go

verb

/ɡəʊ/

Been is used as the past participle of go when somebody has gone somewhere and come back.

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they go	/ɡəʊ/ /ɡəʊ/
he / she / it goes	/ɡəʊz/ /ɡəʊz/
past simple went	/went/ /went/
past participle gone	/ɡɒn/ /ɡɔːn/
-ing form going	/ˈɡəʊɪŋ/ /ˈɡəʊɪŋ/

Idioms Phrasal Verbs

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move/travel

[intransitive] to move or travel from one place to another

+ adv./prep. She went into her room and shut the door behind her.
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).
Are you going home for Christmas?
go to do something 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 somebody what to do: I'll go and answer the door. • Go and get me a drink! The and is sometimes left out, especially in North American English: Go ask your mom!

Extra Examples

Could you go and get me a towel?
I'm going to Spain this year.
It's a long way to go just to see a couple of reefs.
She's gone to Brazil on vacation.
The weather was pretty bad when we went to Boston last year.

[intransitive] to move or travel, especially with somebody else, to a particular place or in order to be present at an event

go (to something) Are you going to Dave's party?
Who else is going?
go with somebody His dog goes everywhere with him.
go (to something) (with somebody) He invited her to go with him to the concert.

[intransitive] to move or travel in a particular way or over a particular distance

+ adv./prep. He's going too fast.
They went farther north into the mountains.
+ noun We had gone about fifty miles when the car broke down.

Extra Examples

Slow down—you're going too fast.
We had gone many miles without seeing another car.

[intransitive] go flying, skidding, etc. (+ adv./prep.) to move in a particular way or while doing something else

She crashed into a waiter and his tray of drinks went flying.
The car went skidding off the road into a ditch.
She went sobbing up the stairs.
I tripped and went tumbling down the stairs.
Don't go charging in there!

leave

[intransitive] to leave one place in order to reach another synonym 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 ago).
When does the train go?

Extra Examples

After they'd gone there was an awkward silence.
Don't go—I want to talk to you.
Here's a list of things to remember before you go.
The train goes in a few minutes' time.
They went at about nine o'clock.
What time did they go?

[intransitive] go on something to leave a place and do something different

to go on a journey/tour/trip/cruise
Richard has gone on leave for two weeks.
(British English) to go on holiday
(North American English) to go on vacation

visit/attend

[intransitive] go to something to visit or attend a place for a particular purpose

to go to school/college/university
(British English) I have to go to hospital for an operation.
(North American English) I have to go to the hospital.
(British English) to go to the cinema
(North American English) to go to the movies
to go to prison/jail (= to be sent there as punishment for a crime)
He goes to work by bus.
I think you should go to the doctor's.
Do you go to church (= regularly attend church services)?
I always go to the gym before work.

to look at a particular page or website

go on something She went on Facebook and changed her relationship status.
go to something To find out what the terms mean, go to the glossary.

swimming/fishing/jogging, etc.

[intransitive] to leave a place or travel to a place in order to take part in an activity or a sport

go for something to go for a walk
to go for a ride/drive/run/swim
Shall we go for a drink (= at a pub or bar) after work?
go doing to go swimming/fishing/jogging
I have to go shopping this afternoon.
We're going sailing on Saturday.
We went walking on the beach.

be sent

[intransitive] + adv./prep. to be sent or passed somewhere

I want this memo to go to all managers.

time

[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.
The cruise went very quickly.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

quickly
slowly
by
…

See full entry

disappear

[intransitive] to stop existing; to be lost or stolen synonym disappear

Has your headache gone yet?
I left my bike outside the library and when I came out again it had gone.

lead

[intransitive] to lead or extend in a particular direction

+ adv./prep. Where does this road go?
The trail goes north at this point.
go from something to something I want a rope that will go from the top window to the ground.

place/space

[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)?

[intransitive] will/would not go (in/into something) used to say that something 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.

progress

[intransitive] + adv./prep. used to talk about how well or badly something makes progress or succeeds

‘How did the interview go?’ ‘It went 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.

