GO

verb [I usually + adv/prep ] A1 (go - went - gone) • synonyms: travel, move, proceed • go to (place); go by bus/car/train; go home • where are you going?; let's go; I'm going to... • freq in AmE (this meaning): 10/10

(MOVE/TRAVEL) to move or travel from one place to another; to proceed in a direction

verb [I ] A1 (go - went - gone) • synonyms: leave, depart • have to go; time to go; I must go • it's time to go; I have to go now; they went (=left) • freq in AmE (this meaning): 10/10

(LEAVE/DEPART) to leave a place; to depart

verb [I ] A2 (go - went - gone) • synonyms: attend, frequent • go to school/church/college/the gym • my kids go to...; do you go to...?; I used to go to... • freq in AmE (this meaning): 10/10

(ATTEND/PARTICIPATE) to regularly attend or participate in an activity, institution, or event

verb [L only + adj ] A2 (go - went - gone) • synonyms: become, turn, get • go wrong/bad/crazy/bald/blind/cold • went crazy/bald; has gone bad; don't let it go... • freq in AmE (this meaning): 9/10

(BECOME) to become or change into a particular state or condition (typically followed by an adjective)

verb [I ] B1 (go - went - gone) • synonyms: work, function, operate, run • won't go; is it going?; stopped going; get it going • the car won't go; is the machine going? • freq in AmE (this meaning): 8/10

(FUNCTION/WORK) to function, operate, or work properly (especially for machines and devices)

verb [I ] B1 informal (go - went - gone) • synonyms: say (informal), make a sound • the song goes...; what does X go?; he/she went (said) • how does it go?; the story goes... • freq in AmE (this meaning): 8/10

(SAYING/SOUND) to say something or make a sound (used when quoting or describing sounds) ⇒ this usage of the verb is informal and conversational. It is used instead of "say" in casual speech, especially when imitating sounds or dialogue.

verb [I ] A2 (go - went - gone) • synonyms: lead, extend, reach • go to (place); go through (area); go all the way to • this road goes to...; where does this go?; goes all the way to... • freq in AmE (this meaning): 8/10

(EXTEND/REACH) to extend, reach, or lead to a particular place or point

collocation with go verb [I ] A2 • synonyms: fail, malfunction, go amiss • everything/something went wrong; what could go wrong? • things went wrong; nothing will go wrong; went badly wrong • freq in AmE: 10/10

to develop problems, make mistakes, or fail to work as planned

collocation with go verb [I ] B1 • synonyms: proceed, continue, start • go ahead with something; go ahead and (do something) • go ahead!; the project will go ahead; decided to go ahead • freq in AmE: 10/10

to proceed with an action or plan; to give or receive permission to start

collocation with go verb [I ] A2 • synonyms: shop, do shopping • go shopping for something; go shopping with someone • let's go shopping; I need to go shopping; goes shopping every... • freq in AmE: 10/10

to go to stores to buy things; to engage in the activity of shopping

collocation with go verb [I ] A2 • synonyms: take a walk, walk • go for a walk in/around (place); go for a long/short walk • let's go for a walk; I go for a walk every...; want to go for a walk? • freq in AmE: 10/10

to take a walk; to walk for leisure, exercise, or relaxation

collocation with go verb [I ] A2 US (UK go on holiday) • synonyms: take a vacation/holiday • go on vacation/holiday to (place) • when are you going on vacation?; went on holiday • freq in AmE: 10/10 (vacation) | freq in BrE: 10/10 (holiday)

to take time off work or school to travel or relax (American: vacation; British: holiday)

collocation with go verb [I ] A2 pattern: go + -ing • common activities: swimming, fishing, skiing, hiking, camping, running, jogging, dancing, shopping • let's go swimming; want to go hiking? • freq in AmE: 10/10

to engage in recreational activities, especially sports and outdoor pursuits (followed by verb-ing)

collocation with go verb [I ] B1 (UK mainly go mad) • synonyms: go insane, lose it, freak out (informal) • go crazy/mad with (emotion); drive someone crazy; makes me go crazy • freq in AmE: 9/10 (crazy)

to become very angry, upset, or mentally unstable; to lose control emotionally or mentally

collocation with go verb [I ] A2 pattern: go + -ing • common activities: swimming, fishing, skiing, hiking, bowling, camping, running, jogging, dancing, shopping • let's go swimming; want to go hiking? • freq in AmE: 10/10

to go to a place where people dance for entertainment

collocation with go verb [I ] B1 more often in BrE • synonyms: disappear, vanish, be lost • go missing from (place); has/have gone missing • went missing; my keys have gone missing; items went missing • freq in AmE: 7/10 | freq in BrE: 9/10

