go
1
[ goh ]
/ goʊ /
verb (used without object), went, gone, go·ing.
to move or proceed, especially to or from something: They're going by bus.
to leave a place; depart: People were coming and going all the time.
to keep or be in motion; function or perform as required: Can't you go any faster in your work?
to become as specified: to go mad.
to continue in a certain state or condition; be habitually: to go barefoot.
to act as specified: Go warily if he wants to discuss terms.
to act so as to come into a certain state or condition: to go into debt; to go to sleep.
to be known: to go by a false name.
to reach, extend, or give access to: Where does this door go?
to pass or elapse: The time went fast.
to be applied, allotted, awarded, transferred, etc., to a particular recipient or purpose: My money goes for food and rent.
to be sold: I have a bid of two dollars. Going! Going! Gone!
to be considered generally or usually: He's short, as basketball players go.
to conduce or tend: This only goes to prove the point.
to result or end; turn out: How did the game go?
to belong; have a place: This book goes on the top shelf.
(of colors, styles, etc.) to harmonize; be compatible; be suited: Your tweed jacket would go well with these pants.
to fit around or into; be able to be extended, contained, inserted, etc.: This belt won't go around my waist.
to be or become consumed, spent, finished, etc.: The cake went fast.
to be or become discarded, dismissed, put aside, forgotten, etc.: Those practical jokes of yours have got to go!
to develop, progress, or proceed, especially with reference to success or satisfaction: How is your new job going?
to move or proceed with remarkable speed or energy: Look at that airplane go!
to make a certain sound: The gun goes bang.
to be phrased, written, or composed: How does that song go?
to seek or have recourse for a decision, verdict, corroboration, defense, etc.; resort: to go to court.
to become worn-out, weakened, ineffective, etc.: His eyesight is beginning to go.
to die: The old man went peacefully at 3 a.m.
to fail, break, or give way: The dike might go any minute.
to come into action; begin: Go when you hear the bell.
to make up a quantity or content; be requisite: Sixteen ounces go to the pound.
to be able to be divided; be contained as a mathematical element: Three goes into fifteen five times.
to contribute to an end result: the items that go to make up the total.
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.
to be permitted, approved, or the like: Around here, anything goes.
to be authoritative; be the final word: This is my house, and what I say goes!
to subject oneself: Don't go to any trouble.
(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.
Informal.
to urinate or defecate.
verb (used with object), went, gone, go·ing.
Informal.
to endure or tolerate: I can't go his preaching.
Informal.
to risk, pay, afford, bet, or bid: I'll go fifty dollars for a ticket, but no more.
to move or proceed with or according to; follow: Going my way?
to share or participate in to the extent of (often followed by a complementary substantive): to go halves.
to yield, produce, weigh as a usable amount, or grow to: This field will go two bales of cotton.
to assume the obligation, responsibility, or function of: His father went bail for him.
Informal.
to enjoy, appreciate, desire, or want: I could go a big steak dinner right now.
Informal.
to say; declare (usually used in speech): I asked the clerk for my receipt, and he goes, “You don't need it.”
noun, plural goes.
the act of going: the come and go of the seasons.
energy, spirit, or animation: a man with a lot of go.
a try at something; attempt: to have a go at winning the prize.
a successful accomplishment; success: to make a go of a new business.
Informal.
a business agreement; deal; bargain: Thirty dollars? It's a go.
Informal.
approval or permission, as to undertake or begin something: The boss gave us the go on the new project.
Boxing.
a bout: the main go.
interjection
(in calling the start of a race) start the race; leave the starting line: On your mark! Get set! Go!
adjective
functioning properly and ready: two minutes before the satellite is to be launched and all systems are go.
Verb Phrases
go about,
- to occupy oneself with; perform: The shoemaker goes about his work with a smile.
- Nautical. to change course by tacking or wearing.
go after,
to attempt to obtain; strive for: You'll never get what you want if you don't go after it energetically.
go against,
to be in conflict with or opposed to: It goes against the company's policy.
go ahead,
to proceed without hesitation or delay: If you want to use my car, go ahead.
go along,
- to move or proceed.
- to accompany in travel.
- to agree; concur: I can't go along with you on that idea.
go around,
- to be often in company (often followed by with): to go around with a bad crowd.
- to be sufficient for all: Is there enough food to go around?
- to pass or circulate, as in transmission or communication: The rumor is going around that he was forced to resign.
go at,
- to assault; attack.
- to begin or proceed vigorously: to go at one's work with a will.
go back on.
back2(def 7).
go by,
- to be disregarded or not taken advantage of: Don't let this chance go by.
- to be guided by or to rely upon: Don't go by what she says.
go down,
- to decrease or subside, as in amount or size: Prices went down. The swelling is going down.
- to descend or sink: When does the sun go down?
- to suffer defeat: to go down fighting.
- to be accepted or believed: This nonsense goes down as truth with many persons.
- to admit of being consumed: This food goes down easily.
- to be remembered in history or by posterity.
- Slang. to happen; occur: What's been going down since I've been away?
- British. to leave a university, permanently or at the end of a term.
- Bridge. to fall short of making one's contract.
