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go out
/ɡoʊ aʊt/◆phrasal verb
leave a place
I need to go out for a walk.
I need to leave my current location to take a walk outside.
neutral
to leave a building or enclosed space to go outside.
It's too hot inside; let's go out.
The indoor temperature is uncomfortable; we should leave.
She went out to get some fresh air.
She left her current location to breathe outside.
Often used to describe leaving a home, office, or room.
informal
to leave one's home to socialize or attend an event.
We’re going out tonight—want to join?
We’re leaving to socialize or have fun tonight; would you like to come?
He goes out every weekend.
He regularly leaves his home to socialize or attend events on weekends.
Implies leaving for entertainment, dining, or social activities.
neutral
to stop burning or shining; to extinguish.
The fire went out after the rain.
The fire stopped burning due to the rain.
The candle went out when the wind blew.
The candle stopped shining because of the wind.
Commonly used for flames, lights, or heated objects.
Engineering
technical
(of a light, fire, or electrical device) to stop functioning or illuminating.
The power outage caused the streetlights to go out.
The loss of electricity made the streetlights stop working.
Used in engineering contexts to describe system failures.
informal
to be romantically involved with someone.
They’ve been going out for two years.
They have been in a romantic relationship for two years.
Common in casual speech to describe dating relationships.
Collocations
go out for dinnerleave home to eat at a restaurantgo out with friendsleave home to socialize with friendsgo out of stylebecome unfashionable
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Context Matters
Pay close attention to the context. 'Go out' can mean leaving a place, extinguishing something, or being in a relationship. Ask yourself: Is the subject moving physically, stopping something, or describing a relationship?
Gold Rule
Physical Movement vs. Social Activity
Use 'go out' for physical movement when the focus is on leaving a place. For social activities, it often implies leaving home to attend an event or meet people.
Romantic Context
When describing relationships, 'go out' implies a committed, ongoing relationship. For casual dating, use 'see someone' or 'date'.
Word Origin
From Old English 'gan' (to go) + 'ut' (out). The phrase dates back to at least the 14th century, with 'go' evolving from Proto-Germanic '*gāną' and 'out' from Proto-Germanic '*ūt'.
Usage Notes
The phrasal verb 'go out' is highly versatile and context-dependent. Pay attention to whether it refers to physical movement, social activities, or extinguishing. In romantic contexts, it implies a committed relationship rather than a casual one.
Word Breakdown
go
to move or proceed
verbout
away from the inside or center
adverbEnglish Dictionary