhood.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
3. c.
  to move in a particular way or while doing a particular thing
  go crashing/flying/crying etc:
  Two jet fighters went racing across the sky.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
4. d.
  to travel to a place along a particular road or as part of a transport service
  The bus goes right to the centre of town.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
2
[intransitive] to travel to a particular place regularly in order to take part in an activity
go to:
None of her brothers went to college.
When I was young, we went to church every Sunday.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
3
[intransitive] to continue from one place or time to another
go from/to/past etc:
The 350-kilometre jungle highway going from Georgetown to Brazil was built with World Bank funds.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
4
[intransitive] to happen in a particular way
how are things going?/how's it going?:
How are things going at work?
go well/smoothly/badly etc:
I think the interview went very well.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
5
[linking verb] to change to another condition, usually a worse one
go deaf/blind/grey/bald etc:
Louise had gone completely blind before she died.
go wild/crazy/mad:
We knew they would go crazy if they ever found out.
go bad/sour/rotten:
The milk smells like it's going bad.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
1. a.
  to be in a particular state or situation, especially one in which you do not have something or in which something is not done
  go barefoot/naked etc:
  We both love going barefoot on the beach.
  go hungry:
  Thousands of people are being allowed to go hungry.
  go unseen/unheard etc:
  Most of their hard work seems to have gone unnoticed.
  It was a vicious tackle, and the referee couldn't let it go unpunished.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
6
[intransitive] to start being in a worse state, or to stop working correctly as a result of becoming old or damaged
Her hearing is really starting to go.
The battery in this watch is going.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
7
[intransitive] spoken to die
When it's your time to go, there's nothing you can do about it.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
8
[intransitive] to be usually kept or put in a particular place
go in/under/beside etc:
The spoons go in the other drawer.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
1. a.
  if something goes in a particular place, it fits there because it is the right size or shape
  There's no way all this stuff will go in the box.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
2. b.
  to be suitable, right, or attractive in a particular place or in a particular combination
  It's the kind of furniture that would go well in any room.
  I don't think these colours really go, do you?
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
9
[intransitive] to be sent
I'd like this letter to go first class.
go to:
The memo should go to all employees.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
10
[intransitive] if time goes in a particular way, it passes in that way
go fast/quickly/slowly:
This week's gone so fast – I can't believe it's Friday already.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
11
[intransitive/transitive] to continue or last for a particular amount of time while doing something
go (for) days/weeks/months etc:
He went several days without eating a single thing.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
12
[intransitive] to be spent
Where did all their money go?
go on/for:
Half of the cheque went on new shoes for the kids.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
1. a.
  if a supply of something goes, it becomes less because more and more of it is used
  We were worried because the food was completely gone and the water was going fast.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
2. b.
  to be got rid of
  have got to go:
  These old trousers of yours have got to go.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
3. c.
  to disappear
  I put my book on the table, and now it's gone.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
13
[intransitive] to leave a job or organization, especially because you are forced to
They can fire me, but I won't go quietly.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
14
[transitive] to make a particular sound, especially the typical sound of a particular animal
Cows go 'moo'.
His alarm kept going 'beep, beep, beep'.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
1. a.
  [intransitive] to make a sound as a signal
  No one leaves until the bell goes.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
15
[intransitive] to move in a particular way
He kept going like this with his head.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
16
[intransitive/transitive] to consist of a particular series of words, facts, or musical notes
That's not the way the song goes.
the story/saying/argument goes (that):
The story goes that this castle was built by Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
17
[transitive] very informal used when you are telling a story for saying what someone has said
So he goes, 'I know what I'm doing,' and she goes, 'I don't think so.'
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
18
[intransitive] to begin doing something
Nobody starts until I say 'Go'.
be ready to go:
We've planned every detail and are ready to go.
get going (on something):
It won't take me long once I get going.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
19
[intransitive] if a machine or piece of equipment goes, it operates correctly
My old watch is still going.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
20
[intransitive] to be sold
Tickets are going very fast, so I'd advise you to book now.
be going cheap (=be for sale at a low price):
There are some lovely bathroom tiles going cheap today.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
21
[intransitive] to pay or accept a particular amount of money for something
I can't go any higher than £500.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
22
[intransitive] spoken to go to the toilet
I need to go right now.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go

phrases

as someone/something goes
when you consider what other people or things of the same type are like
As history textbooks go, this one is pretty good.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
be going to do something
1. 1
  to intend to do something
  I'm going to watch TV tonight.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
2. 2
  to be about to do something
  You're going to fall if you're not careful.
  Don't worry. Everything's going to be all right.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
don't go doing something
spoken
used for telling someone not to do something
Take your time and don't go rushing into anything.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
go all out (to do something/for something)
to try as hard as you can to achieve something
UK-based companies are going all out to secure overseas contracts.
We're going all out for a big win in Saturday's game.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
go all the way
informal
to have sex with someone
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
go and do something
spoken
1. 1
  used for saying that someone has done something silly or annoying
  She's only gone and told him what the surprise was!
  have gone and done it (=have done something extremely silly):
  You've really gone and done it this time!
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
2. 2
  used for telling someone to do something, especially when you are annoyed
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
go far
to be successful in what you try to do
With all her skill and ambition, I'm sure Leah will go far.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
going, going, gone
used by an auctioneer for saying that an object has just been sold
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
go it alone
to do something without depending on anyone else for help
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
go one better (than)
to do something better than someone else has done or better than you have done before
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
go to do something
if an action, event, or situation goes to do something, it helps to do it
go to show (someone) (that):
It just goes to show that politicians will say anything to get elected.
go to prove a point:
It all goes to prove my point that you can never be too careful.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
go too far
to behave in a way that is unreasonable
Threatening legal action is really going too far.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
not go far
1. 1
  used for saying that you cannot buy very much with a particular amount of money
  Twenty pounds doesn't go very far these days.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
2. 2
  used for saying that a supply of something is not enough
  A few sandwiches won't go far between all of us.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
not go there
spoken
used for saying that you do not want to hear about, discuss, or consider a particular subject
The situation in my office! I'm not even going to go there!
don't go there:
I'm telling you – don't go there, I don't want to talk about it.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
to go
1. 1
  remaining
  There are just three weeks to go before the end of the term.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
2. 2
  not yet done or dealt with
  Only two chapters to go, and then I'm finished.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
3. 3
  mainly American if you order food to go from a restaurant, you take it and eat it somewhere else
  Do you want this pizza to go?
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
the way things are going
used for saying what seems likely to happen as a result of what is happening now
The way things are going, I should be finished by next week.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
where does someone go from here?
used for asking what someone can do next in a particular situation, especially a difficult one
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go
who goes there?
spoken
used by a soldier guarding a place for asking who is coming towards them
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of go

cyberloafing

using the Internet where you work, during working hours, for activities which are not work-related

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show a bit of ankle

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phrases

as someone/something goes

be going to do something

don't go doing something

go all out (to do something/for something)

go all the way

go and do something

go far

going, going, gone

go it alone

go one better (than)

go to do something

go too far

not go far

not go there

to go

the way things are going

where does someone go from here?

who goes there?

phrasal verbs

cyberloafing

Word of the Day

neutron

show a bit of ankle