go

/ɡoʊ/

verb★Beginner

general

to move or travel from one place to another

Let's go to the park this afternoon.

This sentence uses 'go' to express the action of traveling to a specific location.

The train goes to the city center.

Here, 'goes' indicates the direction of travel.

💡

The most common meaning of 'go' is physical movement from one place to another.

informal

to function or operate

My computer won't go anymore.

In this context, 'go' means the computer is not working.

💡

This informal usage is common in everyday speech.

informal

to be allowed or permitted

You can't go doing that in here!

Here, 'go' means to be permitted to do something.

💡

This usage is often used in negative constructions.

informal

to become or turn into

The milk went bad overnight.

In this case, 'went' means the milk spoiled.

💡

This usage is common in informal speech.

informal

to be in a particular state or condition

How's it going?

Here, 'going' refers to the state or condition of things.

💡

This is a very common informal usage.

Collocations

go awayto leave a placego backto return to a placego onto continuego outto leave a place, often to socializego upto increase or rise

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

go for itphrase

to attempt something with enthusiasm

go with the flowphrase

to accept things as they happen without resisting

go the extra milephrase

to make extra effort

go down in historyphrase

to become famous or memorable

go out on a limbphrase

to take a risk

💡Pro Tip

Irregular Verb Forms

Remember that 'go' is an irregular verb with past tense 'went' and past participle 'gone'.

Common Phrasal Verbs

Many common phrasal verbs use 'go', such as 'go out', 'go back', and 'go on'.

Idiomatic Uses

Many idiomatic expressions use 'go', such as 'go for it' and 'go with the flow'.

⚡Gold Rule

Basic Meaning

The primary meaning of 'go' is to move or travel from one place to another.

Irregular Verb

Always use 'went' for the past tense and 'gone' for the past participle.

Common Phrasal Verbs

Many common phrasal verbs use 'go', such as 'go out', 'go back', and 'go on'.

📖Word Origin

Old English 'gān', from Proto-Germanic 'gāną', from Proto-Indo-European 'gʰeh₁-'. Related to Dutch 'gaan', German 'gehen', and Gothic 'gāhan'.

📝Usage Notes

'Go' is an irregular verb with past tense 'went' and past participle 'gone'. It is one of the most common verbs in English and has many idiomatic uses.

Word Breakdown

to move or travel

root

English Dictionary

go

/ɡoʊ/

verb★Beginner

general

to move or travel from one place to another

Let's go to the park this afternoon.

This sentence uses 'go' to express the action of traveling to a specific location.

The train goes to the city center.

Here, 'goes' indicates the direction of travel.

💡

The most common meaning of 'go' is physical movement from one place to another.

informal

to function or operate

My computer won't go anymore.

In this context, 'go' means the computer is not working.

💡

This informal usage is common in everyday speech.

informal

to be allowed or permitted

You can't go doing that in here!

Here, 'go' means to be permitted to do something.

💡

This usage is often used in negative constructions.

informal

to become or turn into

The milk went bad overnight.

In this case, 'went' means the milk spoiled.

💡

This usage is common in informal speech.

informal

to be in a particular state or condition

How's it going?

Here, 'going' refers to the state or condition of things.

💡

This is a very common informal usage.

Collocations

go awayto leave a placego backto return to a placego onto continuego outto leave a place, often to socializego upto increase or rise

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

go for itphrase

to attempt something with enthusiasm

go with the flowphrase

to accept things as they happen without resisting

go the extra milephrase

to make extra effort

go down in historyphrase

to become famous or memorable

go out on a limbphrase

to take a risk

💡Pro Tip

Irregular Verb Forms

Remember that 'go' is an irregular verb with past tense 'went' and past participle 'gone'.

Common Phrasal Verbs

Many common phrasal verbs use 'go', such as 'go out', 'go back', and 'go on'.

Idiomatic Uses

Many idiomatic expressions use 'go', such as 'go for it' and 'go with the flow'.

⚡Gold Rule

Basic Meaning

The primary meaning of 'go' is to move or travel from one place to another.

Irregular Verb

Always use 'went' for the past tense and 'gone' for the past participle.

Common Phrasal Verbs

Many common phrasal verbs use 'go', such as 'go out', 'go back', and 'go on'.

📖Word Origin

Old English 'gān', from Proto-Germanic 'gāną', from Proto-Indo-European 'gʰeh₁-'. Related to Dutch 'gaan', German 'gehen', and Gothic 'gāhan'.

📝Usage Notes

'Go' is an irregular verb with past tense 'went' and past participle 'gone'. It is one of the most common verbs in English and has many idiomatic uses.

Word Breakdown

to move or travel

root

English Dictionary