verb
/ˈgoʊ/ goes /ˈgoʊz/; went /ˈwɛnt/; gone /ˈgɑːn/; going /ˈgowɪŋ/
[no obj]
to move or travel to a place
to travel to and stay in (a place) for a particular amount of time
to move or travel in a particular way or for a particular distance
[no obj] :to move to or be at a place (such as an office or school) for work, study, etc. - + to
[no obj] :to do something that involves moving or traveling to a place - often + on
[no obj] :to move or travel to a place for a particular purpose
In informal spoken English, go and is used to emphasize a following verb. It usually expresses anger or annoyance.
In U.S. English, go by itself is also sometimes used this way.
[+ obj] informal :to engage in (doing something)
[no obj]
to leave a place
to leave a job, position, etc.
to lie or move along a particular route or in a particular direction [no obj]
[no obj] :to provide a way to get to a place
[no obj] :to be sent
[no obj] :to be lost, used, or spent
[no obj] :to die
[no obj]
a of time :to pass
to happen in a particular way
[no obj] informal - used to talk or ask about how you are feeling
[no obj] :to be given up, thrown away, etc.
always followed by an adverb or preposition [no obj]
to be sold
to be willing to pay a certain price for something
[no obj] :to fail or become weak because of use, age, etc.
[no obj] :to break because of force or pressure
[no obj] :to start doing something
[no obj] - used to describe the result of a contest, election, decision, etc.
[no obj] :to work in the usual or expected way
[linking verb] :to become - used to describe a change
[no obj] :to change
[linking verb] - used to describe someone's or something's condition
[no obj] informal :to make a particular movement
[no obj] - used to talk about a story, song, etc.
[no obj]
to be able to fit in or through a space
to have a usual or proper place or position :belong
[no obj] :to have authority :to require you to do what is said or demanded
[no obj] informal :to use the toilet
to make a sound [no obj]
[+ obj] informal :to say (something) - used in describing what people said in a conversation
[no obj] of a sports team or player :to have a specified record
go down [phrasal verb]
to fall or crash to the ground
to sink into the water
to drop to a lower level
to become less or smaller
to become less bright
of the sun or moon :to stop being visible in the sky :to set
a - used to say how easy or hard it is to eat or drink something
b - used to say how easy or hard it is to accept or agree to something
anything goes
anything is acceptable :there are no rules for behavior, dress, etc.
as (someone or something) goes
used to compare someone or something with someone or something else of the same kind
be going
Brit :to be available
be going to
used to talk about what will happen or could happen
come and go
easy come, easy go
go about
[phrasal verb]
go about (something)
to start to do (something)
to do (something)
go a bundle on
go after
[phrasal verb]
go after (someone)
to follow and try to stop or catch (someone)
to try to find and punish (someone)
go after (something or someone) :to try to get (something or someone)
go against
[phrasal verb]
go against (something) :to not agree with (something)
go against (someone or something)
to oppose (someone or something)
to compete against (a player or team) in a contest or game
go against (someone) :to not be good for (someone) :to not produce the result that is wanted by (someone)
go ahead
[phrasal verb]
to do or begin to do something
to happen or proceed
to go or travel to a place before the other person or group that is with you
go all out
to do something with as much effort as possible
go all the way
go along
[phrasal verb]
to continue or proceed
to go or travel with someone
to agree to do or accept what other people want
usually + with
to be part of something - + with
go ape
go around
or chiefly Brit go round [phrasal verb]
a always followed by an adverb or preposition :to go to different places
b chiefly Brit :to travel to a place that is nearby
c - used to describe the way a person often dresses or behaves
go around or go around (a place) :to go or pass from one person to another person
go around or go around (something or someone) :to be long enough to pass all the way around (something or someone)
If people want something and there is enough/plenty to go around, there is enough for all of the people who want it or need it.
what goes around comes around informal - used to say that if you treat other people badly you will eventually be treated badly by someone else;
go at
[phrasal verb]
a go at (someone) :to attack (someone)
b go at it :to fight or argue
go at (something) :to make an effort to do or deal with (something)
go away
[phrasal verb]
to leave a place or person
to leave your home for a period of time
to stop existing or happening :to end
go back
[phrasal verb]
to return to a place
to begin doing something again - + to
The phrase there's no going back means that you have done or decided something and cannot change it.
to have existed for a particular amount of time or since a particular period
to have known each other for a particular amount of time
to think or talk about something from the past
go back on (something) :to not do what is required by (something, such as a promise)
go before
[phrasal verb]
go before (someone) :to happen or exist at an earlier time than (someone)
go before (someone or something) :to be considered by (someone or something) for an official decision or judgment
go beyond
[phrasal verb]
go beyond (something) :to do more than (something)
go by
[phrasal verb]
of time :to pass
go by (something)
to be guided or directed by (something, such as a rule)
to form an opinion from (something)
go by (a name) :to be known by (a name)
go by or go by (somewhere) :to go somewhere in order to visit someone
noun
plural goes
[count] :an attempt to do something
[singular] US informal :permission to do something
In informal U.S. English, if you say that something is a go, you mean that it will or can happen in the way that was planned or hoped for.
[noncount] chiefly Brit informal :energy that makes someone want to do many things
[count] Brit :a turn in a game or other activity
all go
Brit informal :full of activity :very busy
have a go at
Brit informal :to attack or criticize (someone)
make a go of
to succeed in doing (something)
no go
US informal - used to say that something will not be allowed or cannot be done
on the go
very active or busy
chiefly Brit :happening or going
US