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0
to travel or move to another place:
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We went into the house.
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I went to Paris last summer. Have you ever been there?
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We don't go to the cinema very often these days.
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Wouldn't it be quicker to go by train?
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Does this train go to Newcastle?
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Where do you think you're going? Shouldn't you be at school?
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Can't we go any faster?
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We were going along at about 50 miles an hour.
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to go down the road
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to go up/down stairs
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to go over the bridge
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to go through a tunnel
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UK 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.
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[ + -ing verb ] We go shopping every Friday night.
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I've never gone skiing.
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They've gone for a walk, but they should be back soon.
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[ + to infinitive ] She went to meet Blake at the station.
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There's a good film on at the Odeon. Shall we go?
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Where have my keys gone?
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1
to leave a place, especially in order to travel to somewhere else:
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Is it midnight already? I really must go/must be going.
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She wasn't feeling well, so she went home early.
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mainly UK What time does the last train to Bath go?
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I'm afraid he'll have to go (= be dismissed from his job) - he's far too inefficient to continue working for us.
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This carpet's terribly old and worn out - it really will have to go (= be got rid of).
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I'd like a cheeseburger and strawberry milkshake to go, please.
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She went peacefully in her sleep.
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2
If a road, path, etc. goes in a particular direction, it leads there:
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This road goes to Birmingham.
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A huge crack went from the top to the bottom of the wall.
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The tree's roots go down three metres.
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3
to intend to do or be something in the future:
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Are you going to go to Claire's party?
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He wants me to mend his shirt for him, but I'm not going to!
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I'm going to be a famous pop star when I'm older.
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They're going to have a baby in the spring.
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There's going to be trouble when Paul finds out about this.
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The forecast said it was going to be hot and sunny tomorrow.
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4
to become:
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The idea of going grey doesn't bother me, but I'd hate to go bald.
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Her father's going senile/blind/deaf.
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If anything goes wrong, you can call our emergency hotline free of charge.
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After twelve years of Republican presidents, the US went Democratic in 1992.
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5
to move a part of the body in a particular way or the way that is shown:
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Go like this with your hand to show that you're turning left.
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6
to operate (in the right way):
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Have you any idea why this watch won't go?
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Can you help me get my car going?
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Our company has been going (= has been in business) for 20 years.
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7
If a period of time goes, it passes:
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I had a wonderful weekend but it went very quickly.
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Time seems to go faster as you get older.
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There's only a week to go before (= until) I get my exam results.
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8
to be or stay in a particular condition, especially an unpleasant one :
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In spite of the relief effort, thousands of people continue to go hungry.
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Why do so many rapes go unreported?
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It was quite a good film, as horror films go.
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I suppose the concert was OK, as these things go.
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Your daughter's attitude only goes to prove how much society has changed over the last 30 years.
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9
to start doing or using something:
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I'll just connect the printer to the computer and then we'll be ready to go.
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10
to use your opportunity to play in a game:
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It's your turn to go now.
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11
(of a number) to fit into another number especially resulting in a whole number:
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5 into 11 won't go.
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3 goes into 15 fives times.
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12
to say, especially when a story is being told:
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"I never want to see you ever again," he goes, and storms out the house.
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13
to become weak or damaged, especially from being used (too much), or to stop working:
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After a gruelling six months singing on a world tour, it is hardly surprising that her voice is starting to go.
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I really must get a new jacket - this one's starting to go at the elbows.
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Her hearing is going, but otherwise she's remarkably fit for a 95-year-old.
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14
to produce a noise:
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I think I heard the doorbell go (= ring) just now.
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I wish my computer would stop going "beep" whenever I do something wrong.
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15
to be expressed, sung, or played:
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I can never remember how that song goes.
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"Doesn't it go something like this?" said Joan, and played the first couple of bars on her guitar.
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[ + (that) ] The story goes (= people say) (that) he was fireds after he was caught stealing company property.
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A headless ghost walks the castle at night - or so the story goes (= so people say).
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16
to happen or be found regularly or typically with each other or another:
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Wisdom and maturity don't necessarily go together.
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She knows all about the health problems that go with smoking.
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Great wealth often goes hand in hand with meanness.
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17
to be put in a particular place, especially as the usual place:
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The sofa went against that wall before we had the radiator put in.
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I'll put it all away if you tell me where everything goes.
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18
to be sold or be available:
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The shop is having a closing-down sale - everything must go.
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The painting will go to the highest bidder.
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I bought some flowers that were going cheap.
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"Going... going... gone! (= Sold!)" said the auctioneer, banging down the hammer.
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19
to look or be acceptable or suitable:
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That picture would go well on the wall in the living room.
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The TV would go nicely in that corner, wouldn't it?
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If I wear the orange hat with the blue dress, do you think it will go?
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Just remember that I'm the boss and what I say goes (= you have to accept what I say).
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My parents don't worry too much about what I am up to, and most of the time anything goes (= I can do what I want).
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20
to be known (by a particular name):
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He had a scruffy old teddy bear that went by the name of Augustus.
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In Britain, this flour usually goes under the name of maize meal.
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21
to develop or happen:
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"How did the interview go?" "It went very well, thanks."
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Things have gone badly for him since his business collapsed.
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22
an attempt to do something:
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I've never done this before but I'll give it a go.
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"This jar is impossible to open." "Here, let me have a go."
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I want to have a go at finishing my essay tonight.
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We can't do the work all in one go (= all at the same time).
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She's really making a go of her new antique shop.
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I can't see him ever making a go of accountancy.
