English Profile

go · verb

/goʊ/Full view

go (MOVE/TRAVEL)

A1 I to move or travel somewhere

Dictionary examples:

I'd like to go to Japan.

He went into the house.

Are you going by train?

Does this train go to Newcastle?

Where did Helena go?

Learner example:

I'd like to go to Hawaii. (Skills for Life (Entry 1); A1; Hindi)

go (DO SOMETHING)

A1 I to move or travel somewhere in order to do something

Dictionary examples:

Let's go for a walk.

We're going camping on Friday.

I have to go and pick the kids up now.

Learner example:

I also have a dog and I like to go for a walk with [him]. (Skills for Life (Entry 1); A1; Polish)

go shopping

A1 to visit stores in order to buy things

Dictionary example:

We went shopping last Saturday.

Learner example:

We often go shopping. (Skills for Life (Entry 1); A1; Polish)

go running/swimming, etc.

A2 to go somewhere to do a particular activity

Dictionary examples:

We went skating yesterday.

We're going camping on Friday.

Learner example:

I'd like to go swimming. (Key English Test; A2; Spanish)

be going to do/be sth

A2 to intend to do or be something

Dictionary examples:

I'm going to call her tonight.

I'm going to be a dancer when I grow up.

Learner example:

I'm going to paint my bedroom yellow. (Key English Test; A2; Swiss German)

be going to do sth

A2 used to say that something is expected to happen in the future

Dictionary examples:

It's going to snow tonight.

They're going to have their first baby in June.

Learner example:

I think it's going to rain [tomorrow]. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Spanish)

go to the bathroom

A2 to empty the body of urine or solid waste, usually using a toilet in a bathroom

Dictionary example:

It's going to be a long ride, kids, so if you need to go to the bathroom do it now.

Learner example:

Where did he leave [his suitcase]? He was going to miss his flight. He remembered he had gone to the bathroom! He hurried and found his suitcase! (Preliminary English Test; B1; Spanish)

go badly/well, etc.

B1 to develop in a particular way

Dictionary examples:

My exams went really well.

"How did your interview go?" "Pretty badly."

Something's gone wrong with my computer.

Learner example:

I hope everything is going well. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Arabic)

go wrong

B1 to develop problems

Dictionary example:

Something's gone wrong with my computer.

Learner example:

Despite all that went wrong, there was something I really enjoyed. It was visiting the Diamond Cave. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Portuguese)

go (DISAPPEAR)

B1 I to disappear or no longer exist

Dictionary examples:

The food was all gone by the time we got to the party.

When I turned around, the man had gone.

Learner example:

When I came to take my suitcase, it had gone! (Preliminary English Test; B1; Spanish)

go (MATCH)

B1 I If two things go, they match each other.

Dictionary examples:

That top doesn't go with these pants.

This jacket and skirt don't go together do they?

go bald/blind/gray, etc.

B1 to become bald/blind/gray, etc.

Dictionary example:

He went bald in his twenties.

go (LEAD)

B1 I If a road, path, etc. goes in a particular direction, it leads there.

Dictionary example:

This road goes north to Vermont.

to go

B1 If you ask for some food to go at a restaurant, you are asking for food that you can take away with you instead of eating it in the restaurant.

Dictionary example:

I'd like a cheeseburger and strawberry milk shake to go, please.

go (SONG)

B2 I or T to have a particular tune or words

Dictionary example:

I can't remember how his latest song goes.

go (TIME)

B2 I If time goes, it passes.

Dictionary examples:

The day went very quickly.

There are only two weeks of school to go.

Learner example:

But the time went so quickly and now I am in my early sixties [with] a lot of spare time. (First Certificate in English; B2; Portuguese)

go (SOUND/MOVEMENT)

B2 I or T to make a particular sound or movement

Dictionary examples:

A cat goes "Miaow."

"Your dog's acting strange!" - "He goes like that when he wants some food."

go (WORKING)

B2 I to work in the right way

Dictionary example:

Did you get the car going?

go (STOP WORKING)

B2 I to stop working correctly

Dictionary example:

She's very old and her hearing is going.

go into detail

B2 to tell or include all the facts about something

Dictionary example:

I won't go into detail over the phone, but I've been having a few health problems recently.

Learner example:

In one of his books he really goes into detail [about] how children treat other children [who] have difficulties with their "new" [language]. (First Certificate in English; B2; Dutch)

go red

B2 If someone goes red, their face becomes red because they are embarrassed or angry.

Dictionary example:

He kissed her on the cheek and she went bright red.

