go
to travel or move to another place
- I was thinking we might go on a shopping trip on Saturday.
Oxford Essential Dictionary
go
noun (plural goes) (British)
the time when a person should move or play in a game or an activity same meaning turn:
Get off the bike – it's my go!
have a go (British, informal) to try to do something:
I'll have a go at mending your bike.
in one go (informal) all together at one time:
They ate the packet of biscuits all in one go.
x
verb (goes, going, went /, has gone )
1 to move from one place to another:
I went to London by train.
Her new car goes very fast.
2 to travel to a place to do something:
Paul has gone shopping.
Are you going to Dave's party?
I'll go and make some coffee.
3 to leave a place:
I must go now – it's four o'clock.
What time does the train go?
4 to become:
Her hair has gone grey.
5 to have as its place:
'Where do these plates go?' 'In that cupboard.'
6 to lead to a place:
Does this road go to the station?
7 (used about a machine, etc.) to work:
Jane dropped the clock and now it doesn't go.
8 to happen in a certain way:
How is your new job going?
The week went very quickly.
9 to disappear:
My headache has gone.
10 to be or look good with something else same meaning match:
Does this jumper go with my skirt?
11 to make a certain sound:
Cows go 'moo'.
be going to
1 words that show what you plan to do in the future:
Joe's going to cook the dinner tonight.
2 words that you use when you are sure that something will happen in the future:
It's going to rain.
go ahead to begin or continue to do something:
'Can I borrow your pen?' 'Sure, go ahead.'
go away to leave a person or place; to leave the place where you live for at least one night:
Go away! I'm doing my homework.
They have gone away for the weekend.
go back to return to a place where you were before:
We're going back to school tomorrow.
go by to pass:
The holidays went by very quickly.
go down well to be something that people like:
The film went down very well in the US.
go off
1 to explode:
A bomb went off in the station today.
2 When food or drink goes off, it becomes too old to eat or drink:
This milk has gone off – it smells horrible.
go off somebody or something to stop liking somebody or something:
I've really gone off meat lately.
go on
1 to happen:
What's going on?
2 to continue:
I went on working.
3 words that you use when you want somebody to do something:
Oh, go on! Come to the party with me!
go out
1 to leave the place where you live or work for a short time, returning on the same day:
I went out for a walk.
We're going out tonight.
2 to stop shining or burning:
The fire has gone out.
go out with somebody to have somebody as a boyfriend or girlfriend:
She's going out with a boy at school.
go over something to look at or explain something carefully from the beginning to the end same meaning go through something:
Go over your work before you give it to the teacher.
go round
1 to be enough for everybody:
Is there enough wine to go round?
2 to go to somebody's home:
We're going round to Jo's this evening.
go through something
1 to look at or explain something carefully from the beginning to the end same meaning go over something:
The teacher went through our homework.
2 to have a bad experience:
She went through a difficult time when her mother was ill.
go up to become higher or more same meaning rise:
The price of petrol has gone up again.
Look at the note at been.
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
go
I. go1 S1 W1 /ɡəʊ $ ɡoʊ/ BrE AmE verb (past tense went /went/, past participle gone /ɡɒn $ ɡɒːn/, third person singular goes /ɡəʊz $ ɡoʊz/)
[Language: Old English; Origin: gan]
1. MOVE/TRAVEL
a) [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] (also been) to travel or move to a place that is away from where you are or where you live ⇨ come:
There’s nothing more we can do here. Let’s go home.
Have you ever been to (=have you ever travelled to) Japan?
I have been to (=have travelled to) Germany several times.
Where are you going?
We’re going to Canada in the summer.
Dinah went into the kitchen.
She went over and put her arm around him.
I’m going round to her house to find out what’s wrong.
I’ll just go up (=go upstairs) and ask him what he wants.
b) [intransitive and transitive] to move or travel in a particular way or for a particular distance:
It took us over an hour to go ten miles.
The car was going much too fast.
We went a different way from usual that day.
go by bus/train/car etc
It’ll be quicker to go by train.
c) go and do something (also go do something American English) [not in past tenses] to move to a particular place in order to do something:
Go wash your hands.
I went and spoke to the manager.
2. go flying/laughing/rushing etc to move in a particular way, or to do something as you are moving:
The plate went crashing to the floor.
The bullet went flying over my head.
John went rushing off down the corridor.
3. ATTEND
a) [intransitive] to be at a concert, party, meeting etc
go to
Are you going to Manuela’s party?
I first went to a rock concert when I was 15.
b) go to school/church/work etc to regularly attend school, a church etc:
He doesn’t go to the synagogue these days.
4. LEAVE [intransitive] to leave a place:
What time does the last train go?
Right, let’s go!
She turned to go.
be/get going
It’s late! I must get going.
5. DO A PARTICULAR ACTIVITY [intransitive and transitive] to leave the place where you are, in order to do something
go for a walk/swim etc
Let’s go for a walk.
go shopping/swimming/skiing etc
I need to go shopping this afternoon.
go on a trip/tour/cruise etc
My parents are going on a cruise.
6. be going to do something
a) to intend to do something:
I’m going to tell Dad what you said.
b) used to talk about what will happen in the future:
He looked as if he was going to cry.
It’s going to rain later. ⇨ gonna
7. REACH [intransitive always + adverb/preposition, not in progressive] to reach as far as a particular place or to lead to a particular place:
The road goes through the middle of the forest.
The belt won’t go around my waist.
8. CHANGE [linking verb] to change in some way, especially by becoming worse than before:
The company went bankrupt last year.
go bad/sour etc
The bread’s gone mouldy.
go grey/white etc
Her hair is starting to go grey.
go mad/deaf/bald etc
He went crazy and tried to kill her.
go wild/mad/white etc with something
The crowd was going wild with excitement.
9. HAPPEN [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to happen or develop in a particular way:
How did your French test go?
go well/smoothly/fine etc
The party went well.
Everything’s going fine at the moment.
I feel very encouraged by the way things are going.
Many industries have been forced to cut jobs and it looks like the electronics industry is going the same way.
10. how are things going?/how’s it going?/how goes it? spoken used to ask someone what is happening in their life, especially used as a greeting:
‘Hi Jane. How’s it going?’ ‘Fine, thanks.’
11. USUAL POSITION [intransitive always + adverb/preposition, not in progressive] if something goes somewhere, that is its usual position:
Where do the plates go?
The book goes on the top shelf.
12. FIT [intransitive not in progressive] to be the right size, shape, or amount for a particular space
go in/under/inside etc
I don’t think all that will go in the suitcase.
13. BE SENT [intransitive] to be sent or passed on
go by/through/to etc
The email went to everyone in the company.
That letter should go by special delivery.
Complaints must go through the proper channels.
14. BE IN A PARTICULAR STATE/CONDITION [linking verb] to be in a particular state or condition, especially a bad one:
Many families are forced to go hungry.
15. go unanswered/unnoticed/unrewarded etc to not be answered, noticed etc:
All my letters went unanswered.
He hoped that his nervousness would go unnoticed.
16. START [intransitive] to start doing something:
The preparations have been completed and we’re ready to go.
Generally the action doesn’t get going (=start) until after midnight.
I’m going to get going on (=start doing) the decorating next week.
17. WORK WELL [intransitive] if a clock, watch, or machine goes, it moves and works as it should do:
My watch isn’t going.
I couldn’t get the pump going (=make it work).
18. MAKE MOVEMENT [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] used when you are telling someone about what movement someone or something made:
She went like this with her hand.
19. SAY [transitive] spoken informal to say something:
I asked her what she meant and she just went, ‘Don’t ask!’
20. MAKE A SOUND [transitive] to make a particular sound:
The balloon suddenly went bang.
21. don’t go doing something spoken used to tell someone not to do something, especially something that is wrong or bad:
It’s a secret, so don’t go telling everyone.
22. have gone and done something spoken used when you are surprised or annoyed by what someone has done:
Kay’s gone and lost the car keys!
23. to go
a) still remaining before something happens:
Only ten days to go to Christmas!
b) still having to be done or dealt with before you have finished:
Laura’s sat six exams and has two more to go.
c) still to travel before you reach the place you are going to:
only another five miles left to go
d) used for saying that you want to take food away from a restaurant and eat it somewhere else:
Two chicken dinners with corn to go.
24. don’t go there spoken informal used to say that you do not want to think or talk about something:
‘John and Clare having children?’ ‘Don’t go there!’
‘What if the two of them ...?’ ‘Don’t even go there!’
25. STORY/DISCUSSION/SONG ETC [intransitive always + adverb/preposition, transitive not in progressive] used to talk about what something such as a story or song consists of:
The argument goes like this.
We need to ‘spread a little happiness’, as the song goes.
The story goes that my grandfather saved his captain’s life in battle.
26. WHISTLE/BELL ETC [intransitive] to make a noise as a warning or signal:
A bell goes to mark the end of each class.
27. here/there somebody goes again spoken used when someone has annoyed you by doing something they know you do not like:
There you go again, jumping to conclusions.
28. DISAPPEAR [intransitive] to no longer exist or no longer be in the same place SYN disappear:
Has your headache gone yet?
The door was open and all his things had gone.
29. GET INTO WORSE CONDITION [intransitive] if one of your senses such as sight, hearing etc is going, it is getting worse:
Dad’s eyesight is starting to go.
I’d forgotten that. My mind must be going.
