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go on

 [goh]   Origin

go

1   [goh] verb, went, gone, go·ing, noun, plural goes, interjection, adjective
verb (used without object)
1.
to move or proceed, especially to or from something: They're going by bus.
2.
to leave a place; depart: People were coming and going all the time.
3.
to keep or be in motion; function or perform as required: Can't you go any faster in your work?
4.
to become as specified: to go mad.
5.
to continue in a certain state or condition; be habitually: to go barefoot.
EXPAND
6.
to act as specified: Go warily if he wants to discuss terms.
7.
to act so as to come into a certain state or condition: to go into debt; to go to sleep.
8.
to be known: to go by a false name.
9.
to reach, extend, or give access to: Where does this door go?
10.
to pass or elapse: The time went fast.
11.
to be applied, allotted, awarded, transferred, etc., to a particular recipient or purpose: My money goes for food and rent.
12.
to be sold: I have a bid of two dollars. Going! Going! Gone!
13.
to be considered generally or usually: He's short, as basketball players go.
14.
to conduce or tend: This only goes to prove the point.
15.
to result or end; turn out: How did the game go?
16.
to belong; have a place: This book goes on the top shelf.
17.
(of colors, styles, etc.) to harmonize; be compatible; be suited: Your tweed jacket would go well with these pants.
18.
to fit around or into; be able to be extended, contained, inserted, etc.: This belt won't go around my waist.
19.
to be or become consumed, spent, finished, etc.: The cake went fast.
20.
to be or become discarded, dismissed, put aside, forgotten, etc.: Those practical jokes of yours have got to go!
21.
to develop, progress, or proceed, especially with reference to success or satisfaction: How is your new job going?
22.
to move or proceed with remarkable speed or energy: Look at that airplane go!
23.
to make a certain sound: The gun goes bang.
24.
to be phrased, written, or composed: How does that song go?
25.
to seek or have recourse for a decision, verdict, corroboration, defense, etc.; resort: to go to court.
26.
to become worn-out, weakened, ineffective, etc.: His eyesight is beginning to go.
27.
to die: The old man went peacefully at 3 a.m.
28.
to fail, break, or give way: The dike might go any minute.
29.
to come into action; begin: Go when you hear the bell.
30.
to make up a quantity or content; be requisite: Sixteen ounces go to the pound.
31.
to be able to be divided; be contained as a mathematical element: Three goes into fifteen five times.
32.
to contribute to an end result: the items that go to make up the total.
33.
to have as one's goal; intend (usually used in the present tense, followed by an infinitive): Their daughter is going to be a doctor.
34.
to be permitted, approved, or the like: Around here, anything goes.
35.
to be authoritative; be the final word: This is my house, and what I say goes!
36.
to subject oneself: Don't go to any trouble.
37.
(used in the infinitive as an intensifier to indicate the idea of proceeding, especially with the expectation of serious consequences): He finally had to go ask for a loan.
38.
Informal. to urinate or defecate.
COLLAPSE
verb (used with object)
39.
Informal. to endure or tolerate: I can't go his preaching.
40.
Informal. to risk, pay, afford, bet, or bid: I'll go fifty dollars for a ticket, but no more.
41.
to move or proceed with or according to; follow: Going my way?
42.
to share or participate in to the extent of (often followed by a complementary substantive): to go halves.
43.
to yield, produce, weigh as a usable amount, or grow to: This field will go two bales of cotton.
EXPAND
44.
to assume the obligation, responsibility, or function of: His father went bail for him.
45.
Informal. to enjoy, appreciate, desire, or want: I could go a big steak dinner right now.
46.
Informal. to say; declare (usually used in speech): I asked the clerk for my receipt, and he goes, “You don't need it.”
COLLAPSE

