verb (
mainly intransitive)
goes, going, went, gone 1. to move or proceed, esp to or from a point or in a certain direction: to go to London, to go home
2. (transitive; 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
3. to depart: we'll have to go at eleven
4. to start, as in a race: often used in commands
5. to make regular journeys: this train service goes to the east coast
6. to operate or function effectively: the radio won't go
7. (copula) to become: his face went red with embarrassment
8. to make a noise as specified: the gun went bang
9. to enter into a specified state or condition: to go into hysterics, to go into action
10. to be or continue to be in a specified state or condition: to go in rags, to go in poverty
11. to lead, extend, or afford access: this route goes to the north
12. to proceed towards an activity: to go to supper, to go to sleep
13. (transitive; takes an infinitive) to serve or contribute: this letter goes to prove my point
14. to follow a course as specified; fare: the lecture went badly
15. to be applied or allotted to a particular purpose or recipient: her wealth went to her son, his money went on drink
16. to be sold or otherwise transferred to a recipient: the necklace went for three thousand pounds
17. to be ranked; compare: this meal is good as my meals go
18. to blend or harmonize: these chairs won't go with the rest of your furniture
19. foll by by or under. to be known (by a name or disguise)
20. to fit or extend: that skirt won't go round your waist
21. to have a usual or proper place: those books go on this shelf
22. (of music, poetry, etc) to be sounded; expressed, etc: how does that song go?
23. to fail or give way: my eyesight is going
24. to break down or collapse abruptly: the ladder went at the critical moment
25. to die: the old man went at 2 am
26. (
often foll by by)
- (of time) to elapse: the hours go by so slowly at the office
- to travel past: the train goes by her house at four
- to be guided (by)
27. to occur: happiness does not always go with riches
28. to be eliminated, abolished, or given up: this entry must go to save space
29. to be spent or finished: all his money has gone
30. to circulate or be transmitted: the infection went around the whole community
31. to attend: go to school, go to church
32. to join a stated profession: go to the bar, go on the stage
33. (foll by to) to have recourse (to); turn: to go to arbitration
34. (foll by to) to subject or put oneself (to): she goes to great pains to please him
35. to proceed, esp up to or beyond certain limits: you will go too far one day and then you will be punished
36. to be acceptable or tolerated: anything goes in this place
37. to carry the weight of final authority: what the boss says goes
38. (foll by into) to be contained in: four goes into twelve three times
39. (often foll by for) to endure or last out: we can't go for much longer without water in this heat
40. (transitive) (cards) to bet or bid: I go two hearts
41. (transitive) (informal, mainly US) to have as one's weight: I went 112 pounds a year ago
42. (
US & Canadian) (
usually used in commands)
takes an infinitive without to - to start to act so as to: go shut the door
- to leave so as to: go blow your brains out
43. (informal) to perform well; be successful: that group can really go
44. (transitive) (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
45. (informal) go and, to be so foolish or unlucky as to: then she had to go and lose her hat
46. 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?
47. (slang) go ape, to become crazy, enraged, or out of control
48. (slang) go ape over, to become crazy or extremely enthusiastic about
49. go astray, to be mislaid; go missing
50. go bail, to act as surety
51. go bush, See bush1 (sense 14)
52. go halves, See half (sense 15)
53. (often foll by with) go hard, to cause trouble or unhappiness (to)
54. (slang) go it, to do something or move energetically
55. (informal) go it alone, to act or proceed without allies or help
56. (informal) go much on, to approve of or be in agreement with (something): usually used in the negative: I don't go much on the idea
57. (informal) go one better, to surpass or outdo (someone)
58. (
informal)
go the whole hog, See hog (sense 9)
59. let go - to relax one's hold (on); release
- (euphemistic) to dismiss (from employment)
- to discuss or consider no further
60. let oneself go - to act in an uninhibited manner
- to lose interest in one's appearance, manners, etc
61. to go - remaining
- (US & Canadian, informal) (of food served by a restaurant) for taking away
noun (
pl)
goes 63. (
informal)
- an attempt or try: he had a go at the stamp business
- an attempt at stopping a person suspected of a crime: the police are not always in favour of the public having a go
- an attack, esp verbal: she had a real go at them
64. a turn: it's my go next
65. (informal) the quality of being active and energetic: she has much more go than I
66. (informal) hard or energetic work: it's all go
67. (informal) a successful venture or achievement: he made a go of it
68. (informal) a bout or attack (of an illness): he had a bad go of flu last winter
69. (informal) an unforeseen, usually embarrassing or awkward, turn of events: here's a rum go
70. (informal) a bargain or agreement
71. (informal) all the go, very popular; in fashion
72. (informal) from the word go, from the very beginning
74. (informal) no go, impossible; abortive or futile: it's no go, I'm afraid
75. (informal) on the go, active and energetic