30. TO BE OBEYED [intransitive] if what someone says goes, that person is in authority and what they say should be obeyed:
Phil’s in charge, and what he says goes.
31. BE DAMAGED [intransitive] to become weak, damaged etc, or stop working properly:
The bulb’s gone in the bathroom.
My jeans are starting to go at the knee.
32. DIE [intransitive] to die – use this when you want to avoid saying the word ‘die’:
Now that his wife’s gone, he’s all on his own.
When I go, I’d like to have my ashes scattered at sea. ⇨ dead and gone at dead1(1)
33. BE SPENT [intransitive] to be spent:
I don’t know where all my money goes!
go on
Half her salary goes on the rent.
34. BE SOLD [intransitive] to be sold
go for/at
A house like this would go for £250,000.
go to
The jewels will go to the highest bidder.
He bought me some CDs which were going cheap (=were being sold at a low price).
35. PAY MONEY [intransitive] to offer a particular amount of money for something:
I’ll give you $500 for it but I can’t go any higher than that.
go to
I think we could probably go to £15,000.
36. going, going, gone! spoken used to say that something has been sold at an ↑auction
37. TIME [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] used to say how quickly or slowly time passes:
The day seemed to go so slowly.
38. there/bang goes something spoken used to say that you are disappointed because something has stopped you doing or getting what you wanted:
Well, there goes my chance of fame!
39. go to show/prove/indicate etc something to help to prove something:
It just goes to show how much people judge each other by appearances.
40. be going informal to be available:
Are there any jobs going at the café?
I’ll take that if it’s going spare.
41. COLOURS/STYLES/TASTES [intransitive] if colours, tastes, styles etc go, they look, taste etc good together:
I don’t think pink and yellow really go.
go with
Do you think this shirt will go with the skirt I bought?
go together
Pork and apple go especially well together.
42. as somebody/something goes used for comparing someone or something with the average person or thing of that type:
As marriages go, it certainly wasn’t dull.
43. go all out to try very hard to do or get something
go all out for
We’re going all out for victory in this afternoon’s game.
go all out to do something
The company will be going all out to improve on last year’s sales.
44. have nothing/not much/a lot etc going for somebody/something used to talk about how many advantages and good qualities someone or something has:
It’s a town that’s got a lot going for it.
45. where does somebody/something go from here? spoken used to ask what should be done next, especially when there is a problem:
So where do you think we should go from here?
46. going forward in the future – used especially in business:
Going forward, we will increase our focus on customer service.
47. LEAVE A JOB [intransitive] to leave your job, especially because you are forced to:
He was becoming an embarrassment to the government and had to go.
If Jill goes, who will take her place?
48. GET RID OF SOMETHING [intransitive] if something goes, someone gets rid of it:
The policies will have to go if the party is to win the next election.
A hundred jobs are expected to go following the merger.
49. TOILET [intransitive] informal to make waste come out of your body
go about phrasal verb
1. go about something to start to do something:
I want to learn German but I don’t know the best way to go about it.
go about doing something
The leaflet tells you how to go about making a will.
2. go about something to do something in the way that you usually do:
The villagers were going about their business as usual.
She went about her preparations in a quiet businesslike way.
3. British English if a ship goes about, it turns to go in the opposite direction
go after something/somebody phrasal verb
1. to follow or chase someone or something because you want to catch them:
Joe went after her to make sure she was unhurt.
2. to try to get something:
I can’t decide whether to go after the job or not.
go against somebody/something phrasal verb
1. if something goes against your beliefs, principles etc, it is opposite to them:
This goes against everything I’ve been brought up to believe in.
I often have to make decisions that go against the grain (=are not what I would normally choose to do).
2. to do the opposite of what someone wants or advises you to do:
She was scared to go against her father’s wishes.
3. if a decision, judgment etc goes against you, you do not get the result you want:
His lawyer hinted that the case might go against him.
The vote went against the government.
go ahead phrasal verb
1. to start to do something, especially after planning it or asking permission to do it
go ahead with
They’ve decided to go ahead with plans to build 50 new houses on the site.
go ahead and do something
I went ahead and arranged the trip anyway.
2. if an event or process goes ahead, it happens:
A judge has ruled that the music festival can go ahead.
3. spoken used to give someone permission to do something, or let them speak before you:
‘Do you mind if I open the window?’ ‘No, go ahead.’
If you want to leave, go right ahead.
4. (also go on ahead) to go somewhere before the other people in your group:
You go ahead and we’ll catch you up later.
go ahead of
He stood back to let Sue go ahead of him.
5. to start to be winning a game or competition:
Dulwich went ahead after 22 minutes.
⇨ go-ahead1
go along phrasal verb
1. if you do something as you go along, you do it without planning or preparing it:
He was making the story up as he went along.
I never had formal training, I just learned the job as I went along.
2. to go to an event or a place where something is happening
go along to
I might go along to the meeting tonight.
3. to happen or develop in a particular way:
Things seem to be going along nicely.
go along with somebody/something phrasal verb
1. to agree with or support someone or something:
I would be happy to go along with the idea.
Often it was easier to go along with her rather than risk an argument.
2. go along with you! British English spoken old-fashioned used to tell someone that you do not believe what they are saying
go around (also go round British English) phrasal verb
1. DRESS/BEHAVE (also go about British English) to behave or dress in a particular way
go around doing something
You can’t go around accusing people like that.
He goes around in a T-shirt even in winter.
2. ILLNESS go around (something) (also go about (something) British English) if an illness is going around, a lot of people get it:
He had a bad dose of the flu virus that was going around.
There are a lot of nasty bugs going around the school.
3. NEWS/STORY go around (something) (also go about (something) British English) if news, a story, a joke etc is going around, a lot of people hear it and are talking about it:
A rumour was going around that I was having an affair with my boss.
There was a lot of gossip going around the village.
4. go around with somebody/go around together (also go about with somebody British English) to meet someone often and spend a lot of time with them:
I used to go around with a bad crowd.
5. enough/plenty to go around enough for each person:
Is there enough ice cream to go around?
There were never enough textbooks to go around.
6. what goes around comes around used to say that if someone does bad things now, bad things will happen to them in the future
7. go around in your head if words, sounds etc go around in your head, you keep remembering them for a long time:
That stupid song kept going around in my head.
⇨ go around/round in circles at ↑circle1(5)
go at something/somebody phrasal verb [not in passive] informal
1. to attack someone or argue with someone in a noisy way:
The two dogs went at each other.
2. to do something, or start to do something, with a lot of energy:
Mary went at the task with great enthusiasm.
go away phrasal verb
1. to leave a place or person:
Go away and leave me alone!
I went away wondering if I’d said the wrong thing.
2. to travel to a place and spend some time there, for example for a holiday:
Are you going away this year?
go away for
We’re going away for the weekend.
go away to
He’s going away to college next year.
go away on
I’m going away on a business trip next week.
3. if a problem, unpleasant feeling etc goes away, it disappears:
Ignoring the crime problem won’t make it go away.
go back phrasal verb
1. to return to a place that you have just come from:
I think we ought to go back now.
go back to/into/inside etc
I felt so sick I just wanted to go back to bed.
go back for
I had to go back for my passport (=to get my passport).
2. there’s no going back spoken used to say that you cannot make a situation the same as it was before:
I realized that once the baby was born there would be no going back.
3. [always + adverb/preposition] to have been made, built, or started at some time in the past:
It’s a tradition that goes back at least 100 years.
go back to
The building goes back to Roman times.
4. if people go back a particular length of time, they have known each other for that length of time:
Peter and I go back 25 years.
We go back a long way (=we have been friends for a long time).
5. to think about a particular time in the past or something that someone said before:
If you go back 20 years, most people didn’t own a computer.
go back to
I’d like to go back to the point that was made earlier.
go back on something phrasal verb
to not do something that you promised or agreed to do
go back on your word/promise/decision
Delors claimed that the President had gone back on his word.
go back to something phrasal verb
to start doing something again after you have stopped for a period of time:
He went back to sleep.
go back to doing something
She went back to watching TV.
go before phrasal verb
1. to happen or exist before something else:
In some ways this program improves on what has gone before.
2. go before somebody/something if something goes before a judge, group of people in authority etc, they consider it before making a decision:
The case will go before the court.
The proposal is likely to go before the committee.
go beyond something phrasal verb
to be much better, worse, more serious etc than something else:
Their relationship had gone beyond friendship.
This goes beyond all limits of acceptable behaviour.
go by phrasal verb
1. if time goes by, it passes:
Things will get easier as time goes by.
as the days/weeks/years go by
As the weeks went by, I became more and more worried.
hardly a day/week/month etc goes by
Hardly a week goes by without some food scare being reported in the media.
in days/times/years etc gone by (=in the past)
These herbs would have been grown for medicinal purposes in days gone by.
2. go by something to form an opinion about someone or something from the information or experience that you have:
You can’t always go by appearances.
If his past plays are anything to go by, this should be a play worth watching.
3. go by something to do things according to a set of rules or laws:
Only a fool goes by the rules all the time.
There was no doubt that the referee had gone by the book (=had obeyed all the rules). ⇨ go by the board at board1(8), ⇨ go by the name of something at name1(1)
go down phrasal verb
1. GET LOWER to become lower in level, amount etc:
His income went down last year.