Topics Successa2

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

smoothly
well
badly
…

See full entry

state/condition

[intransitive] used in many expressions to show that somebody/something has reached a particular state/is no longer in a particular state

go to something She went to sleep.
The US and Mexico went to war in 1846.
go into something The law went into effect on 1 August.
go on something Shares went on sale this morning.
They're threatening to go on strike again.
go out of something That colour has gone out of fashion.

linking verb + adj. to become different in a particular way, especially a bad way

to go crazy/mad/nuts/insane
She's beginning to go blind.
He suddenly went quiet.
The company went bankrupt last year.
The two little girls went missing over a week ago.
Her hair is going grey.
The children went wild with excitement.

Extra Examples

I can't believe I'm going bald—I'm only thirty!
She went bright red with embarrassment.
The milk has gone sour.

[intransitive] + adj. to live or move around in a particular state

to go naked/barefoot
She cannot bear the thought of children going hungry.

[intransitive] to spend a period of time in a particular way

They went for two weeks without receiving any news.

[intransitive] go unnoticed, unreported, etc. to not be noticed, reported, etc.

Pippa's absence went unnoticed.
Police are worried that many crimes go unreported.
In these traditional stories, no crime goes unpunished.
Customer service calls went unanswered.

sound/movement

[intransitive] to make a particular sound or movement

+ noun The gun went ‘bang’.
+ adv./prep. She went like this with her hand.

[intransitive] to be sounded as a signal or warning

The whistle went for the end of the game.

numbers

[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.
(North American English) 7 into 15 doesn’t go.
go into something 7 won’t go into 15.

combine well

to combine well with something synonym match

go with something Does this jacket go with this skirt?
go (together) Those colours don’t really go (together).

Extra Examples

Leeks and potatoes go well together in a soup.
That tie goes well with that shirt.

song/story

[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.
go that… The story goes that she's been married five times.

say

[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

[intransitive] (often used as an order) 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

[intransitive] if a machine goes, it works

This clock doesn't go.
What makes it go?

be thrown out

[intransitive] somebody/something must/has to/can go used to talk about wanting to get rid of somebody/something

The old sofa will have to go.
He's useless—he'll have to go.

not work

[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

[intransitive] to die. People say ‘go’ to avoid saying ‘die’.

You can't take your money with you when you go.

money

[intransitive] when money goes, it is spent or used for something

I don't know where the money goes!
go on something Most of my salary goes on the rent.
go to do something The money will go to finance a new community centre.

[intransitive] go (to somebody) (for something) 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.

[intransitive] + adv./prep. to be willing to pay a particular amount of money for something

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

[intransitive] go to do something to help; to play a part in doing something

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

be going

[intransitive] (informal) to be available

There just aren't any jobs going in this area.

use toilet

[intransitive] (informal) to use a toilet

Do you need to go, Billy?

Word OriginOld English gān, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch gaan and German gehen; the form went was originally the past tense of wend.

Idioms Most idioms containing go are at the entries for the nouns and adjectives in the idioms, for example go it alone is at alone.

anything goes

(informal) anything that somebody says or does is accepted or allowed, even if it shocks or surprises people
- Almost anything goes these days.

as people, things, etc. go

in comparison with the average person, thing, etc.
- As teachers go, he's not bad.

be going on (for) something

(British English) to be nearly a particular age, time or number
- It was going on (for) midnight.

be going to do something

used to show what somebody intends to do in the future
- We're going to buy a house when we've saved enough money.
used to show that something is likely to happen very soon or in the future
- I think I'm going to faint.
- If the drought continues there's going to be a famine.

don’t go doing something

(informal) used to tell or warn somebody not to do something
- Don't go getting yourself into trouble.

enough/something to be going on with

(British English) something that is enough for a short time
- £50 should be enough to be going on with.

go all out for something | go all out to do something

to make a very great effort to get something or do something

go and do something

used to show that you are angry or annoyed that somebody has done something stupid
- Trust him to go and mess things up!
- Why did you have to go and upset your mother like that?
- You've really gone and done it (= done something very stupid) now!

go off on one

(British English, informal) to suddenly become very angry
- Now and again she really goes off on one.
Topics Feelingsc2

go on (with you)

(old-fashioned) used to express the fact that you do not believe something, or that you think something is bad
- Go on with you—you’re never forty. You don’t look a day over thirty.

