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go

1 syllable · also goes, gone, went
Quick answer

As a verb, go means move:. As a noun, it means the act of going.

Meanings of go

68 meanings

verb

  1. To move:

  2. To move through space (especially to or through a place). (May be used of tangible things like people or cars, or intangible things like moods or information.)

    “Why don’t you go with us?”

    “This train goes through Cincinnati on its way to Chicago.”

  3. To move or travel through time (either literally—in a fictional or hypothetical situation in which time travel is possible—or in one's mind or knowledge of the historical record). (See also go back.)

    “Yesterday was the second-wettest day on record; you have to go all the way back to 1896 to find a day when more rain fell.”

    “Fans want to see the Twelfth Doctor go to the 51st century to visit River in the library.”

  4. To navigate (to a file or folder on a computer, a site on the internet, a memory, etc).

  5. To move (a particular distance, or in a particular fashion).

    “We've only gone twenty miles today.”

    “This car can go circles around that one.”

  6. To move or travel in order to do something, or to do something while moving.

    “We went swimming.”

    “Let's go shopping.”

  7. To leave; to move away.

    “Please don't go!”

    “I really must be going.”

  8. chiefly of a machineTo work or function (properly); to move or perform (as required).

    “The engine just won't go anymore.”

  9. To start; to begin (an action or process).

    “Get ready, get set, go!”

    “On your marks, get set, go!”

  10. To take a turn, especially in a game.

    “It’s your turn; go.”

  11. To attend.

    “I go to school at the schoolhouse.”

    “She went to Yale.”

  12. To proceed:

  13. To proceed (often in a specified manner, indicating the perceived quality of an event or state).

    “That went well.”

    “"How are things going?" "Not bad, thanks."”

  14. colloquialwith another verbsometimes linked by andTo proceed (especially to do something foolish).

    “Why'd you have to go and do that?”

    “Why'd you have to go do that?”

Older and rare meanings (1)
  1. obsoleteTo walk; to travel on one's feet.

noun

  1. uncommonThe act of going.

  2. A turn at something, or in something (e.g. a game).

    “You’ve been on that pinball machine long enough—now let your brother have a go.”

    “It’s your go.”

  3. An attempt, a try.

    “I’ll give it a go.”

  4. An approval or permission to do something, or that which has been approved.

    “We will begin as soon as the boss says it's a go.”

  5. An act; the working or operation.

  6. Power of going or doing; energy; vitality; perseverance.

    “There is no go in him.”

  7. cribbageThe situation where a player cannot play a card which will not carry the aggregate count above thirty-one.

  8. A period of activity.

    “ate it all in one go”

  9. board gameA strategic board game, originally from China and today also popular in Japan and Korea, in which two players (black and white) attempt to control the largest area of the board with their counters.

  10. A time period for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)time

    “it's my go”

    “a spell of work”

    Similar: spell, tour, turn
  11. Street names for methylenedioxymethamphetamine

    Similar: Adam, ecstasy, XTC, disco biscuit, cristal, X
  12. A usually brief attempt

    “he took a crack at it”

    “I gave it a whirl”

    Similar: crack, fling, pass, whirl, offer
  13. A board game for two players who place counters on a grid; the object is to surround and so capture the opponent's counters

    Similar: go game
Older and rare meanings (6)
  1. slangdatedA circumstance or occurrence; an incident, often unexpected.

  2. datedThe fashion or mode.

    “quite the go”

  3. datedNoisy merriment.

  4. slangarchaicA glass of spirits; a quantity of spirits.

  5. datedA portion

  6. obsoletebritish slangA dandy; a fashionable person.

adjective

  1. postpositivechiefly militaryspaceflightWorking correctly and ready to commence operation; approved and able to be put into action.

Meanings from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).

Synonyms by meaning

All synonyms for go →
noun: a time period for working (after which you will be reliev…
noun: street names for methylenedioxymethamphetamine
AdamecstasyXTCdisco biscuitcristalXhug drug
noun: a usually brief attempt
noun: a board game for two players who place counters on a grid…
go game
verb: change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphori…
verb: follow a procedure or take a course
Oppositesno-gocome

Words that rhyme with go

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