Computers have gone down in price.
go down by 10%/250/$900 etc
Spending has gone down by 2%.
2. STANDARD if something goes down, its quality or standard gets worse:
This neighbourhood has really gone down in the last few years.
3. go down well/badly/a treat etc
a) to get a particular reaction from someone:
His suggestion did not go down very well.
The movie went down very well in America.
The speech went down a treat with members (=members liked it very much).
The idea went down like a lead balloon (=was not popular or successful).
b) if food or drink goes down well, you enjoy it:
I’m not that hungry so a salad would go down nicely.
4. GO FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER to go from one place to another, especially to a place that is further south
go down to
We’re going down to Bournemouth for the weekend.
He’s gone down to the store to get some milk.
5. go down the shops/club/park etc British English spoken informal to go to the shops, a club etc:
Does anyone want to go down the pub tonight?
6. SHIP if a ship goes down, it sinks:
Ten men died when the ship went down.
7. PLANE if a plane goes down, it suddenly falls to the ground:
An emergency call was received shortly before the plane went down.
8. BECOME LESS SWOLLEN to become less swollen:
The swelling will go down if you rest your foot.
9. LOSE AIR if something that is filled with air goes down, air comes out and it becomes smaller and softer:
Your tyre’s gone down.
10. BE REMEMBERED [always + adverb/preposition] to be recorded or remembered in a particular way
go down as
The talks went down as a landmark in the peace process.
The carnival will go down in history (=be remembered for many years) as one of the best ever.
11. COMPETITION/SPORT
a) to lose a game, competition, or election:
The Hawkers went down 5–9.
go down by
The government went down by 71 votes.
go down to
Liverpool went down to Juventus.
b) to move down to a lower position in an official list of teams or players
go down to
United went down to the second division.
12. COMPUTER if a computer goes down, it stops working for a short time:
If one of the file servers goes down, you lose the whole network.
13. LIGHTS if lights go down, they become less bright:
The lights went down and the curtain rose on an empty stage.
14. SUN when the sun goes down, it appears to move down until you cannot see it any more
15. WIND if the wind goes down, it becomes less strong:
The wind had gone down but the night had turned chilly.
16. PRISON informal to be sent to prison:
He went down for five years.
17. HAPPEN spoken informal to happen:
the type of guy who knows what’s going down
What’s going down?
18. LEAVE UNIVERSITY British English formal old-fashioned to leave Oxford or Cambridge University at the end of a period of study
go down on somebody phrasal verb
to touch someone’s sexual organs with the lips and tongue in order to give them sexual pleasure
go down with something phrasal verb British English informal
to become ill, especially with an infectious disease:
Half the team had gone down with flu.
go for somebody/something phrasal verb
1. ATTACK British English to attack or criticize someone:
The dog suddenly went for me.
2. TRY TO GET SOMETHING to try to get or win something:
Jackson is going for his second gold medal here.
go for it spoken (=used to encourage someone to try to achieve something)
If you really want the job, go for it! ⇨ go for broke at ↑broke2(3)
3. CHOOSE British English to choose something:
I think I’ll go for the chocolate cake.
4. I could/would go for something spoken used to say that you would like to do or have something:
A full meal for less than five bucks! I could go for that!
5. LIKE informal to like a particular type of person or thing:
Annie tends to go for older men.
6. the same goes for somebody/something (also that goes for somebody/something too) spoken used to say that a statement you have just made is true about someone or something else too:
Close all doors and lock them when you go out. The same goes for windows.
go in phrasal verb
when the sun or the moon goes in, cloud moves in front of it so that it cannot be seen
go in for something phrasal verb
1. to do an examination or take part in a competition:
I go in for all the competitions.
2. to do or use something often because you enjoy it or like it:
I never really went in for sports.
3. to choose something as your job:
I suppose I could go in for advertising.
go in with somebody phrasal verb
to join with someone else to start a business or organization:
Ellie’s going in with a friend who’s just started a café.
go into something phrasal verb
1. JOB [not in passive] to start to do a particular type of job:
I always wanted to go into nursing.
She’s thinking of going into business (=starting a business).
2. TIME/MONEY/EFFORT [not in passive] to be spent or used to get, make, or do something:
Years of research have gone into this book.
go into doing something
A great deal of time and effort has gone into ensuring that the event runs smoothly.
3. EXPLAIN to explain, describe, or examine something in detail:
I don’t want to go into the matter now.
I don’t want to go into details now.
4. COMPUTER [not in passive] to open a particular computer program, ↑window, or ↑file:
Go into your D drive.
5. BE IN A PARTICULAR STATE [not in passive] to start to be in a particular state or condition:
She went into labour at midnight and the baby was born at 8 am.
The company went into liquidation.
6. HIT [not in passive] if a vehicle goes into a tree, wall, or another vehicle, it hits it:
His car went into a lamppost in the high street.
7. DIVIDE [not in passive] if a number goes into another number, the second number can be divided by the first:
12 goes into 60 five times.
8. BEGIN TO MOVE IN A PARTICULAR WAY [not in passive] if a vehicle goes into a particular movement, it starts to do it:
The plane had gone into a steep descent.
go off phrasal verb
1. LEAVE to leave a place, especially in order to do something:
John decided to go off on his own.
go off to
He went off to work as usual.
go off to do something
Geoff went off to play golf.
2. EXPLODE to explode or fire:
The bomb went off at 6.30 this morning.
Fireworks were going off all over the city.
The gun went off and the bullet went flying over his head.
3. MAKE A NOISE if an ↑alarm goes off, it makes a noise to warn you about something:
The thieves ran away when the alarm went off.
I’ve set the alarm clock to go off at 7 am.
4. STOP LIKING go off somebody/something British English informal to stop liking something or someone:
Many women go off coffee during pregnancy.
go off doing something
I’ve gone off cooking lately.
5. STOP WORKING if a machine or piece of equipment goes off, it stops working:
The central heating goes off at 9 o'clock.
Suddenly, all the lights went off.
6. go off well/badly etc to happen in a particular way:
The party went off very well.
7. HAPPEN British English spoken informal to happen SYN go on:
There was a blazing row going off next door.
8. DECAY British English if food goes off, it becomes too bad to eat:
The milk’s gone off.
9. SLEEP to go to sleep:
I’d just gone off to sleep when the phone rang.
10. GET WORSE British English informal to get worse:
He’s a singer whose talent has gone off in recent years.
go off on somebody phrasal verb American English informal
to criticize or speak to someone in a very angry way
go off with something/somebody phrasal verb informal
1. to leave your usual sexual partner in order to have a relationship with someone else:
She’s gone off with her husband’s best friend.
2. to take something away from a place without having permission:
Who’s gone off with my pen?
go on phrasal verb
1. CONTINUE
a) to continue doing something or being in a situation
go on doing something
He went on working until he was 91.
go on with
One of the actors was unwell and couldn’t go on with the performance.
I can’t go on like this for much longer.
b) to continue without stopping:
The noise goes on 24 hours a day.
The screaming went on and on (=continued for a long time). ⇨ ongoing
2. HAPPEN to happen:
I don’t know what’s going on.
What were the children doing while all this was going on?
Like all good resorts, there is plenty going on. ⇨ goings-on
3. DO SOMETHING NEXT to do something after you have finished doing something else
go on to do something
She went on to become a successful surgeon.
go on to
Go on to the next question when you’ve finished.
4. CONTINUE TALKING to continue talking, especially after stopping or changing to a different subject:
Go on, I’m listening.
‘But,’ he went on, ‘we have to deal with the problems we’re facing.’
go on with
After a short pause Maria went on with her story.
5. go on spoken
a) used to encourage someone to do something:
Go on, have another piece of cake.
b) used when you are agreeing to do something or giving permission for something:
‘Are you sure you won’t have another drink?’ ‘Oh, go on then.’
‘Can I go outside, Dad?’ ‘Yeah, go on then.’
c) (also go on with you) British English old-fashioned used to tell someone that you do not believe them
6. USE AS PROOF go on something to base an opinion or judgment on something:
Police haven’t much to go on in their hunt for the killer.
7. START TO WORK if a machine or piece of equipment goes on, it starts to work:
The heat goes on automatically at 6 o'clock.
8. TIME to pass:
As time went on, I grew fond of him.
9. BEHAVE British English informal the way someone goes on is the way they behave:
The way she’s going on, she’ll have a nervous breakdown.
10. be going on (for) 5 o'clock/60/25 etc to be nearly a particular time, age, number etc:
Nancy must be going on for 60.
She’s one of those wise teenagers who’s 16 going on 70 (=she behaves as though she is older than she is).
11. GO IN FRONT (also go on ahead) to go somewhere before the other people you are with:
Bill went on in the car and I followed on foot.
12. TALK TOO MUCH informal to talk too much:
I really like Clare but she does go on.
go on about
I got tired of him going on about all his problems.
He just went on and on about his new girlfriend.
13. CRITICIZE British English informal to continue to criticize someone or ask them to do something in a way that annoys them:
The way she went on, you would have thought it was all my fault.
go on at
Stop going on at me!
go on at somebody to do something
My wife’s always going on at me to dress better.
go on at somebody about something
He’s always going on at me about fixing the door.