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23
an opportunity to play in a game, or to do or use something:
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Hey, it's Ken's go now! You've just had your go.
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Please can I have a go (= can I ride) on your bike?
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I'll have a go at driving for a while if you're tired.
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24
to criticize someone:
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My Dad's always having a go at me about getting a proper job.
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25
the condition of being energetic and active:
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You're full of go this morning.
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He doesn't have much go about him, does he?
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26
a Chinese game played on a square board in which two players try to surround each others' stones (= pieces):
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Around 50m people in east Asia play go.
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Go was all the rage in Japanese courtly circles by the 11th century.
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27
to move or travel to another place:
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Let’s go home now.
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Are you going away for your vacation?
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He’s going to his country house for the weekend.
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We don’t go to the movies much.
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You go on (ahead) and I’ll be along in a minute.
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Are you planning to go by car or are you flying?
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The payroll checks went out (= were sent) a week later than usual.
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I’m just going over (= making a visit) to Pete’s for half an hour.
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My son is planning to go into (= get a job in) journalism.
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Where did my keys go (= I can’t find them)?
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A considerable amount of money and effort has gone into (= been used in preparing) this exhibition.
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When do you go back to school?
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Their friendship goes back to when they were in college together.
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My rent is going up 6% this year.
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to go for a walk/swim
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Why don’t we go for a drive (= have a ride in a car)?
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We’re going shopping at the mall.
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They’ve gone sailing on the lake.
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28
to be or continue moving, esp. in a particular way or direction:
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We were going (at) about 65 miles an hour.
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I had a wonderful weekend but it went awfully quickly.
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If you take the bus, you go over the bridge, but the train goes through the tunnel.
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There’s still three months to go before he has surgery, but he’s already nervous about it.
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The flu is going around right now (= It’s moving from person to person).
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I was going up/down the stairs when the phone rang.
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He went up to her (= approached her) and asked for her autograph.
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On summer evenings we often sat on the porch and watched the sun go down.
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We sat on the shore and watched the sailboats go by.
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Several months went by, and still he had no word from her.
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29
to leave a place, esp. in order to travel to somewhere else:
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It’s time to go.
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Please close the door when you go.
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She wasn’t feeling well, so she went home early (= left early to go home).
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She’s gone off with my umbrella (= She took it by accident).
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I always go out (= leave my home and travel to another place, esp. for entertainment) on Saturday night.
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I can’t believe the milk is gone already.
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30
(of a road, path, etc.) to lead in a particular direction:
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Does I-70 go to Denver?
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The well goes down at least 30 feet.
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31
to become or be in a certain condition:
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[ L ] Her father is going blind.
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[ L ] If anything goes wrong, you can call our emergency hotline.
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[ L ] Because of lack of evidence, the police were forced to let him go free.
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[ I ] If you keep applying ice, the swelling will go down (= become smaller).
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[ I ] The computer went down (= stopped operating) twice last week.
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[ I ] The electricity suddenly went off (= stopped operating).
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[ I ] One of these days I’ll have to go on a diet (= start to be on one).
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[ I ] I was so exhausted I went to sleep (= started sleeping) immediately.
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[ I ] It was feared for a while that the two countries would go to war (= start to fight a war) over this dispute.
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[ I ] It wasn’t a bad hospital, as hospitals go (= compared with the usual standard of hospitals), but I still hated being there.
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32
to do something to cause a change or create a new condition:
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I’d love to come to dinner, but I don’t want you to go to any trouble (= do a lot of work).
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33
to become weak or damaged, esp. from use, or to stop working:
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Her hearing is starting to go, but otherwise she’s in good shape.
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34
to start doing or using something:
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I’ll just connect the printer to the computer and we’ll be ready to go.
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35
to operate:
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My watch was going fine up until a few minutes ago, but then it stopped running.
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36
to produce a noise:
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[ I ] Somebody’s car alarm went off at 3 in the morning and woke me up.
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37
to move a part of the body in a particular way or in the way that is shown:
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38
(of a number) to fit into another number, esp. resulting in a whole number:
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Three goes into 12 four times.
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39
to belong in a particular place, esp. as the usual place:
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Tell the moving men that the sofa goes against that wall.
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40
to happen or develop:
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The doctor said the operation went well.
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What’s going on here (= Explain what is happening)?
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They’ve got a happy marriage, great careers, and wonderful children – in fact they’ve got everything going for them.
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41
to be sold or be available:
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The painting is expected to go for at least a million dollars.
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42
to be expressed, sung, or played:
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I can never remember how that song goes.
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43
to be acceptable or suitable:
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Do you think my new brown scarf goes with my black coat?
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44
to be known by a particular name:
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He went under the name of Platt, but that was not his real name.
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45
to have an opinion, decision, or judgment depend on something:
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There were no witnesses to the crime, and so far the police don’t have much to go on.
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46
to be final; not to be questioned:
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In my parents’ day, nobody ever argued with their father – whatever he said went.
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47
to do something at a particular time or in a particular order, before or after other people; have a turn:
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48
the condition of being energetic and active
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49
to be sold:
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The shop is having a closing-down sale - everything must go.
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50
to develop or happen in a particular way:
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Things have gone badly for him since his business collapsed.
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51
to disappear:
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650 jobs will go at the shipyard.
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52
if money goes on something, it is spent on that thing:
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go on sth Most of that money goes on the purchase of equipment.
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53
to do anything you have to in order to get something:
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If we want something, then we go for it in the best possible way we know.
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54
to do something without other people:
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Questions are being asked whether the record label has the stamina to go it alone.
