Go

/ɡoʊ/

verbBeginner🔥Very CommonAction
4 meanings4 idioms/phrases4 questions

Definitions

4 meanings
1

To move or travel to a different place.

/ɡoʊ/

verbneutralBeginner
Action

To move or travel to a different place or destination.

I go to school every day.

💡 Simply: Think of 'go' like when you're saying you're heading somewhere! Like, 'I go to school every day' or 'Let's go to the park!'

👶 For kids: To move from one place to another, like walking or running!

More Examples

2

Let's go to the movies.

3

She goes to the gym regularly.

How It's Used

General

"I am going to the store."

Travel

"We are going on vacation next week."

2

To be in a specified state or condition, or to change to such a state.

/ɡoʊ/

verbneutralmedium
State/Condition

To be in a specified state or condition.

The meeting went smoothly.

💡 Simply: Sometimes 'go' means to become something. Like, 'The soup went cold' or 'The meeting went smoothly'.

👶 For kids: To become something, like the milk went bad!

More Examples

2

The milk went sour.

3

Everything went according to plan.

How It's Used

General

"The milk went sour."

Business

"The project went well."

Tip:Picture something transforming; the milk is no longer fresh.
3

To be available for use, or to be usable.

/ɡoʊ/

verbneutralmedium
Availability

To be available for use.

The software went live last night.

💡 Simply: Think of 'go' like when something is ready. Like, 'The website will go live soon' or 'My card still goes.'

👶 For kids: When something is ready to be used!

More Examples

2

My credit card still goes.

3

The data went missing.

How It's Used

Computing

"The program will go live next week."

Finance

"This credit card is no longer goes"

Tip:Imagine something becoming accessible.
4

An attempt; a try.

/ɡoʊ/

nounneutralBeginner
Action

An attempt or try.

I'll give it a go.

💡 Simply: When you give something a try! Like, 'Let's give it a go and see if we can fix it.'

👶 For kids: Trying to do something!

More Examples

2

She had a good go at the problem.

3

Let's have a go at this puzzle.

How It's Used

Sports

"She had a good go at the race."

Informal

"Give it a go!"

Tip:Imagine you're taking a 'go' at something; you're giving it a shot.

Idioms & expressions

go ahead

To proceed; to start doing something.

"Go ahead and start without me, I'll catch up."

go on

To continue; to happen.

"Go on, tell me the rest of the story."

go with

To choose or select.

"I'll go with the red one."

go through

To experience or suffer.

"He went through a lot of hardships."

From Old English *gān*, from Proto-Germanic *gāną*, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰeh₁- (to go).

The word 'go' has been a fundamental verb in the English language since its earliest origins, reflecting the basic human need to describe movement.

Memory tip

Imagine a map with an arrow showing your path.

Word Origin

LanguageProto-Germanic
Original meaning

"to go"

go awaygo backgo aheadgo withgo ongo offgo through

Common misspellings

goe

Usage

90%Spoken
10%Written