14. DEVELOP British English spoken informal to develop or make progress
15. to be going on with/to go on with British English informal if you have enough of something to be going on with, you have enough for now:
Have you got enough money to be going on with?
go out phrasal verb
1. LEAVE YOUR HOUSE to leave your house, especially in order to enjoy yourself:
Are you going out tonight?
go out for
We went out for a meal and then on to a movie.
go out doing something
Liam goes out drinking every Friday.
go out to do something
Can I go out to play now?
go out and do something
You should go out and get some fresh air.
2. RELATIONSHIP to have a romantic relationship with someone:
They’ve been going out for two years now.
go out with
Tina used to go out with my brother.
go out together
How long have you been going out together?
3. FIRE/LIGHT to stop burning or shining:
Suddenly the candle went out.
4. TV/RADIO British English to be broadcast on television or radio:
The programme goes out live at 5 o'clock on Mondays.
5. BE SENT to be sent:
A copy of the instructions should go out with the equipment.
The magazine goes out to all members at the end of the month.
6. GAME/SPORT to stop playing in a competition because you have lost a game:
He went out in the first round.
7. MOVE ABROAD to travel to another country in order to live and work there
go out to
They are looking for nurses to go out to Saudi Arabia.
8. NO LONGER FASHIONABLE to stop being fashionable or used:
Hats like that went out years ago.
This kind of entertainment went out with the ark (=is very old-fashioned).
9. SEA when the ↑tide goes out, the sea moves away from the land OPP come in
10. MAKE PUBLIC if news or a message goes out, it is officially announced to everyone:
The appeal went out for food and medicines.
11. your heart/thoughts go out to somebody used to say that you feel sympathy for someone and are thinking about them:
Our hearts go out to the victim’s family.
12. TIME [always + adverb/preposition] literary to end:
March went out with high winds and rain.
go over phrasal verb
1. THINK ABOUT go over something to think very carefully about something:
I had gone over and over what happened in my mind.
2. EXAMINE go over something to search or examine something very carefully:
In the competition, the judge goes over each dog and assesses it.
3. REPEAT go over something to repeat something in order to explain it or make sure it is correct:
Once again I went over exactly what I needed to say.
4. CLEAN go over something to clean something
5. go over well (also go over big American English) if something goes over well, people like it:
That kind of salesman talk doesn’t go over very well with the scientists.
go over to something phrasal verb
1. to change to a different place or person for the next part of a television or radio programme:
We’re going over to the White House for an important announcement.
2. to change to a different way of doing things:
They went over to a computerized records system.
3. to change to a different political party or religion:
the Labour MP who went over to the Conservatives last year
go round phrasal verb British English
⇨ ↑go around
go through phrasal verb
1. DIFFICULT/UNPLEASANT SITUATION go through something to experience a difficult or unpleasant situation, feeling etc:
When you’re going through a crisis, it often helps to talk to someone.
He’s going through a divorce at the moment.
It is devastating for a parent to watch a child go through misery.
2. PROCESS go through something to experience a particular process:
Candidates must go through a process of selection.
Caterpillars go through several stages of growth.
3. USE go through something to use up money or a supply of something:
We went through five pints of milk last week.
4. LAW go through (something) if a law goes through, or goes through Parliament, it is officially accepted
5. DEAL/AGREEMENT if a deal or agreement goes through, it is officially accepted and agreed:
He accepted the offer and the deal went through.
The sale of the land went through.
6. PRACTISE go through something to practise something, for example a performance:
Let’s go through the whole thing again, from the beginning.
7. SEARCH go through something to search something in order to find something in particular:
Dave went through his pockets looking for the keys.
Customs officers went through all my bags.
8. READ/DISCUSS go through something to read or discuss something in order to make sure it is correct:
We’ll go through the details later on.
Do you want me to go through this and check your spellings?
go through with something phrasal verb
to do something you had promised or planned to do, even though it causes problems or you are no longer sure you want to do it:
He bravely went through with the wedding ceremony even though he was in a lot of pain.
I had no choice but to go through with it.
go to somebody/something phrasal verb [not in passive]
1. to begin to experience or do something, or begin to be in a particular state:
I lay down and went to sleep.
Britain and Germany went to war in 1939.
2. to be given to someone or something:
All the money raised will go to local charities.
go together phrasal verb
1. [not in progressive] if two things go together, they exist together or are connected in some way:
Alcohol abuse and eating disorders often go together.
2. old-fashioned if two people are going together, they are having a romantic relationship
go towards something phrasal verb [not in passive]
if money goes towards something, it is used to pay part of the cost of that thing:
The money will go towards a new hospice.
go towards doing something
All money raised will go towards renovating the building.
go under phrasal verb
1. if a business goes under, it has to stop operating because of financial problems:
More than 7,000 businesses have gone under in the last three months.
2. to sink beneath the surface of water:
The Titanic finally went under.
She went under, coughing and spluttering.
go up phrasal verb
1. INCREASE to increase in price, amount, level etc:
Train fares have gone up.
Blood-sugar levels go up as you digest food.
go up by 10%/250/£900 etc
Unemployment in the country has gone up by a million.
go up from something to something
Spending on research went up from $426 million to $461 million.
2. BUILDING/SIGN if a building or sign goes up, it is built or fixed into place:
It was a lovely place before all these new houses went up.
3. EXPLODE/BURN to explode, or be destroyed in a fire:
He had left the gas on and the whole kitchen went up.
The whole building went up in flames. ⇨ go up in smoke at smoke1(3)
4. SHOUT if a shout or a ↑cheer goes up, people start to shout or cheer
go up from
A great cheer went up from the audience.
5. TO ANOTHER PLACE British English to go from one place to another, especially to a place that is further north, or to a town or city from a smaller place
go up to
We’re going up to Scotland next weekend.
He went up to the farm to get some eggs.
6. LIGHTS if lights go up, they become brighter:
when the lights went up at the end of the performance
7. UNIVERSITY British English formal old-fashioned to begin studying at a university, especially Oxford or Cambridge University
go with somebody/something phrasal verb [not in passive]
1. BE PART OF to be included as part of something:
The house goes with the job.
He had fame, money, and everything that goes with it.
go with doing something
Responsibility goes with becoming a father.
2. EXIST TOGETHER to often exist with something else or be related to something else:
Ill health often goes with poverty.
3. RELATIONSHIP old-fashioned to have a romantic relationship with someone
4. HAVE SEX informal to have sex with someone
5. AGREE to accept someone’s idea or plan:
Let’s go with John’s original proposal.
go without phrasal verb
1. go without (something) to not have something that you usually have:
I like to give the children what they want even if I have to go without.
It is possible to go without food for a few days.
2. it goes without saying (that) used to say that something is so clearly true that it does not need to be said:
The Internet, too, it goes without saying, is a good source of information.
II. go2 S1 BrE AmE noun (plural goes)
1. TRY [countable] an attempt to do something:
‘I can’t open this drawer.’ ‘Here, let me have a go.’
On the tour, everyone can have a go at making a pot.
I’d thought about it for some time and decided to give it a go (=try to do something).
I had a good go (=tried hard) at cleaning the silver.
at/in one go
Ruby blew out all her candles at one go.
I’m not sure it will work but it’s worth a go.
2. YOUR TURN [countable] someone’s turn in a game or someone’s turn to use something:
Whose go is it?
It’s your go.
Can I have a go on your guitar?
Don’t I get a go?
3. make a go of something informal to make something succeed, especially a business or marriage:
Nikki was determined to make a go of the business.
Many businesses are struggling hard to make a go of it.
4. £3/$50 etc a go informal used for saying how much it costs to do something or buy something:
At £3 a go, the cards are not cheap.
5. on the go informal
a) if you have something on the go, you have started it and are busy doing it:
Even with three top films on the go, Michelle is reluctant to talk about herself.
He has at least two other projects on the go.
b) very busy doing a lot of things:
Children are always on the go.
6. something is a go American English spoken used to say that things are working correctly or that you have permission to do something:
The trip to London is a go.
7. something is (a) no go spoken used to say that something is not allowed or will not happen:
The hotel is no go for dogs. ⇨ no-go area
8. it’s all go British English spoken it is very busy:
It’s all go around here.
It’s all go in the commercial property market.
9. have a go especially British English spoken
a) to criticize someone:
You’re always having a go.
have a go at
Will you stop having a go at me!
have a go at somebody for/about something
Mum had a go at me for not doing my homework.
b) to attack someone:
A whole gang of yobs were standing around, just waiting to have a go.
c) to try to catch someone who you see doing something wrong, rather than waiting for the police:
The public should not be encouraged to have a go.
10. ENERGY [uncountable] British English energy and a desire to do things:
There’s plenty of go in him yet.
11. all the go old-fashioned very fashionable
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
go
▪ I. go [go goes went going gone] verb, noun [ɡəʊ] [ɡoʊ]
verb (goes [ɡəʊz] ; [ɡoʊz] went [went] ; [went] gone [ɡɒn] ; [ɡɔːn] ) Been is used as the past participle of go when sb has gone somewhere and come back.
MOVE/TRAVEL
1. intransitive to move or travel from one place to another
• + adv./prep. She went into her room and shut the door behind her.
• He goes to work by bus.
• I have to go to Rome on business.
• She has gone to China (= is now in China or is on her way there).
• She has been to China (= she went to China and has now returned).
• I think you should go to the doctor's.
• Are you going home for Christmas?
• ~ to do sth She has gone to see her sister this weekend. In spoken English go can be used with and plus another verb to show purpose or to tell sb what to do
• I'll go and answer the door.