- Slang: Vulgar. to perform fellatio or cunnilingus.
go for,
- to make an attempt at; try for: He is going for the championship.
- to assault.
- to favor; like: It simply isn't the kind of life you would go for.
- to be used for the purpose of or be a substitute for: material that goes for silk.
go in for,
- to adopt as one's particular interest; approve of; like.
- to occupy oneself with; engage in: Europeans in increasing numbers are going in for camping.
go into,
- to discuss or investigate: Let's not go into the question of whose fault it was.
- to undertake as one's study or work: to go into medicine.
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.
go off,
- to explode, fire, or perform or begin to function abruptly: A gun went off in the distance.
- (of what has been expected or planned) to happen: The interview went off very badly.
- to leave, especially suddenly: She went off without saying goodbye.
- to die.
- to deteriorate.
- Slang. to experience orgasm.
go on,
- to happen or take place: What's going on here?
- to continue: Go on working.
- to behave; act: Don't go on like that!
- to talk effusively; chatter.
- (used to express disbelief): Go on, you're kidding me.
- to appear onstage in a theatrical performance: I go on in the middle of the second act.
go out,
- to come to an end, especially to fade in popularity: Silent movies went out as soon as the talkies were perfected.
- to cease or fail to function: The lights went out.
- to participate in a social activity: We usually go out drinking on Friday nights.
- Informal. to have a continuing romantic relationship: They went out for about a year before getting married.
- to take part in a strike: The printers went out yesterday in a contract dispute.
- Rummy. to dispose of the last card in one's hand by melding it on the table.
- Cards. to achieve a point score equal to or above the score necessary to win the game.
go over,
- to repeat; review.
- to be effective or successful: The proposal went over very well with the trustees.
- to examine: The mechanic went over the car but found nothing wrong.
- to read; scan.
go through,
- to bear; experience.
- to examine or search carefully: He went through all of his things but couldn't find the letter.
- to be successful; be accepted or approved: The proposed appropriation will never go through.
- to use up; spend completely: He went through his allowance in one day.
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.
go under,
- to be overwhelmed or ruined; fail.
- (of a ship) to founder.
go up,
- to be in the process of construction, as a building.
- to increase in cost, value, etc.
- to forget one's lines during a theatrical performance.
- British. to go to a university at the beginning of a term.
go with, Informal.
to have a continuing romantic relationship with; date: He went with her for two years.
Idioms for go
from the word “go”,
from the very start; since the beginning.
go and,
to be so thoughtless, unfortunate, or silly as to: It was going to be a surprise but he went and told her.
- you don't say! I don't believe you!
- let's do it! come on!
- to be appropriate or harmonious: The rug and curtains don't go together.
- Informal. to keep company; date; court: They have gone together for two years.
- to release one's grasp or hold: Please let go of my arm.
- to free; release.
- to cease to employ; dismiss: Business was slack and many employees were let go.
- to become unrestrained; abandon inhibitions: She'd be good fun if she would just let go and enjoy herself.
- to dismiss; forget; discard: Once he has an idea, he never lets go of it.
- futile; useless: We tried to get there by noon, but it was no go.
- not authorized or approved to proceed; canceled or aborted: Tomorrow's satellite launching is no go.
- very busy; active: She's always on the go.
- while going from place to place; while traveling.
go ape over/for.
ape(def 6).
go bananas.
bananas(def 2).
go down on, Slang: Vulgar.
to perform fellatio or cunnilingus on.
go for broke.
broke(def 9).
go for it, Informal.
to pursue a goal with determination.
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.
go native.
native(def 24).
go the whole hog,
to do something thoroughly or consistently: If you're getting a new amplifier, why don't you go the whole hog and get new speakers and a turntable, too?
go there,
to discuss or think about a specific, typically undesirable topic (usually used negatively): No personal questions, please—I don't go there.
go to!, Archaic.
go together,
go to it, Informal.
to begin vigorously and at once.
let go,
let go with,
to express or utter with abandon: He let go with a sudden yell.
let oneself go,
to free oneself of inhibitions or restraint: Let yourself go and get mad once in a while.
no go, Informal.
on the go,
to go, Informal.
(of food) for consumption off the premises where sold: coffee to go.