to disappear or become lost, especially when someone's whereabouts are unknown ⇒ this expression is MORE common in British English than American English, though Americans understand and use i

collocation with go verb [I ] B2 • synonyms: forget, draw a blank, freeze up (mind); turn off (screen) • my mind went blank; the screen went blank • went completely blank; suddenly went blank • freq in AmE: 8/10

to suddenly be unable to remember or think of something; for the mind to become empty ⇒ used for minds (forgetting) and screens (turning off/empty) — context makes the meaning clear

collocation with go verb [I ] B2 • synonyms: become bankrupt, fail financially, go under (informal) • go bankrupt; went bankrupt; will go bankrupt • the company went bankrupt; many businesses went bankrupt • freq in AmE: 8/10

to become unable to pay debts; to have a business officially declared financially failed

collocation with go verb [I ] A1 • (usually) go to bed at (time); (need to) go to bed early/late • freq in AmE: 10/10 ⇒ Note: "Go to bed" means getting into bed to sleep. It's different from "go to sleep", which focuses on falling asleep.

to get into bed for sleeping; to retire for the night

collocation with go verb [I ] A2 • synonyms: fall asleep, drift off • I went to sleep at... • freq in AmE: 10/10 ⇒ Note: "Go to sleep" focuses on the act of falling asleep, not just getting in bed. Different from "go to bed."

to fall asleep; to transition from being awake to sleeping

collocation with go verb [I ] B1 • synonyms: get online, connect to the internet, launch (for websites) • go online to (do something); the website goes online • need to go online; can I go online?; went online yesterday • freq in AmE: 9/10

to connect to the internet; to become available or accessible on the internet

collocation with go verb [I ] A2 • synonyms: go smoothly, succeed, turn out well • go well; went well; going well • hope it goes well; how did it go?; everything went well • freq in AmE: 10/10

to proceed successfully or favorably; to happen without problems

collocation with go verb [I ] B1 • synonyms: go without a hitch, proceed smoothly, run smoothly • hope everything goes smoothly; if all goes smoothly; didn't go smoothly • freq in AmE: 9/10

to proceed without problems, difficulties, or interruptions; to happen easily and efficiently

collocation with go verb [I ] A1 • go home from (place); go home early/late • I want to go home • freq in AmE: 10/10 💡"Go home" does NOT use "to" - never say "go to home." This is a common error!

to return to one's place of residence; to travel back to where you live

collocation with go verb [I ] B1 • synonyms: travel internationally, go overseas • go abroad to (do something); go abroad for (purpose) • going abroad; have you gone abroad?; went abroad to study • freq in AmE: 8/10

to travel to or be in a foreign country; to go outside your own country

collocation with go verb [I ] A2 • go on a trip to (place) • US freq: 10/10 (trip) | 6/10 (journey) 💡"Trip" is more common in American English and suggests shorter, specific travel. "Journey" is more formal/poetic and emphasizes the traveling itself.

to travel somewhere, especially for pleasure or a specific purpose; to take a trip

collocation with go verb [I ] B1 • synonyms: start a diet, begin dieting • go on a diet; go on a strict/healthy diet • need to go on a diet; she went on a diet; are you going on a diet? • freq in AmE: 9/10

to start restricting food intake to lose weight or improve health; to begin following a specific eating plan

grammar pattern with go verb [I ] A1 • go to work/school/the store/the party/a country • I go to...; are you going to...?; she went to... • freq in AmE: 10/10 💡Exception: "go home" does NOT use "to" - never say "go to home"!

to travel or move toward and arrive at a specific location or destination

grammar pattern with go verb [I ] A2 • go by bus/car/train/plane/bike/foot • freq in AmE: 10/10 💡Common transports: by car, by bus, by train, by plane, by bike, by foot (or "on foot"). Do NOT use articles: "by bus" not "by the bus."

to travel using a particular method of transportation or means

grammar pattern with go verb [I ] A2 • go from place to place; go from state to state • freq in AmE: 10/10

to travel or move starting at one place and ending at another; to change or transition between states or conditions 💡works for both physical movement (places) and abstract changes (emotions, prices, states)

grammar pattern with go verb [I ] B1 • go for coffee/dinner/a walk/a swim; go for the cheapest/best option • freq in AmE: 10/10 💡"Go for" has two main uses: (1) go somewhere to get/do something, (2) choose or select something.

to go somewhere with the purpose of obtaining or doing something; to choose or select

grammar pattern with go verb [I ] A2 • structure: go + with + person • go with someone to (place); go with friends/family/me/you • can I go with you?; she's going with...; do you want to go with me? • freq in AmE: 10/10

to accompany someone; to go to a place together with another person

grammar pattern with go verb [I ] A2 • go (well/perfectly) with something • freq in AmE: 10/10💡Often used with "well" or "perfectly" to emphasize good compatibility: "goes well with," "goes perfectly with."