• Go and get me a drink! The and is sometimes left out, especially in NAmE
• Go ask your mom!
2. intransitive ~ (to sth) (with sb) to move or travel, especially with sb else, to a particular place or in order to be present at an event
• Are you going to Dave's party?
• Who else is going?
• His dog goes everywhere with him.
3. intransitive to move or travel in a particular way or over a particular distance
• + adv./prep. He's going too fast.
• + noun We had gone about fifty miles when the car broke down.
4. intransitive ~ flying, skidding, etc. (+ adv./prep.) to move in a particular way or while doing sth else
• The car went skidding off the road into a ditch.
• She went sobbing up the stairs.
• She crashed into a waiter and his tray of drinks went flying.
LEAVE
5. intransitive to leave one place in order to reach another
Syn: depart
• I must be going now.
• They came at six and went at nine.
• Has she gone yet?
• He's been gone an hour (= he left an hour a go).
• When does the train go?
6. intransitive ~ on sth to leave a place and do sth different
• to go on a journey/a tour/a trip/a cruise
• Richard has gone on leave for two weeks.
VISIT/ATTEND
7. intransitive ~ to sth to visit or attend a place for a particular purpose: (BrE) I have to go to hospital for an operation.
• (NAmE) I have to go to the hospital.
• to go to prison (= to be sent there as punishment for a crime)
• Do you go to church (= regularly attend church services)?
SWIMMING/FISHING/JOGGING, ETC.
8. intransitive ~ (for) sth to leave a place or travel to a place in order to take part in an activity or a sport
• to go for a walk/drive/swim/run
• Shall we go for a drink (= at a pub or bar) after work?
• I have to go shopping this afternoon.
• We're going sailing on Saturday.
BE SENT
9. intransitive (+ adv./prep.) to be sent or passed somewhere
• I want this memo to go to all managers.
LEAD
10. intransitive ~ (from…) (to…) to lead or extend from one place to another
• I want a rope that will go from the top window to the ground.
• Where does this road go?
PLACE/SPACE
11. intransitive + adv./prep. to have as a usual or correct position; to be placed
• This dictionary goes on the top shelf.
• Where do you want the piano to go (= be put)?
12. intransitive will/would not ~ (in/into sth) used to say that sth does/did not fit into a particular place or space
• My clothes won't all go in that one suitcase.
• He tried to push his hand through the gap but it wouldn't go.
NUMBERS
13. intransitive if a number will go into another number, it is contained in that number an exact number of times
• (+ adj.) 3 into 12 goes 4 times.
• 7 into 15 won't go.
• (NAmE) 7 into 15 doesn't go.
• ~ into sth 7 won't go into 15.
PROGRESS
14. intransitive + adv./prep. used to talk about how well or badly sth makes progress or succeeds
• ‘How did your interview go?’ ‘It went very well, thank you.’
• Did everything go smoothly?
• How's it going (= is your life enjoyable, successful, etc. at the moment)?
• The way things are going the company will be bankrupt by the end of the year.
STATE/CONDITION
15. intransitive used in many expressions to show that sb/sth has reached a particular state/is no longer in a particular state
• ~ to/into sth She went to sleep.
• ~ out of sth That colour has gone out of fashion.
16. linking verb + adj. to become different in a particular way, especially a bad way
• to go bald/blind/mad/bankrupt, etc.
• Her hair is going grey.
• This milk has gone sour.
• The children went wild with excitement.
17. intransitive + adj. to live or move around in a particular state
• to go naked/barefoot
• She cannot bear the thought of children going hungry.
18. intransitive ~ unnoticed, unreported, etc. to not be noticed, reported, etc
• Police are worried that many crimes go unreported.
SONG/STORY
19. intransitive, transitive used to talk about what tune or words a song or poem has or what happens in a story
• + adv./prep. How does that song go?
• I forget how the next line goes.
• ~ that… The story goes that she's been married five times.
SOUND/MOVEMENT
20. intransitive to make a particular sound or movement
• + noun The gun went ‘bang’.
• + adv./prep. She went like this with her hand.
21. intransitive to be sounded as a signal or warning
• The whistle went for the end of the game.
SAY
22. transitive + speech (informal) (used when telling a story) to say
• I asked ‘How much?’ and he goes, ‘Fifty’ and I go, ‘Fifty? You must be joking!’
START
23. intransitive to start an activity
• I'll say ‘One, two, three, go!’ as a signal for you to start.
• As soon as he gets here we're ready to go.
MACHINE
24. intransitive if a machine goes, it works
• This clock doesn't go.
DISAPPEAR
25. intransitive to stop existing; to be lost or stolen
Syn: disappear
• Has your headache gone yet?
• I left my bike outside the library and when I came out again it had gone.
BE THROWN OUT
26. intransitive sb/sth must/has to/can ~ used to talk about wanting to get rid of sb/sth
• The old sofa will have to go.
• He's useless— he'll have to go.
NOT WORK
27. intransitive to get worse; to become damaged or stop working correctly
• Her sight is beginning to go.
• His mind is going (= he is losing his mental powers).
• I was driving home when my brakes went.
DIE
28. intransitive to die. People say ‘go ’ to avoid saying ‘die ’
• You can't take your money with you when you go.
MONEY
29. intransitive when money goes, it is spent or used for sth
• I don't know where the money goes!
• ~ on sth Most of my salary goes on the rent.
• ~ to do sth The money will go to finance a new community centre.
30. intransitive ~ (to sb) (for sth) to be sold
• We won't let the house go for less than $200 000.
• There was usually some bread going cheap (= being sold cheaply) at the end of the day.
31. intransitive + adv./prep. to be willing to pay a particular amount of money for sth
• He's offered £3 000 for the car and I don't think he'll go any higher.
• I'll go to $1 000 but that's my limit.
HELP
32. intransitive ~ to do sth to help; to play a part in doing sth
• This all goes to prove my theory.
• It (= what has just happened) just goes to show you can't always tell how people are going to react.
BE AVAILABLE
33. be going intransitive (informal) to be available
• There just aren't any jobs going in this area.
TIME
34. intransitive + adv./prep. used to talk about how quickly or slowly time seems to pass
• Hasn't the time gone quickly?
• Half an hour went past while we were sitting there.
USE TOILET
35. intransitive (informal) to use a toilet
• Do you need to go, Billy?
Rem: Most idioms containing go are at the entries for the nouns and adjectives in the idioms, for example go it alone is at alone.
Verb forms:
Word Origin:
Old English gān, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch gaan and German gehen; the form went was originally the past tense of wend.
Thesaurus:
go verb
1. I (always used with an adverb or preposition)
• She went into her room.
move • • travel • • make your way • • get • • head • • make for sth • • run • • pass • • advance • |formal proceed •
Opp: come
go/move/travel/make your way/get/run/pass/advance/proceed from… to…
go/move/travel/make your way/head/run/advance/proceed towards sb/sth
go/make your way/get somewhere by bus/train/car, etc.
2. I
• She goes to Turkey every summer.
travel • • come • • drive • • fly • • run • • do • • cover • |especially AmE ride •
go/travel/come/drive/fly/run/ride from/to sth
go/travel/come/drive/fly/ride with sb
go/travel/come/drive/fly/do/cover/ride 50 miles/1 000 km
Go or come? Go is used from the point of view of sb who is at the place where the journey starts; come is used from the point of view of sb who is at the place where the journey ends
• We're going to Australia to visit our daughter.
• I hope you can come to Australia to visit me.
3. I
• He invited her to go to the concert with him.
come • • come along • • make • • make it • |formal attend •
go/come/come along/make it to sth
go/come/come along/attend with sb
go to/come to/come along to/make/make it to/attend a meeting/wedding
Go or come? Come expresses the point of view of sb who arranges an event or attends it; go is used when the speaker is talking about other people.
4. I
• I must go now.
leave • • go away • • get away • • go off • • set off • • start • |especially BrE be/go on your way • |especially BrE, spoken be off • |especially AmE, spoken get out of here • |formal depart • • exit •
Opp: stay
go/leave/go away/get away/set off/start/depart/exit from sb/sth
go/leave/go away/get away/go off/set off/start/be on your way/depart at 9 a.m./midnight, etc.
be ready/about/going to go/leave/go away/set off/start/depart
Leave or go away? Leave is used in ways that emphasize the act or time or leaving sb/sth; go away emphasizes the need or desire of the speaker to be somewhere else or for another person to be somewhere else.
5. I (always used with an adverb or preposition)
• Where does this road go?
lead • • continue • • reach • • stretch • • span • • extend •
go/lead/continue/reach/stretch/span/extend beyond/across sth
go/lead/continue/reach/stretch/extend from sth to sth
6. I (especially spoken)
• How did your interview go?
perform • |especially BrE get on/along • |especially spoken do • |especially written fare •
go/perform/get on/do/fare well
go/perform/do brilliantly/excellently/badly
Go or do? Do is used to talk about the progress or success of either a person or a thing, especially how popular or profitable a business is; go is only used about things, especially experiences such as an interview, a test or life in general.
