Did you know?

Click any word in a definition or example to find the entry for that word

go - thesaurus entry

What are red words?

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.

noun

Other entries for this word

Related thesaurus entries

more thesaurus entries

1
an attempt to do something
American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go
An attempt to do something: attempt, effort, struggle, try, go, stand, chase, push, trial run... more
1. a.
  British your chance to play in a game or to take part in an activity
  American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go
  Actions in playing games or sports: backhand, ball, blast, catch, chip, corner, cross, delivery, dive, dribble... more
2
American informal a situation in which something that has been planned can happen or be done
American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go
General words for situations and circumstances: situation, circumstance, conditions, background, position, climate, state of affairs, context, environment, event... more
3
a Japanese game for two people, played with black and white stones on a board with lines that cross each other
American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go
Board games and playing board games: backgammon, bagatelle, board game, checker, checkerboard, checkers, chess, Chinese checkers, counter, domino... more
4
British informal energy and enthusiasm
American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go
Feelings of energy and enthusiasm: enthusiasm, inspiration, zeal, vitality, verve, zest, team spirit, fervor, go, a new lease on life... more

phrases

have a go
British informal
1. 1
  to attack someone physically
  American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go
  To attack a person or object: attack, assault, strike at, set on, mug, fly at, ambush, assail, go for, come at... more
2. 2
  to take action yourself to stop someone who is committing a crime, instead of calling the police
  American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go
  To try hard to do or get something: try, work, strive, attempt, try for, struggle, go after, strain, push for, press for... more
have a go at someone
British informal
to criticize someone strongly
American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go
To criticize strongly: attack, damn, savage, harangue, tear apart, tell off, castigate, censure, take/bring/hold someone to task, tear someone/something to pieces/shreds... more
have something on the go
British informal
to be involved in doing something, especially something that needs a lot of your time and attention
American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go
To be busy: run around, rush around, juggle, pack in, immerse yourself in something, have your hands full, cram in, be taken up with something, be up to your eyes in something, not know whether you’re coming or going... more
make a go of something
informal
to do something successfully
American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go
To succeed in doing something: succeed, manage, pull off, bring off, accomplish, triumph, achieve, attain, be able to do something, come together... more
on the go
informal
very busy or active
American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go
Busy and working: busy, active, rushed, load down, knee-deep, hopping, immersed in something, hard at it, rushed/run off your feet... more

These are synonyms and/or related words for go in the American English Thesaurus. View synonyms and/or related words for go in the British English Thesaurus.

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to British English.

caxirola

a percussion instrument used by football fans which makes a rattling sound when shaken

BuzzWord Article

More BuzzWords

BuzzWord archive

Word of the Day

glean

to learn small pieces of information by asking questions or watching or listening carefully

Open Dictionary

pierce the corporate veil

… the decision to treat the rights and duties of a company as being the same as the rights and duties of its shareholders

add a word

More submissions

view entries

Blog

A must for anyone with an interest in the changing face of language. The Macmillan Dictionary blog explores English as it is spoken around the world today.

global English and language change from our blog

Did you know?

go - thesaurus entry

What are red words?

Related thesaurus entries

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go

phrases

have a go

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go

have a go at someone

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go

have something on the go

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go

make a go of something

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go

on the go

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of go

caxirola

Word of the Day

glean

pierce the corporate veil