(BE SUITABLE) to match, suit, complement, or be compatible with something

grammar pattern with go verb [I ] B2 • problems/risks/responsibilities that go with (doing/being) • things that go with...; consequences that go with...; everything that goes with... • freq in AmE: 8/10

to be naturally associated with or be a consequence of an activity, role, or situation; to accompany or be inherent to something

grammar pattern with go verb [I ] A2 • go upstairs to (place/purpose) • freq in AmE: 10/10 💡"Upstairs/downstairs" are adverbs (no "to" needed). They describe going between FLOORS in a building, not the physical act of climbing stairs.

to move to an upper floor or level (upstairs) or to a lower floor or level (downstairs) within a building

grammar pattern with go verb [I ] A2 • synonyms: walk up the stairs / walk down the stairs • freq in AmE: 9/10

to physically climb or descend a staircase; to move along stairs in an upward or downward direction

grammar pattern with go verb [I ] B1 • go through a difficult time/period; go through challenges/hardship/divorce • she's going through...; I went through...; we all go through... • freq in AmE: 9/10

to experience, endure, or suffer through a difficult situation, period, or process

grammar pattern with go verb [I ] B1 • can't go without; go without food/water/sleep • I can't go without...; many people go without...; went without... for (time) • freq in AmE: 8/10

to manage to live or continue without having something; to lack or do without something

grammar pattern with go verb [I ] B1 • go into teaching/business/law; go into details; go into the room • she went into...; let's not go into...; I don't want to go into... • freq in AmE: 8/10

to enter a place, profession, or field; to explain or discuss something in detail 💡two main meanings: (1) enter physically, (2) discuss in detail. Context makes meaning clear

grammar pattern with go verb [I ] B1 • go over the plan/notes/contract/details • let's go over...; I need to go over...; went over... several times • freq in AmE: 9/10

to review, examine, or check something carefully; to repeat or practice something

grammar pattern with go verb [I ] B2 • go as far as to say/do/call; go as far as breaking/threatening • I wouldn’t go as far as...; some people go as far as...; would you go as far as...? • freq in AmE: 8/10

to be willing to do something extreme or go to a great extent; to reach a particular point or limit

grammar pattern with go verb [I ] A2 • go along the road/street/path/highway • as you go along... • freq in AmE: 9/10

to move forward or travel in a particular direction along a road, path, or route

grammar pattern with go verb [I ] A2 • go down the road/street; go down... for (distance); go down... until you see... • freq in AmE: 10/10

to move or travel in a downward direction along a road or street; to proceed along a road (regardless of actual slope)

grammar pattern with go verb [I ] A2 • go up the hill/mountain/road; go up steeply; the road goes up • freq in AmE: 9/10

to move or travel in an upward direction along a road, hill, or incline

grammar pattern with go verb [I ] A2 • go over the bridge/hill/tracks; the road goes over... • freq in AmE: 9/10 💡 This is LITERAL crossing over something, different from "go over" (review) which is abstract.

to cross over or pass across something, typically a bridge, barrier, or elevated structure

grammar pattern with go verb [I ] A2 • go through a tunnel/door/gate; go through the main entrance • freq in AmE: 10/10 💡This is LITERAL passing through a physical space, different from "go through" (experience) which is abstract.

to pass through an enclosed space, opening, or passage; to enter one side and exit the other

grammar pattern with go verb [I ] A2 • go around the building/corner/block • freq in AmE: 10/10 💡Can mean: (1) physically go around an obstacle/corner, (2) circulate (tune going around in head, rumor going around). Context determines meaning.

to move around something rather than through or over it; to turn around a corner or curve

grammar pattern with go verb [I ] A2 • go across the street/road/bridge/field • freq in AmE: 10/10

to cross from one side to the other side of something; to traverse

grammar pattern with go verb [I ] A2 • go past the post office/museum/traffic light • freq in AmE: 10/10

to move beyond a particular point, place, or object; to pass by without stopping

grammar pattern with go verb [I ] A2 • go under the bridge/overpass/archway • freq in AmE: 8/10

to pass beneath something; to move through a space below an elevated structure

grammar pattern with go verb [I ] A2 • go to the store/library/gym to (do something) • freq in AmE: 10/10

to travel to a specific location with the purpose of doing something there

grammar pattern with go verb [I ] A2 • go to see/meet/help/pick up/buy • freq in AmE: 10/10

to go somewhere (destination not specified or understood from context) with the purpose of doing something