7. linking verb
• His hair is going grey.
become • • turn • • get • • grow •
go/become/turn red/white/blue, etc.
go/become blind/crazy/mad
go/turn bad/sour
Synonyms:
agree
accept • approve • go along with sb/sth • consent
These words all mean to say that you will do what sb wants or that you will allow sth to happen.
agree • to say that you will do what sb wants or that you will allow sth to happen: ▪ He agreed to let me go early.
accept • to be satisfied with sth that has been done, decided or suggested: ▪ They accepted the court's decision.
approve • to officially agree to a plan, suggestion or request: ▪ The committee unanimously approved the plan.
go along with sb/sth • (rather informal) to agree to sth that sb else has decided; to agree with sb else's ideas: ▪ She just goes along with everything he suggests.
consent • (rather formal) to agree to sth or give your permission for sth: ▪ She finally consented to answer our questions.
to agree/consent to sth
to agree/consent to do sth
to agree to/accept/approve/go along with/consent to a plan/proposal
to agree to/accept/approve a request
Synonyms:
choose
select • pick • decide • opt • go for
These words all mean to decide which thing or person you want out of the ones that are available.
choose • to decide which thing or person you want out of the ones that are available: ▪ You choose— I can't decide.
select • [often passive] to choose sb/sth, usually carefully, from a group of people or things: ▪ He was selected for the team. ◊ ▪ a randomly selected sample of 23 schools
pick • (rather informal) to choose sb/sth from a group of people or things: ▪ She picked the best cake for herself.
choose, select or pick?
Choose is the most general of these words and the only one that can be used without an object. When you select sth, you choose it carefully, unless you actually say that it is selected randomly/at random. Pick is a more informal word and often a less careful action, used especially when the choice being made is not very important.
decide • to choose between two or more possibilities: ▪ We're still trying to ▪ decide on ▪ a venue.
opt • to choose to take or not to take a particular course of action: ▪ After graduating she opted for a career in music. ◊ ▪ After a lot of thought, I ▪ opted against ▪ buying a motorbike.
go for sth • (rather informal) to choose sth: ▪ I think I'll go for the fruit salad.
to choose/select/pick/decide between A and/or B
to choose/select/pick A from B
to opt/go for sb/sth
to choose/decide/opt to do sth
to choose/select/pick sb/sth carefully/at random
randomly chosen/selected/picked
Synonyms:
explode
blow up • go off • burst • erupt • detonate
These are all words that can be used when sth bursts apart violently, causing damage or injury.
explode • to burst loudly and violently, causing damage; to make sth burst in this way: ▪ The jet smashed into a hillside and exploded. ◊ ▪ The bomb was exploded under controlled conditions.
blow (sth) up • to be destroyed by an explosion; to destroy sth by an explosion: ▪ A police officer was killed when his car blew up.
go off • (of a bomb) to explode; (of a gun) to be fired: ▪ The bomb went off in a crowded street.
When used about guns, the choice of go off (instead of ‘be fired’) can suggest that the gun was fired by accident.
burst • to break open or apart, especially because of pressure from inside; to make sth break in this way: ▪ That balloon's going to burst.
erupt • (of a volcano) to throw out burning rocks and smoke; (of burning rocks and smoke) to be thrown out of a volcano.
detonate • (rather formal) (of a bomb) to explode; to make a bomb explode: ▪ Two other bombs failed to detonate.
a bomb explodes/blows up/goes off/bursts/detonates
a car/plane/vehicle explodes/blows up
a firework/rocket explodes/goes off
Synonyms:
return
come back • go back • get back • turn back
These words all mean to come or go back from one place to another.
return • to come or go back from one place to another: ▪ I waited a long time for him to return.
Return is slightly more formal than the other words in this group, and is used more often in writing or formal speech.
come back • to return. Come back is usually used from the point of view of the person or place that sb returns to: ▪ Come back and visit again soon!
go back • to return to the place you recently or originally came from or that you have been to before. Go back is usually used from the point of view of the person who is returning: ▪ Do you ever want to go back to China?
get back • to arrive back somewhere, especially at your home or the place where you are staying: ▪ What time did you get back last night?
turn back • to return the way that you came, especially because sth stops you from continuing: ▪ The weather got so bad that we had to turn back.
to return/come back/go back/get back to/from/with sth
to return/come back/go back/get back/turn back again
to return/come back/go back/get back home/to work
to return/come back/get back safely
Synonyms:
become / get / go / turn
These verbs are used frequently with the following adjectives:
Become is more formal than get. Both describe changes in people’s emotional or physical state, or natural or social changes.
Go is usually used for negative changes.
Go and turn are both used for changes of colour.
Turn is also used for changes in the weather.
Example Bank:
• I can't believe I'm going bald— I'm only thirty!
• She went bright red with embarrassment.
• This milk has gone sour.
• Everything went very smoothly.
• He goes on endlessly about his health problems.
• Leeks and potatoes go well together in a soup.
• Stop going on at me about that money.
• That tie goes well with that shirt.
• The cruise went very quickly.
• The days seemed to go by very slowly.
• The flight just seemed to go on and on.
• The novel went down well with the public.
• We'll go on with the presentations after lunch.
• ‘How did your interview go?’ ‘It went very well, thank you.’
• After they'd gone there was an awkward silence.
• Are you going home for New Year?
• Are you going to Dave's party?
• Could you go and get me a towel?
• Don't go— I want to talk to you.
• Go get me a towel.
• He was going to a concert that evening and invited her to go with him.
• He's been gone an hour.
• Here's a list of things to remember before you go.
• How's it going?
• I slipped and the tray I was carrying went flying.
• I think you should go to the doctor's.
• I usually go to work by bus.
• I'm going to Spain this year.
• Is your partner going with you?
• It's a long way to go just to see a couple of reefs.
• She has gone to China.
• She's gone to Brazil on vacation.
• She's gone to see her sister.
• Slow down— you're going too fast.
• The car went skidding off the road.
• The train goes in a few minutes' time.
• The way things are going the company will be bankrupt by the end of the year.
• The weather was pretty bad when we went to Boston last year.
• There was usually some bread going cheap at the end of the day.
• They went at about nine o'clock.
• Those colours don't really go (together).
• We had gone many miles without seeing another car.
• We won't let the house go for less than £200 000.
• What makes it go?
• What time did they go?
• to go on a journey/tour/trip/cruise
• to go on holiday/vacation
Idioms: a go ▪ all go ▪ anything goes ▪ as people/things go ▪ at one go ▪ don't go doing something ▪ enough to be going on with ▪ first/second go ▪ go all out for something ▪ go all out to do something ▪ go and do something ▪ go off on one ▪ go on ▪ going on something ▪ going to do something ▪ have a go ▪ have a go at somebody ▪ have something on the go ▪ in one go ▪ lot/nothing going for you ▪ make a go of something ▪ no go ▪ not go there ▪ on the go ▪ what goes around comes around ▪ where does somebody go from here? ▪ who goes there?
Derived: go about ▪ go about something ▪ go after somebody ▪ go against somebody ▪ go against something ▪ go ahead ▪ go along ▪ go along with somebody ▪ go at somebody ▪ go at something ▪ go away ▪ go back ▪ go back on something ▪ go back to something ▪ go before ▪ go before somebody ▪ go beyond something ▪ go by ▪ go by something ▪ go down ▪ go down with something ▪ go for somebody ▪ go for something ▪ go in ▪ go in for something ▪ go in with somebody ▪ go into something ▪ go off ▪ go off somebody ▪ go off with somebody ▪ go off with something ▪ go on ▪ go on doing something ▪ go on something ▪ go on to do something ▪ go on to something ▪ go out ▪ go out of somebody ▪ go out to somebody ▪ go out with somebody ▪ go over ▪ go over something ▪ go over to somebody ▪ go over to something ▪ go round ▪ go through ▪ go through something ▪ go through with something ▪ go to somebody ▪ go together ▪ go towards something ▪ go under ▪ go up ▪ go with somebody ▪ go with something ▪ go without
noun (pl. goes [ɡəʊz] ; [ɡoʊz] )
1. countable (BrE) (also turn NAmE, BrE) a person's turn to move or play in a game or an activity
• Whose go is it?
• It's your go.
• ‘How much is it to play?’ ‘It's 50p a go.’
• Can I have a go on your new bike?
2. countable (BrE) (also try NAmE, BrE) an attempt at doing sth
• It took three goes to get it right.
• I doubt if he'll listen to advice from me, but I'll give it a go (= I'll try but I don't think I will succeed).
3. uncountable (BrE) energy and enthusiasm
• Mary's always got plenty of go.
see also get-up-and-go
more at leave go (of sth) at leave v., let sb/sth go at let v.
Word Origin:
Old English gān, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch gaan and German gehen; the form went was originally the past tense of wend.
Example Bank:
• ‘How much is it to play?’ ‘It's 50p a go.’
• I doubt if he'll listen to advice from me, but I'll give it a go.
• It's your go.
• You should have a go at answering all the questions.
See also: go about ▪ go together ▪ on the move ▪ try ▪ turn
▪ II. to ˈgo idiom
1. remaining; still left
• I only have one exam to go.
2. (NAmE, informal) if you buy cooked food to go in a restaurant or shop/store, you buy it to take away and eat somewhere else
• Two pizzas to go.
Main entry: goidiom
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
go / ɡəʊ / / ɡoʊ / verb ( present participle going , past tense went , past participle gone ) (MOVE/TRAVEL)
A1 [ I usually + adv/prep ] to travel or move to another place:
We went into the house.
I went to Paris last summer. Have you ever been there?