(have) a lot, nothing, etc. going for you

(to have) many/not many advantages
- You're young, intelligent, attractive—you have a lot going for you!

no go

(informal) not possible or allowed
- If the bank won't lend us the money it's no go, I'm afraid.
see also no-go areaTopics Permission and obligationc2

not (even) go there

(informal) used to say that you do not want to talk about something in any more detail because you do not even want to think about it
- Don't ask me to choose. I don't want to go there.
- ‘There was a problem with his parents, wasn't there?’ ‘Don't even go there!’

ready, steady, go! (British English)

(also (get) ready, (get) set, go North American English, British English)

what you say to tell people to start a race

to be going on with (British English)

to start with; for now
- ‘One slice or two?’ ‘Just one to be going on with.’

to go

that remains; still left
- I only have one exam to go.
(North American English, informal) if you buy cooked food to go in a restaurant or shop, you buy it to take away and eat somewhere else
- Two pizzas to go.
Topics Cooking and eatingc1

what goes around comes around (saying)

the way somebody behaves towards other people will affect the way those people behave towards them in the future
something that is not fashionable now will become fashionable again in the future

where does somebody go from here?

used to ask what action somebody should take, especially in order to improve the difficult situation that they are in

who goes there?

used by a soldier who is guarding a place to order somebody to say who they are
- Halt, who goes there?

go

noun

/ɡəʊ/

(plural goes

/ɡəʊz/

)

Idioms

jump to other results

[countable] (British English)
(also turn North American English, British English)
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.’
- go on something Can I have a go on your new bike?
Topics Games and toysb1
[countable]
(also try)
an attempt at doing something
- 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).
[uncountable] (British English) energy and enthusiasm
- Mary's always got plenty of go.
see also get-up-and-go

Word OriginOld English gān, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch gaan and German gehen; the form went was originally the past tense of wend.

Idioms

at a/one go | at/in a single go

(British English) in one single attempt or try
- She blew out the candles at one go.

be all go

(British English, informal) to be very busy or full of activity
- It was all go in the office today.

be a go

(North American English, informal) to be planned and possible or allowed
- I'm not sure if Friday's trip is a go.

be on the go

(also be on the move)

(informal) to be very active and busy
- I've been on the go all day.
- Having four children keeps her on the go.

fair go

(Australian English, New Zealand English, informal) used to ask somebody to be reasonable
- I just wanted to say, ‘Hey mate, fair go!’

(give somebody/get) a fair shake (North American English)

(Australian English, New Zealand English (give somebody/get) a fair go)

(informal) (to give somebody/get) fair treatment that gives you the same chance as somebody else
- Are minority students getting a fair shake at college?
- We need a government that cares about equity and a fair go for all.

first, second, etc. go

(British English) at the first, second, etc. attempt
- I passed my driving test first go.

have a go

(informal, especially British English) to attack somebody physically
- There were about seven of them standing round him, all waiting to have a go.

have a go (at something/at doing something)

to make an attempt to do something
- ‘I can't start the engine.’ ‘Let me have a go.’
- I'll have a go at fixing it tonight.
- You should have a go at answering all the questions.

have a go at somebody

(informal, British English) to criticize somebody or complain about somebody
- The boss had a go at me for being late for work.
- The government are always having a go at teachers.

have something on the go

(British English, informal) to be in the middle of an activity or a project
- The award-winning novelist often has three or four books on the go at once.

in one go

(informal) all together on one occasion
- I'd rather do the journey in one go, and not stop on the way.
- They ate the packet of biscuits all in one go.

leave go (of something)

(British English, informal) to stop holding on to something synonym let go
- Leave go of my arm—you're hurting me!

let go (of somebody/something) | let somebody/something go

to stop holding somebody/something
- Don't let go of the rope.
- Don't let the rope go.
- Let go! You're hurting me!
to give up an idea or an attitude, or control of something
- It's time to let go of the past.
- It's time to let the past go.

let somebody/something go | let go (of somebody/something)

to stop holding somebody/something
- Don't let the rope go.
- Don't let go of the rope.
- Let go! You're hurting me!
to give up an idea or an attitude, or control of something
- It's time to let the past go.
- It's time to let go of the past.

make a go of something

(informal) to be successful in something
- We've had a few problems in our marriage, but we're both determined to make a go of it.
Topics Successc2