go · v
go (SONG)
B2 to have a particular tune or words
Dictionary examples:
I can't remember how his latest song goes. (11.8)
go (TIME)
B2 If time goes, it passes.
Dictionary examples:
The day went very quickly. (8.0)
There are only two weeks of school to go. (9.4)
go (SOUND/MOVEMENT)
B2 to make a particular sound or movement
Dictionary examples:
A cat goes "Miaow." (4.3)
"Your dog's acting strange!" - "He goes like that when he wants some food." (35.3)
go (WORKING)
B2 to work in the right way
Dictionary examples:
Did you get the car going? (16.5)
go (STOP WORKING)
B2 to stop working correctly
Dictionary examples:
She's very old and her hearing is going. (45.6)
go into detail
B2 to tell or include all the facts about something
Dictionary examples:
I won't go into detail over the phone, but I've been having a few health problems recently. (28.9)
it goes without saying
B2 If something goes without saying, it is obvious or generally accepted.
Dictionary examples:
It goes without saying that smoking is harmful to your health. (44.0)
go hand in hand
C1 If two things go hand in hand, they exist together and are connected with each other.
Dictionary examples:
Prosperity goes hand in hand with investment. (46.8)
keep sb going
C1 to provide what someone needs for a short period of time
Dictionary examples:
Dinner is at eight, but I had an apple to keep me going. (15.4)
go downhill
C2 to gradually become worse
Dictionary examples:
After his wife died, his health started to go downhill. (53.2)
go so far as to do sth
C2 to take the extreme action of doing something
Dictionary examples:
He even went so far as to stop her using the telephone. (18.6)
go too far
C2 to behave in a way that upsets or annoys other people
Dictionary examples:
He's said some stupid things in the past, but this time he's gone too far. (27.4)
go with the flow
C2 to do or accept what other people are doing because it is the easiest thing to do
Dictionary examples:
Just relax and go with the flow! (44.2)
go against the grain
C2 If something goes against the grain, it is something you would not normally do.
Dictionary examples:
It goes against the grain to throw all this food away. (49.3)
go through the motions
C2 to do something because you are expected to do it and not because you want to
Dictionary examples:
Lately he seems to just go through the motions and doesn't enjoy the job at all. (51.5)
go overboard
C2 to do something too much, or to be too excited about something
Dictionary examples:
I think I went overboard cooking this dinner – there is enough to feed a dozen people. (65.3)
go out of your way to do sth
C2 to try very hard to do something pleasant for someone
Dictionary examples:
He went out of his way to make us feel welcome. (19.3)
be still going strong
C2 continuing to be successful or healthy after a long time
Dictionary examples:
He's 93 and still going strong! (16.3)
The club was set up in 1987, and it's still going strong. (22.8)
go (DO SOMETHING)
A1 to move or travel somewhere in order to do something
Dictionary examples:
We go to eat pizza every day. (0.0)
Let's go to dance with bananas! (0.0)
She goes to talk to her cat. (0.0)
We're going camping on Friday. (12.5)
Let's go for a walk. (18.1)
I have to go and pick the kids up now. (18.4)
go shopping
A1 to visit stores in order to buy things
Dictionary examples:
I go shopping for funny hats. (0.0)
You go shopping for funny glasses. (0.0)
We go shopping for purple food. (0.0)
We went shopping last Saturday. (18.2)
go (MOVE/TRAVEL)
A1 to move or travel somewhere
Dictionary examples:
My cat goes to school every day. (0.0)
We go to sleep in the kitchen. (0.0)
We go to school by elephant. (0.0)
I'd like to go to Japan. (5.4)
Where did Helena go? (17.7)
He went into the house. (19.0)
Does this train go to Newcastle? (19.3)
Are you going by train? (21.9)
go (DISAPPEAR)
B1 to disappear or no longer exist
Dictionary examples:
My homework went missing. I think my dog ate it... again! (0.0)
My phone battery goes from 100% to 0% in record time! (0.0)
My motivation to study goes on vacation every exam season! (0.0)
The food was all gone by the time we got to the party. (15.8)
When I turned around, the man had gone. (22.1)
go (LEAD)
B1 If a road, path, etc. goes in a particular direction, it leads there.