We don't go to the cinema very often these days.
Wouldn't it be quicker to go by train?
Does this train go to Newcastle?
Where do you think you're going? Shouldn't you be at school?
A1 [ I usually + adv/prep ] to be in the process of moving:
Can't we go any faster?
We were going along at about 50 miles an hour.
to go down the road
to go up/down stairs
to go over the bridge
to go through a tunnel
figurative I've got a tune going around/round in my head (= I am continually hearing it) and I just can't remember the name of it.
A1 [ I ] to move or travel somewhere in order to do something:
[ + -ing verb ] We go shopp ing every Friday night.
I've never gone ski ing .
They've gone for a walk, but they should be back soon.
[ + to infinitive ] She's gone to meet Brian at the station.
There's a good film on at the Odeon. Shall we go?
where has/have sth gone? said when you cannot find something:
Where have my keys gone?
go / ɡəʊ / / ɡoʊ / verb ( present participle going , past tense went , past participle gone ) (LEAVE)
B1 [ I ] to leave a place, especially in order to travel to somewhere else:
Is it midnight already? I really must go/must be going.
She wasn't feeling well, so she went home early.
mainly UK What time does the last train to Bath go?
I'm afraid he'll have to go (= be dismissed from his job) - he's far too inefficient to continue working for us.
This carpet's terribly old and worn - it really will have to go (= be got rid of) .
to go mainly US If you ask for some food to go at a restaurant, you want it wrapped up so that you can take it away with you instead of eating it in the restaurant:
I'd like a cheeseburger and strawberry milkshake to go, please.
→ See also takeaway
[ I ] polite word for to die:
She went peacefully in her sleep.
go / ɡəʊ / / ɡoʊ / verb ( present participle going , past tense went , past participle gone ) (LEAD)
B1 [ I + adv/prep ] If a road, path, etc. goes in a particular direction, it leads there:
This road goes to Birmingham.
A huge crack went from the top to the bottom of the wall.
[ I usually + adv/prep ] to continue for a particular length:
The tree's roots go down three metres.
go / ɡəʊ / / ɡoʊ / verb ( present participle going , past tense went , past participle gone ) (FUTURE TIME)
be going to do/be sth A2 to intend to do or be something in the future:
Are you going to go to Claire's party?
He wants me to mend his shirt for him, but I'm not going to!
I'm going to be a famous pop star when I'm older.
A2 to be certain or expected to happen in the future:
They're going to have a baby in the spring.
There's going to be trouble when Paul finds out about this.
The forecast said it was going to be hot and sunny tomorrow.
go / ɡəʊ / / ɡoʊ / verb [ L only + adj ] ( present participle going , past tense went , past participle gone ) (BECOME)
B1 to become:
The idea of going grey doesn't bother me, but I'd hate to go bald.
Her father's going senile/blind/deaf.
If anything goes wrong , you can call our emergency hotline free of charge.
After twelve years of Republican presidents, the US went Democratic in 1992.
go / ɡəʊ / / ɡoʊ / verb [ I usually + adv/prep ] ( present participle going , past tense went , past participle gone ) (MOVE BODY)
C2 to move a part of the body in a particular way or the way that is shown:
Go like this with your hand to show that you're turning left.
go / ɡəʊ / / ɡoʊ / verb [ I ] ( present participle going , past tense went , past participle gone ) (OPERATE)
C2 to operate (in the right way):
Have you any idea why this watch won't go?
Can you help me get my car going?
Our company has been going (= has been in business) for 20 years.
go / ɡəʊ / / ɡoʊ / verb [ I ] ( present participle going , past tense went , past participle gone ) (TIME)
B2 If a period of time goes, it passes:
I had a wonderful weekend but it went awfully quickly.
Time seems to go faster as you get older.
There's only a week to go before (= until) my exam results come out.
go / ɡəʊ / / ɡoʊ / verb ( present participle going , past tense went , past participle gone ) (BE)
[ L only + adj ] to be or stay in a particular, especially unpleasant, condition:
In spite of the relief effort, thousands of people continue to go hungry.
Why do so many rapes go unreported?
as...go in comparison with most other things of a particular type, especially when you do not think that type of thing is very good:
It was quite a good film, as horror films go.
I suppose the concert was OK, as these things go.
go to prove/show to prove that something is true:
Your daughter's attitude only goes to prove how much society has changed over the last 30 years.
go / ɡəʊ / / ɡoʊ / verb [ I ] ( present participle going , past tense went , past participle gone ) (START)
to start doing or using something:
I'll just connect up the printer to the computer and then we'll be ready to go.
go / ɡəʊ / / ɡoʊ / verb [ I ] ( present participle going , past tense went , past participle gone ) (PLAY GAME)
to use your opportunity to play in a game:
It's your turn to go now.
go / ɡəʊ / / ɡoʊ / verb [ I not continuous ] ( present participle going , past tense went , past participle gone ) (DIVIDE)
(of a number) to fit into another number especially resulting in a whole number:
5 into 11 won't go.
5 goes into 11 twice with 1 left over.
go / ɡəʊ / / ɡoʊ / verb [ + speech ] ( present participle going , past tense went , past participle gone ) informal (SAY)
to say, especially when a story is being told:
"I never want to see you ever again," he goes, and storms out the house.
go / ɡəʊ / / ɡoʊ / verb [ I ] ( present participle going , past tense went , past participle gone ) (WEAKEN)
to become weak or damaged, especially from being used (too much), or to stop working:
After a gruelling six months singing on a world tour, it is hardly surprising that her voice is starting to go.
I really must get a new jacket - this one's starting to go at the elbows.
Her hearing is going, but otherwise she's remarkably fit for a 95-year-old.
go / ɡəʊ / / ɡoʊ / verb [ I or T ] ( present participle going , past tense went , past participle gone ) (NOISE)
C2 to produce a noise:
I think I heard the doorbell go (= ring) just now.
I wish my computer would stop going 'beep' whenever I do something wrong.
go / ɡəʊ / / ɡoʊ / verb [ I not continuous ] ( present participle going , past tense went , past participle gone ) (BE EXPRESSED)
B2 to be expressed, sung, or played:
I can never remember how that song goes.
"Doesn't it go something like this?" said Joan, and played the first couple of bars on her guitar.
[ + (that) ] The story goes (= people say) (that) he was sacked after he was caught stealing company property.
A headless ghost walks the castle at night - or so the story goes (= so people say) .
go / ɡəʊ / / ɡoʊ / verb [ I usually + adv/prep ] ( present participle going , past tense went , past participle gone ) (HAPPEN)
to happen or be found regularly or typically with each other or another:
Wisdom and maturity don't necessarily go together .
She knows all about the health problems that go with smok ing .
Great wealth often goes hand in hand with meanness.
go / ɡəʊ / / ɡoʊ / verb [ I usually + adv/prep , not continuous ] ( present participle going , past tense went , past participle gone ) (BE SITUATED)
to be put in a particular place, especially as the usual place:
The sofa went against that wall before we had the radiator put in.
I'll put it all away if you tell me where everything goes.
go / ɡəʊ / / ɡoʊ / verb [ I ] ( present participle going , past tense went , past participle gone ) (BE SOLD)
to be sold or be available:
The shop is having a closing-down sale - everything must go.
The painting will go to the highest bidder.
I bought some flowers that were going cheap .
"Going... going... gone! (= Sold!) " said the auctioneer, banging down the hammer.
go / ɡəʊ / / ɡoʊ / verb [ I not continuous ] ( present participle going , past tense went , past participle gone ) (BE ACCEPTABLE)
B1 to look or be acceptable or suitable:
That picture would go well on the wall in the living room.
The TV would go nicely in that corner, wouldn't it?
If I wear the orange hat with the blue dress, do you think it will go?
Just remember that I'm the boss and what I say goes (= you have to accept what I say) .
My parents don't worry too much about what I get up to, and most of the time anything goes (= I can do what I want) .
go / ɡəʊ / / ɡoʊ / verb [ I usually + adv/prep ] ( present participle going , past tense went , past participle gone ) (BE KNOWN)
to be known (by a particular name):
He had a scruffy old teddy bear that went by the name of Augustus.
In Britain, this flour usually goes under the name of maize meal.
go / ɡəʊ / / ɡoʊ / verb [ I usually + adv/prep ] ( present participle going , past tense went , past participle gone ) (DEVELOP)
B1 to develop or happen:
" How did the interview go?" "It went very well, thanks."
Things have gone badly for him since his business collapsed.
© Cambridge University Press 2013
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
go
I [go͟ʊ]MOVING OR LEAVING
♦
goes, going, went, gone
(In most cases the past participle of go is gone, but occasionally you use `been': see been.)
1) VERB When you go somewhere, you move or travel there.
[V prep/adv] We went to Rome...
[V prep/adv] Gladys had just gone into the kitchen...
[V prep/adv] I went home at the weekend...
[V prep/adv] Four of them had gone off to find help...
[V amount] It took us an hour to go three miles.
2) VERB When you go, you leave the place where you are.
Let's go...
She's going tomorrow.
3) VERB You use go to say that someone leaves the place where they are and does an activity, often a leisure activity.
[V -ing] We went swimming very early...
[V -ing] Maybe they've just gone shopping...
[V for n] He went for a walk.
4) VERB When you go to do something, you move to a place in order to do it and you do it. You can also go and do something, and in American English, you can go do something. However, you always say that someone went and did something.