Origin of go
1
before 900; Middle English
gon, Old English
gān; cognate with Old High German
gēn, German
gehen
Words nearby go
British Dictionary definitions for go about (1 of 4)
go about
verb (intr)
(adverb)
to move from place to place
(preposition)
to busy oneself with
to go about one's duties
(preposition)
to tackle (a problem or task)
(preposition)
to be actively and constantly engaged in (doing something)
he went about doing good
to circulate (in)
there's a lot of flu going about
(adverb)
(of a sailing ship) to change from one tack to another
British Dictionary definitions for go about (2 of 4)
GO
/ military /
abbreviation for
general order
British Dictionary definitions for go about (3 of 4)
go
1
/ (ɡəʊ) /
verb goes, going, went or gone (mainly intr)
to move or proceed, esp to or from a point or in a certain direction
to go to London; to go home
(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
to depart
we'll have to go at eleven
to start, as in a race: often used in commands
to make regular journeys
this train service goes to the east coast
to operate or function effectively
the radio won't go
(copula)
to become
his face went red with embarrassment
to make a noise as specified
the gun went bang
to enter into a specified state or condition
to go into hysterics; to go into action
to be or continue to be in a specified state or condition
to go in rags; to go in poverty
to lead, extend, or afford access
this route goes to the north
to proceed towards an activity
to go to supper; to go to sleep
(tr; takes an infinitive)
to serve or contribute
this letter goes to prove my point
to follow a course as specified; fare
the lecture went badly
to be applied or allotted to a particular purpose or recipient
her wealth went to her son; his money went on drink
to be sold or otherwise transferred to a recipient
the necklace went for three thousand pounds
to be ranked; compare
this meal is good as my meals go
to blend or harmonize
these chairs won't go with the rest of your furniture
(foll by by or under)
to be known (by a name or disguise)
to fit or extend
that skirt won't go round your waist
to have a usual or proper place
those books go on this shelf
(of music, poetry, etc) to be sounded; expressed, etc
how does that song go?
to fail or give way
my eyesight is going
to break down or collapse abruptly
the ladder went at the critical moment
to die
the old man went at 2 am
(often foll by by)
- (of time) to elapsethe hours go by so slowly at the office
- to travel pastthe train goes by her house at four
- to be guided (by)
to occur
happiness does not always go with riches
to be eliminated, abolished, or given up
this entry must go to save space
to be spent or finished
all his money has gone
to circulate or be transmitted
the infection went around the whole community
to attend
go to school; go to church
to join a stated profession
go to the bar; go on the stage
(foll by to)
to have recourse (to); turn
to go to arbitration
(foll by to)
to subject or put oneself (to)
she goes to great pains to please him
to proceed, esp up to or beyond certain limits
you will go too far one day and then you will be punished
to be acceptable or tolerated
anything goes in this place
to carry the weight of final authority
what the boss says goes
(foll by into)
to be contained in
four goes into twelve three times
(often foll by for)
to endure or last out
we can't go for much longer without water in this heat
(tr) cards
to bet or bid
I go two hearts
(tr) informal, mainly US
to have as one's weight
I went 112 pounds a year ago
US and Canadian (usually used in commands takes an infinitive without to)
- to start to act so as togo shut the door
- to leave so as togo blow your brains out
informal
to perform well; be successful
that group can really go
(tr) not standard
to say: widely used, esp in the historic present, in reporting dialogue
Then she goes, ``Give it to me!'' and she just snatched it
go and informal
to be so foolish or unlucky as to
then she had to go and lose her hat
be going
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?
go ape slang
to become crazy, enraged, or out of control
go ape over slang
to become crazy or extremely enthusiastic about
go astray
to be mislaid; go missing
go bail
to act as surety
go bush See bush 1 (def. 14)
go halves See half (def. 15)
go hard (often foll by with)
to cause trouble or unhappiness (to)
go it slang
to do something or move energetically
go it alone informal
to act or proceed without allies or help
go much on informal
to approve of or be in agreement with (something): usually used in the negative
I don't go much on the idea
go one better informal
to surpass or outdo (someone)
go the whole hog informal See hog (def. 9)
let go
- to relax one's hold (on); release
- euphemistic to dismiss (from employment)
- to discuss or consider no further
let oneself go
- to act in an uninhibited manner
- to lose interest in one's appearance, manners, etc
to go
- remaining
- US and Canadian informal (of food served by a restaurant) for taking away
noun plural goes
the act of going
informal
- an attempt or tryhe had a go at the stamp business
- an attempt at stopping a person suspected of a crimethe police are not always in favour of the public having a go
- an attack, esp verbalshe had a real go at them
a turn
it's my go next
informal
the quality of being active and energetic
she has much more go than I
informal
hard or energetic work
it's all go
informal
a successful venture or achievement
he made a go of it
informal
a bout or attack (of an illness)
he had a bad go of flu last winter
informal
an unforeseen, usually embarrassing or awkward, turn of events
here's a rum go
informal
a bargain or agreement
all the go informal
very popular; in fashion
from the word go informal
from the very beginning
See get-up-and-go
no go informal
impossible; abortive or futile
it's no go, I'm afraid
on the go informal
active and energetic
adjective
(postpositive) informal
functioning properly and ready for action: esp used in astronautics
all systems are go
Word Origin for go
Old English
gān; related to Old High German
gēn, Greek
kikhanein to reach, Sanskrit
jahāti he forsakes
British Dictionary definitions for go about (4 of 4)
go
2
I-go
/ (ɡəʊ) /
noun
a game for two players in which stones are placed on a board marked with a grid, the object being to capture territory on the board
Word Origin for go
from Japanese
Idioms and Phrases with go about
go about
Also, go around. Move here and there, to and fro; also, circulate. For example, She's been going about telling everyone the news, or A report went around that the dollar was dropping. [c. 1300]
Set about, undertake, as in I'm not sure how to go about making a pie. [Late 1600s]
go about one's business. Proceed with one's own proper occupation or concern. For example, Don't bother with that—just go about your business. [Late 1600s]