Dictionary examples:
The secret tunnel goes straight to the ice cream shop! (0.0)
This crazy path goes in circles, making joggers dizzy! (0.0)
This escalator goes up forever, so pack a lunch! (0.0)
This road goes north to Vermont. (8.3)
go (MATCH)
B1 If two things go, they match each other.
Dictionary examples:
My rainbow wig doesn't go with my serious job interview outfit. (0.0)
Do you think my elephant slippers go with this formal suit? (0.0)
Do you think my rubber duck tie goes with this wedding suit? (0.0)
This jacket and skirt don't go together do they? (14.3)
That top doesn't go with these pants. (47.8)
be going to do/be sth
A2 to intend to do or be something
Dictionary examples:
I'm going to sleep for a whole week after this exam! (0.0)
We're going to learn English by watching funny cat videos. (0.0)
He's going to teach his dog to bark in English. (0.0)
I'm going to call her tonight. (10.2)
I'm going to be a dancer when I grow up. (22.2)
go badly/well, etc.
B1 to develop in a particular way
Dictionary examples:
My job interview was going great until I accidentally hugged the boss. (0.0)
My presentation went perfectly until I noticed my fly was open the whole time. (0.0)
The first date went badly when I called her by my ex's name. (0.0)
Something's gone wrong with my computer. (9.0)
My exams went really well. (11.4)
"How did your interview go?" "Pretty badly." (26.8)
go wrong
B1 to develop problems
Dictionary examples:
My plan to wake up early went wrong. I slept through three alarms. (0.0)
My diet went wrong when I saw a pizza commercial. (0.0)
My online shopping went wrong. I accidentally bought 100 rubber ducks. (0.0)
Something's gone wrong with my computer. (9.0)
go bald/blind/gray, etc.
B1 to become bald/blind/gray, etc.
Dictionary examples:
My phone went dead right when I was about to win the game. (0.0)
My teeth went yellow after I drank ten cups of coffee daily. (0.0)
The mirror went foggy every time I tried to fix my hair. (0.0)
He went bald in his twenties. (25.4)
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 examples:
I'd like my salad to go. My diet starts... tomorrow. (0.0)
Can I have my soup to go? I need to water my plastic plants. (0.0)
Can I get my coffee to go? My bed is calling me. (0.0)
I'd like a cheeseburger and strawberry milk shake to go, please. (65.9)
go to the bathroom
A2 to empty the body of urine or solid waste, usually using a toilet in a bathroom
Dictionary examples:
I always have to go to the bathroom right before exams start. (0.0)
I always need to go to the bathroom during important phone calls. (0.0)
My friend goes to the bathroom every time he's nervous. (0.0)
It's going to be a long ride, kids, so if you need to go to the bathroom do it now. (31.0)
go running/swimming, etc.
A2 to go somewhere to do a particular activity
Dictionary examples:
They go sleeping at work. (0.0)
She goes reading in the dark. (0.0)
I go dancing with my cat. (0.0)
We're going camping on Friday. (12.5)
We went skating yesterday. (17.3)
be going to do sth
A2 used to say that something is expected to happen in the future
Dictionary examples:
My homework is going to finish itself... in my dreams! (0.0)
I'm going to sleep for a year after this exam! (0.0)
My dog is going to eat my homework... Oh wait, that's me! (0.0)
They're going to have their first baby in June. (14.8)
It's going to snow tonight. (28.9)
go red
B2 If someone goes red, their face becomes red because they are embarrassed or angry.
Dictionary examples:
He kissed her on the cheek and she went bright red. (23.7)