[V to-inf] His second son, Paddy, had gone to live in Canada...
[V and v] I must go and see this film...
[V inf] Go ask whoever you want.
5) VERB If you go to school, work, or church, you attend it regularly as part of your normal life.
[V to n] She will have to go to school...
[V to n] His son went to a top university in America.
6) VERB When you say where a road or path goes, you are saying where it begins or ends, or what places it is in.
[V prep/adv] There's a mountain road that goes from Blairstown to Millbrook Village.
Syn:
lead
7) VERB: with brd-neg You can use go in expressions such as `don't go telling everybody', in order to express disapproval of the kind of behaviour you mention, or to tell someone not to behave in that way.
[V -ing] You don't have to go running upstairs every time she rings...
[V -ing] Don't you go thinking it was your fault.
8) VERB You can use go with words like `further' and `beyond' to show the degree or extent of something.
[V adv/prep] He went even further in his speech to the conference...
[V adv/prep] Some physicists have gone so far as to suggest that the entire Universe is a sort of gigantic computer.
9) VERB If you say that a period of time goes quickly or slowly, you mean that it seems to pass quickly or slowly.
[V adv] The weeks go so quickly!
Syn:
pass
10) VERB If you say where money goes, you are saying what it is spent on.
[V prep/adv] Most of my money goes on bills...
[V prep/adv] The money goes to projects chosen by the wider community.
11) VERB If you say that something goes to someone, you mean that it is given to them.
[V to n] A lot of credit must go to the chairman and his father...
[V to n] The job went to Yuri Skokov, a capable administrator.
12) VERB If someone goes on television or radio, they take part in a television or radio programme.
[V on n] The Turkish president has gone on television to defend stringent new security measures...
[V on n] We went on the air, live, at 7.30.
13) VERB If something goes, someone gets rid of it.
The Institute of Export now fears that 100,000 jobs will go...
If people stand firm against the tax, it is only a matter of time before it has to go.
14) VERB If someone goes, they leave their job, usually because they are forced to.
He had made a humiliating tactical error and he had to go.
15) VERB If something goes into something else, it is put in it as one of the parts or elements that form it.
[V into/in n] ...the really interesting ingredients that go into the dishes that we all love to eat.
16) VERB If something goes in a particular place, it fits in that place or should be put there because it is the right size or shape.
He was trying to push it through the hole and it wouldn't go.
[V prep/adv] ...This knob goes here.
17) VERB If something goes in a particular place, it belongs there or should be put there, because that is where you normally keep it.
[V prep/adv] The shoes go on the shoe shelf...
[V prep/adv] `Where does everything go?'
18) VERB If you say that one number goes into another number a particular number of times, you are dividing the second number by the first.
[V into num] Six goes into thirty five times. [Also V num]
19) VERB If one of a person's senses, such as their sight or hearing, is going, it is getting weak and they may soon lose it completely. [INFORMAL]
His eyes are going; he says he has glaucoma...
Lately he'd been making mistakes; his nerve was beginning to go.
Syn:
fail
20) VERB If something such as a light bulb or a part of an engine is going, it is no longer working properly and will soon need to be replaced.
I thought it looked as though the battery was going.
21) VERB If you say that someone is going or has gone, you are saying in an indirect way that they are dying or are dead.
`Any hope?' - `No, he's gone.'II [go͟ʊ]LINK VERB USES
♦
goes, going, went, gone
1) V-LINK You can use go to say that a person or thing changes to another state or condition. For example, if someone goes crazy, they become crazy, and if something goes green, it changes colour and becomes green.
[V adj] I'm going bald...
[V adj] You'd better serve it to them before it goes cold...
[V prep] 50,000 companies have gone out of business.
2) V-LINK You can use go when indicating whether or not someone wears or has something. For example, if someone goes barefoot, they do not wear any shoes.
[V adj] The baby went naked on the beach...
[V adj] But if you arm the police won't more criminals go armed?
3) V-LINK You can use go before adjectives beginning with `un-' to say that something does not happen. For example, if something goes unheard, nobody hears it.
[V -ed] As President, he affirmed that no tyranny went unnoticed.III [go͟ʊ]OTHER VERB USES, NOUN USES, AND PHRASES
♦
goes, going, went, gone
1) VERB You use go to talk about the way something happens. For example, if an event or situation goes well, it is successful.
[V adv] She says everything is going smoothly...
[V adv] How did it go at the hairdresser's?
2) VERB If a machine or device is going, it is working.
What about my copier? Can you get it going again?...
I said, `My car won't go in fog'.
3) VERB If a bell goes, it makes a noise, usually as a signal for you to do something.
The bell went for the break.
4) V-RECIP If something goes with something else, or if two things go together, they look or taste nice together.
[V with n] I was searching for a pair of grey gloves to go with my new gown...
[pl-n V together] I can see that some colours go together and some don't...
[V (non-recip)] Wear something else. This won't go. [Also V]
5) VERB You use go to introduce something you are quoting. For example, you say the story goes or the argument goes just before you quote all or part of it.
[V that] The story goes that she went home with him that night...
[V prep] The story goes like this...
[V with quote] As the saying goes, `There's no smoke without fire.'
6) VERB You use go when indicating that something makes or produces a sound. For example, if you say that something goes `bang', you mean it produces the sound `bang'.
[V with sound] She stopped in front of a painting of a dog and she started going `woof woof'...
[V with sound] The button on his jeans went POP.
7) VERB You can use go instead of `say' when you are quoting what someone has said or what you think they will say. [INFORMAL]
[V with quote] They say `Tom, shut up' and I go `No, you shut up'...
[V to n with quote] He goes to me: `Oh, what do you want?'
8) N-COUNT: oft N at n/-ing A go is an attempt at doing something.
I always wanted to have a go at football...
She won on her first go...
Her hair was bright orange. It took us two goes to get the colour right.
Syn:
try
9) N-COUNT: poss N If it is your go in a game, it is your turn to do something, for example to play a card or move a piece.
I'm two behind you but it's your go...
Now whose go is it?
Syn:
turn
10) → See also going, gone
11) PHRASE: V inflects, PHR to-inf, PHR for n If you go all out to do something or go all out for something, you make the greatest possible effort to do it or get it. [INFORMAL]
They will go all out to get exactly what they want...
They're ready to go all out for the Premier League title next season.
12) PHRASE (disapproval) If people say `anything goes', they mean that anything people say or do is considered acceptable, and usually they mean that they do not approve of this.
In the 90s, almost anything goes.
13) PHRASE: PHR with cl You use expressions like as things go or as children go when you are describing one person or thing and comparing them with others of the same kind. [INFORMAL]
This is a straightforward case, as these things go...
He's good company, as small boys go.
14) PHRASE: PHR after v If you do something as you go along, you do it while you are doing another thing, without preparing it beforehand.
Learning how to become a parent takes time. It's a skill you learn as you go along.
15) PHRASE: Vs inflect (disapproval) If you say that someone has gone and done something, you are expressing your annoyance at the foolish thing they have done. [INFORMAL]
Well, he's gone and done it again, hasn't he?...
Somebody goes and does something mindless like that and just destroys everything for you.
16) CONVENTION You say `Go for it' to encourage someone to increase their efforts to achieve or win something. [INFORMAL]
17) PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n If someone has a go at you, they criticize you, often in a way that you feel is unfair. [mainly BRIT, INFORMAL]
Some people had a go at us for it, which made us more angry.
18) CONVENTION If someone says `Where do we go from here?' they are asking what should be done next, usually because a problem has not been solved in a satisfactory way.
19) PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n If you say that someone is making a go of something such as a business or relationship, you mean that they are having some success with it.
I knew we could make a go of it and be happy.
20) PHRASE: usu v-link PHR, PHR after v If you say that someone is always on the go, you mean that they are always busy and active. [INFORMAL]
I got a new job this year where I am on the go all the time.
21) PHRASE: V inflects, usu PHR after v If you have something on the go, you have started it and are busy doing it.
Do you like to have many projects on the go at any one time?
22) PHRASE: V inflects (feelings) You can say `My heart goes out to him' or `My sympathy goes out to her' to express the strong sympathy you have for someone in a difficult or unpleasant situation.
My heart goes out to Mrs Adams and her fatherless children.
23) PHRASE: amount PHR If you say that there are a particular number of things to go, you mean that they still remain to be dealt with.
I still had another five operations to go.
24) PHRASE: amount PHR, oft PHR prep If you say that there is a certain amount of time to go, you mean that there is that amount of time left before something happens or ends.
There is a week to go until the elections.
25) PHRASE: n PHR If you are in a café or restaurant and ask for an item of food to go, you mean that you want to take it away with you and not eat it there. [mainly AM]
Large fries to go.(in BRIT, use to take out, to take away)IV [go͟ʊ]PHRASAL VERBS
♦
goes, going, went, gone
Phrasal Verbs:
- go about
- go after
- go against
- go ahead
- go along
- go along with
- go around
- go around with
- go at
- go away
- go back
- go back on
- go back to
- go before
- go by
- go down
- go down as
- go down on
- go down with
- go for
- go in
- go in for
- go into
- go off
- go off with
- go on
- go out
- go out for
- go out of
- go over
- go over to
- go round
- go through
- go through with
- go towards
- go under
- go up
- go with
- go without
