1
a
: to move or travel in a particular way or direction or for a particular distance
You need to go slow.
went by train
Go straight at the intersection.
went a long way to see them
—often used figurativelyHe'll go far in life. He's going places. [=he'll be successful]
We've done a lot, but we still have a long way to go. [=we have a lot more to do]
These changes will go a long way toward fixing the problem.
Now that phase one is done, where do we go from here? [=what do we do now?]
Their relationship doesn't seem to be going anywhere. [=is not progressing]
This time you've gone too far! [=you've done something that cannot be allowed]
It's raining. There goes our picnic. [=our picnic is no longer possible]
We'll use this procedure going forward. [=from now on]
see also go down, go up compare stop
b
: to move or travel to a place especially for a particular purpose
goes to the office every morning
went to a movie
went to the gas station before heading home
I may go to see them.
c
: to travel to and stay in a place for a period of time
went to Paris for a month
plan to go to their beach house for the summer
d
: to do something that involves or implies moving or traveling to a place
They went running when they heard the noise.
go for a swim
—often used with ongoing on vacation
went on a crime spree
2
3
a
: to take a certain course or follow a certain procedure
Reports go through channels to the president.
b
: to pass by means of a process like journeying
The message went by email.
c
: to proceed without delay and often in a thoughtless or reckless manner
—used especially to intensify a complementary verb
Why did you go and spoil it?
go jump in a lake
d(1)
: to extend from point to point or in a certain direction
The road goes to the lake.
(2)
: to give access : lead
That door goes to the cellar.
4
obsolete
: walk
5
: to be habitually in a certain state or condition
goes barefoot in the summer
6
a
: to become lost, consumed, or spent
I don't know where the money goes.
b
: die
We all have to go sometime.
c
: to slip away : elapse
The evening went quickly.
d
: to come to be given up or discarded
decided to let the matter go
This clutter has to go.
e(1)
: to pass by sale
went for a good price
(2)
: to be willing to pay
I'll go as high as $100.
f
: to become impaired or weakened
His hearing is starting to go
g
: to give way especially under great force or pressure : break
The roof went under the weight of the snow.
7
a
: to happen in a specified manner : fare
Everything was going well till now.
b
: to be in general or on an average
cheap, as yachts go
c
: to be or become especially as the result of a contest, election, decision, etc.
The election went in her favor.
The verdict went against them.
d
: to turn out in a particular way
The party went as planned.
8
a
: to apply oneself
went to work on the problem
b
: to put or subject oneself
Don't go to any trouble/expense.
c
chiefly Southern US and Midland US
: intend
I didn't go to do it.
9
a
: to have recourse to another for corroboration, vindication, or decision : resort
went to court to recover damages
b
: to act in agreement or cooperation
… the echo of my girlfriend's voice comes into my head, saying, "Whatever happens, just go with it."—
Jason Schwartzman
10
a
: to begin an action or motion
Here goes!
b
: to maintain or perform a certain action or motion
still going strong
Can you go like this with your eyebrows? [=can you move your eyebrows like this?]
c
: to function in the proper or expected manner : run
I can't get the car to go.
11
a
: to come to be determined
… hanging and wiving goes by destiny.—William Shakespeare
b
: to come to be applied or appropriated
All proceeds go to charity.
c
: to pass by award, assignment, or lot
The prize went to a sophomore.
d(1)
: to contribute to an end or result
qualities that go to make a hero
(2)
: to be of advantage
has a lot going for her
12
: to be about, intending, or expecting something
—used in a progressive tense before an infinitive
is going to leave town
13
a
: extend
His knowledge fails to go very deep.
b
: to come or arrive at a certain state or condition
go to sleep
" … I finally went to pieces and couldn't stop crying for two hours. … "—Gwendoline Christie
see also go into sense 2
c
: to come to be : become
The tire went flat.
—often used to express conversion to specified values or a specified statea hometown kid gone Hollywood
go condo
d
: to undergo a change
leaves going from green to red
14
a
: to be in phrasing or expression : read
as the story goes
b
: to be capable of being sung or played
a tune that goes like this
15
: to be compatible, suitable, or becoming : harmonize
That tie goes with his suit.
16
a
: to be capable of passing, extending, or being contained or inserted
Will these clothes go in your suitcase?
b
: to have a usual or proper place or position : belong
These books go on the top shelf.
17
: to have a tendency : conduce
it goes to show
18
a
: to carry authority
What she says goes.
b
: to be acceptable, satisfactory, or adequate
Anything goes around here
19
: to empty the bladder or bowels
1
: to proceed along or according to : follow
if I were going his way
went the conventional route
—often used figurativelyHe has always gone his own way. [=done what he wants to do instead of what most people do]
2
: to travel through or along : traverse
went the length of the street
3
4
a
: to assume the function or obligation of
promised to go bail for his friend
b
: to participate to the extent of
decided to go halves on the winnings
6
7
a
: to make (a characteristic sound)
The gun went bang.
b
: say
—used chiefly in oral narration of speech
… I started trying to write a novel. I spent about six months on it. And at a certain point I go, "You know, I don't want to finish this. …"—Quentin Tarantino
8
informal
: to engage in
Don't go telling everyone.