Learner example:

When Paul saw the girl who had got blond hair and bluish eyes, his face suddenly went red. (First Certificate in English; B2; Chinese)

it goes without saying

B2 If something goes without saying, it is obvious or generally accepted.

Dictionary example:

It goes without saying that smoking is harmful to your health.

Learner example:

It goes without saying that I will participate! (First Certificate in English; B2; Dutch)

go hand in hand

C1 If two things go hand in hand, they exist together and are connected with each other.

Dictionary example:

Prosperity goes hand in hand with investment.

Learner example:

Traffic and pollution go hand in hand. (International English Language Testing System; C1; German)

keep sb going

C1 to provide what someone needs for a short period of time

Dictionary example:

Dinner is at eight, but I had an apple to keep me going.

Learner example:

Because of health concerns, advertisements lately show the people in Holland how important it is to have a good breakfast and that it will keep you going the whole day. (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; Dutch)

go downhill

C2 to gradually become worse

Dictionary example:

After his wife died, his health started to go downhill.

Learner example:

He had been going downhill in the last few days and so his death came as no surprise. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; German)

go so far as to do sth

C2 to take the extreme action of doing something

Dictionary example:

He even went so far as to stop her using the telephone.

Learner example:

Our present course of action may go so far as to cause irrevers[i]ble damage not only to our planet but also to the people living upon [it]. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; German)

go too far

C2 to behave in a way that upsets or annoys other people

Dictionary example:

He's said some stupid things in the past, but this time he's gone too far.

Learner example:

Lucia let her speak and calmly said: "You really have gone too far this time." (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Portuguese)

go with the flow

C2 to do or accept what other people are doing because it is the easiest thing to do

Dictionary example:

Just relax and go with the flow!

Learner example:

At this stage of her progress towards knowing herself better she has accepted that life is a mu[dd]le and that to a certain extent one has to go with the flow. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; French)

go against the grain

C2 If something goes against the grain, it is something you would not normally do.

Dictionary example:

It goes against the grain to throw all this food away.

Learner example:

She tries to dodge George because she is afraid of admitting the fact that she loves him. It simply goes against the grain. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Japanese)

go through the motions

C2 to do something because you are expected to do it and not because you want to

Dictionary example:

Lately he seems to just go through the motions and doesn't enjoy the job at all.

Learner example:

She went through the motions of every-day-life without enthusiasm. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; German)

go overboard

C2 to do something too much, or to be too excited about something

Dictionary example:

I think I went overboard cooking this dinner – there is enough to feed a dozen people.

Learner example:

While no one should restrict their eating habits to the point eating is no longer a pleasure, but rather a chore, it is important not to go overboard, completely disregarding the advice of nutrition experts. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Portuguese)

go out of your way to do sth

C2 to try very hard to do something pleasant for someone

Dictionary example:

He went out of his way to make us feel welcome.

be still going strong

C2 continuing to be successful or healthy after a long time

Dictionary examples:

The club was set up in 1987, and it's still going strong.

He's 93 and still going strong!

Learner example:

I am proud of him and happy that he is still going strong. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Finnish)

go ahead (START)

B2 to start to do something

Dictionary examples:

We now have permission to go ahead with the project.

The vote will go ahead today as planned.

Learner example:

I felt depressed under my parents' pressure, but I had something stronger deep inside of me saying that I should go ahead with my [plan]. (First Certificate in English; B2; Portuguese)

go ahead (ALLOW)

B2 something that you say to someone to allow them to do something

Dictionary example:

"Can I borrow your book?" - "Yes, go ahead."

Learner example:

Everyone needs something sweet from time to time. Go ahead but don't eat it too often, eat more fruit and veg[e]tables! (First Certificate in English; B2; Dutch)

go away (LEAVE)

B1 to leave a place

Dictionary example:

Just go away and leave me alone, will you?

Learner example:

[A] big dog appeared. We were very scared. However, the dog went away and we [were able to] spend a beautiful day, walking, and breathing clean air. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Italian)

go away (VACATION)

B1 to leave your home in order to spend time in a different place

Dictionary example:

We're going away for a few weeks in the summer.

Learner example:

My grandparents had gone away for a week. (First Certificate in English; B2; Swedish)

go back

B1 to return to a place where you were or where you have been before

Dictionary examples:

When are you going back to Paris?

It had started to rain so I went back for my keys.

Is she well enough to go back to work?

Learner example:

So I went back to the classroom, picked up my bag and went home. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Thai)

go by

B2 If time goes by, it passes.