He went blabbing the news everywhere.
9
of a sports team or player
: to have a record of
went 11–0 last season
see also go about, go after, go all the way, go as, go at, go before, go begging, go by the board, go easy, go fly a kite, go for broke, go great guns, go hang, go it, go missing, go one better, go places, go public, go steady, go to bat for, go to bed with, go to one's head, go to pieces, go to the mat, go to town, go with, go without, go without saying, go with the flow, to go
plural goes
1
: the act or manner of going
2
: the height of fashion : rage
new trends that are quite the go
3
: an often unexpected turn of affairs : occurrence
"Funniest go you ever did see," he said …—Ngaio Marsh
4
: the quantity used or furnished at one time
"Take a go of brandy, and you'll be all right," said Harry …—Charles James Lever
6
7
chiefly British
: a spell of activity
finished the job at one go
8
: success
made a go of the business
: functioning properly : being in good and ready condition
declared all systems go
variants
often Go
: a game played between two players who alternately place black and white stones on a board checkered by 19 vertical lines and 19 horizontal lines in an attempt to enclose the larger area on the board
Examples of go in a Sentence
Verb
He went to the window and looked out at the yard.
She goes to the office every morning and comes home in the evening.
I'm tired. Let's go home.
She went downstairs to the kitchen.
The train goes from New York to Chicago.
I went with my family to Rome last year.
We're going to Iowa for a week.
The car was going too fast.
How much farther do we have to go?
She went a long way to see him.
Noun (1)
snowboarding is all the go
a healthy six-year-old full of go
it took several goes to get the car started
a young executive with the go to make this company grow
Adjective
all systems are go
Recent Examples on the Web
Caroline Ritzie, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Dec. 2025
The Philadelphia Eagles have lost two games in a row and have gone just 4-4 over their last eight, and much of their struggles can be attributed to their offensive malaise.
—Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025
Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 10 Dec. 2025
Bagsmart Small Crossbody Bag For a casual, on-the-go vibe, this puffer-style crossbody is perfect for pairing with athletic or casual outfits.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 7 Dec. 2025
Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 10 Nov. 2025
If the Cowboys opt for the poison preferred recently by Carolina, Evans — Tampa Bay’s career receiving yardage leader — could conduct a go-route clinic.
—Joey Knight, Dallas News, 14 Jan. 2023
See All Example Sentences for go
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
Proceeds go towards The Cure Starts Now, a nonprofit dedicated to pediatric cancer research.
—Noun
Lululemon BeCalm Mid-Rise Wide-Leg Pant Teens are still all about Lululemon, and not just for workout clothes, but as everyday go-tos.
—Adjective
In May, the Fortune 500 company and the third largest footwear company in the world announced a $9 billion go-private deal with Brazilian private equity firm 3G Capital — the biggest shoe buyout in history.
—Cite this Entry
“Go.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/go. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
Kids Definition
go
1 of 3 verb1
: to move on a course : proceed
go slow
go by train
2
b
: follow entry 1 sense 4, traverse
go the whole route
go my way
3
a
: to pass by a process like journeying
the message went by wire
the prize went to the winner
b
: extend sense 4, run
our land goes to the river
c
: lead entry 1 sense 1d
that door goes to the cellar
4
: to be habitually in a certain state
goes bareheaded
5
6
a
: to be in general or on an average
cheap, as yachts go
b
: to become especially as the result of a contest
decision went against us
7
: to put or subject oneself
go to great expense
8
: to make use of to settle a dispute : resort
go to court to recover damages
9
a
: to begin or continue an action or motion
go when the light turns
drums going strong
b
: to function properly
get the motor to go
10
: to be known
goes by a nickname
11
: to be or act in agreement
a good rule to go by
12
: to contribute to a result
qualities that go to make a hero
13
a
: to be about, intending, or expecting
is going to leave town
b
: to come or arrive at a certain state or condition
go to sleep
c
: to come to be
the tire went flat
14
a
: to be able to be placed
these clothes will go in your suitcase
b
: to have a usual or proper place
these books go on the top shelf
c
: to be capable of being contained in another quantity
5 goes into 60 12 times
15
: to be likely : tend
goes to show they can be trusted
16
: to be acceptable or satisfactory
any kind of dress goes
17
: bet entry 2 sense 1, bid
willing to go $50
18
a
: to be as expressed
as the story goes
b
: to be capable of being sung or played
the tune goes like this
goer
noun
go
2 of 3 noun
plural goes
1
: the height of fashion
that dress is all the go
2
: energy sense 1, vigor
full of go
3
a
: attempt entry 2 sense 1, try
have a go at it
b
: a spell of activity
did it in one go
c
: success sense 1c
make a go of a business
go
3 of 3 adjective
: in good and ready condition
all systems are go
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