Dictionary example:

The days went by really slowly.

Learner example:

The night went by slowly and my family and I had a great time and a lot of fun. (First Certificate in English; B2; Portuguese)

go down (BECOME LESS)

B1 to become lower in level

Dictionary example:

House prices have gone down recently.

Learner example:

Here in my city the temperature is going down, in the newspaper I read that this winter may be the coldest in many years so I'[d] like to buy a coat soon. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Spanish)

go down (SUN)

B1 When the sun goes down, it moves down in the sky until it cannot be seen any more.

Dictionary example:

I sat with Ken and Olga and watched the sun go down.

Learner example:

Late in the [evening] we can go to the beach and see the sun go down. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Swedish)

go for sth (CHOOSE)

B2 to choose something

Dictionary example:

I don't know whether to go for the fish or the steak.

Learner example:

Please, in your next letter, let me know what kind of shopping you go for. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Italian)

go for sth (TRY TO GET)

B2 to try to get or achieve something

Dictionary examples:

He'll be going for his fifth Olympic gold medal.

"I'm going to apply for that job." "Yeah, go for it!"

go in

A2 to enter a place

Dictionary example:

I looked through the window but I didn't go in.

Learner example:

Surprisingly there w[as] no one in the house so I used the key to open the door [and] then I went in. (First Certificate in English; B2; Korean)

go off (LEAVE)

B1 to leave a place and go somewhere else

Dictionary example:

They've gone off to the diner.

Learner example:

Luckily someone came along soon afterwards and they went off to phone for an ambulance which brought us here. (First Certificate in English; B2; Italian)

go off (STOP WORKING)

B1 If a light or machine goes off, it stops working.

Dictionary example:

The heating goes off at 10 o'clock.

Learner example:

Suddenly the computer shut down and the light went off. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Spanish)

go off (MAKE NOISE)

B2 If something that makes a noise goes off, it suddenly starts making a noise.

Dictionary example:

His car alarm goes off every time it rains.

Learner example:

Unfortunately one of those buttons was the alarm which should be pressed in case of fire and it went off and all the staff from the restaurant came downstairs quickly. (First Certificate in English; B2; Catalan)

go off (EXPLODE)

B2 If a bomb or a gun goes off, it explodes or fires.

Dictionary example:

A bomb went off in the parking lot, killing three people.

go on (CONTINUE)

B1 to continue to happen or exist

Dictionary examples:

The meeting went on until six o'clock.

The path seemed to go on forever.

I know she's upset about losing her job, but life goes on.

Learner example:

Jonathan, this can't go on any more, this week you spent with me I could see you have been working too hard. (First Certificate in English; B2; Spanish)

go on (HAPPEN)

B1 to happen

Dictionary example:

Why aren't they here yet? What's going on?

Learner example:

"What is going on?", I asked. (First Certificate in English; B2; Polish)

go on (CONTINUE DOING)

B2 to continue doing something

Dictionary examples:

We can't go on living like this.

She went on talking as though nothing had happened.

Learner example:

There are many people who think that even if technology improves, our lifestyles will not change much. They think we will go on dealing with problems at home as we [have always done]. (First Certificate in English; B2; Spanish)

go out (LEAVE)

A1 to leave a place in order to go somewhere else

Dictionary example:

Are you going out tonight?

Learner example:

I like to go out with my friends. (Skills for Life (Entry 1); A1; Pashto)

go out (RELATIONSHIP)

B1 If two people go out together, they have a romantic relationship with each other.

Dictionary examples:

I've been going out with Peter for a year.

Dan and I have been going out for over two years now.

Learner example:

Her name is Francesca and I met her at university. She is very nice, so we decided to go out together. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Italian)

go out (LIGHT/FIRE)

B1 If a light or something that is burning goes out, it stops producing light or heat.

Dictionary example:

Should I put some more wood on the fire or let it go out?

Learner example:

I have never beli[e]ved in ghost[s], but why did the lights go out? (First Certificate in English; B2; Spanish)

go over sth

B2 to examine something, such as a piece of writing or some numbers, in order to make sure that it is correct

Dictionary example:

I'm just going over these figures one more time.

go through sth

B2 to experience a difficult or unpleasant situation or event

Dictionary example:

She's going through a difficult time at her job.

Learner example:

We went through a dreadful experience you can be sure. (First Certificate in English; B2; French)

go up

B1 to become higher in level

Dictionary example:

Food prices keep going up.

Learner example:

You should have a lot of money because the cost of li[ving] is going up. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Farsi)

go · noun C

/goʊ/