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Go on is always a great word to know.
So is interrobang. Does it mean:
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
a printed punctuation mark (‽), available only in some typefaces, designed to combine the question mark (?) and the exclamation point (!), indicating a mixture of query and interjection, as after a rhetorical question.
LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
noun
47.
the act of going: the come and go of the seasons.
48.
energy, spirit, or animation: a man with a lot of go.
49.
a try at something; attempt: to have a go at winning the prize.
50.
a successful accomplishment; success: to make a go of a new business.
51.
Informal. a business agreement; deal; bargain: Thirty dollars? It's a go.
EXPAND
52.
Informal. approval or permission, as to undertake or begin something: The boss gave us the go on the new project.
53.
Boxing. a bout: the main go.
COLLAPSE
interjection
54.
(in calling the start of a race) start the race; leave the starting line: On your mark! Get set! Go!
adjective
55.
ready.
56.
functioning properly: two minutes before the satellite is to be launched and all systems are go.
Verb phrases
57.
go about,
a.
to occupy oneself with; perform: The shoemaker goes about his work with a smile.
b.
Nautical. to change course by tacking or wearing.
58.
go after, to attempt to obtain; strive for: You'll never get what you want if you don't go after it energetically.
59.
go against, to be in conflict with or opposed to: It goes against the company's policy.
60.
go ahead, to proceed without hesitation or delay: If you want to use my car, go ahead.
61.
go along,
a.
to move or proceed.
b.
to accompany in travel.
c.
to agree; concur: I can't go along with you on that idea.
EXPAND
62.
go around,
a.
to be often in company (often followed by with): to go around with a bad crowd.
b.
to be sufficient for all: Is there enough food to go around?
c.
to pass or circulate, as in transmission or communication: The rumor is going around that he was forced to resign.
63.
go at,
a.
to assault; attack.
b.
to begin or proceed vigorously: to go at one's work with a will.
64.
go back on. back2 (def. 7).
65.
go by,
a.
to be disregarded or not taken advantage of: Don't let this chance go by.
b.
to be guided by or to rely upon: Don't go by what she says.
66.
go down,
a.
to decrease or subside, as in amount or size: Prices went down. The swelling is going down.
b.
to descend or sink: When does the sun go down?
c.
to suffer defeat: to go down fighting.
d.
to be accepted or believed: This nonsense goes down as truth with many persons.
e.
to admit of being consumed: This food goes down easily.
f.
to be remembered in history or by posterity.
g.
Slang. to happen; occur: What's been going down since I've been away?
h.
British. to leave a university, permanently or at the end of a term.
i.
Bridge. to fall short of making one's contract.
j.
Slang: Vulgar. to perform fellatio or cunnilingus.
67.
go for,
a.
to make an attempt at; try for: He is going for the championship.
b.
to assault.
c.
to favor; like: It simply isn't the kind of life you would go for.
d.
to be used for the purpose of or be a substitute for: material that goes for silk.
68.
go in for,
a.
to adopt as one's particular interest; approve of; like.
b.
to occupy oneself with; engage in: Europeans in increasing numbers are going in for camping.
69.
go into,
a.
to discuss or investigate: Let's not go into the question of whose fault it was.
b.
to undertake as one's study or work: to go into medicine.
70.
go in with, to join in a partnership or union; combine with: He asked me to go in with him on the purchase of a boat.
71.
go off,
a.
to explode, fire, or perform or begin to function abruptly: A gun went off in the distance.
b.
(of what has been expected or planned) to happen: The interview went off very badly.
c.
to leave, especially suddenly: She went off without saying goodbye.
d.
to die.
e.
to deteriorate.
f.
Slang. to experience orgasm.
72.
go on,
a.
to happen or take place: What's going on here?
b.
to continue: Go on working.
c.
to behave; act: Don't go on like that!
d.
to talk effusively; chatter.
e.
(used to express disbelief): Go on, you're kidding me.
f.
to appear onstage in a theatrical performance: I go on in the middle of the second act.
73.
go out,
a.
to come to an end, especially to fade in popularity: Silent movies went out as soon as the talkies were perfected.
b.
to cease or fail to function: The lights went out.
c.
to participate in social activities, on dates, etc.
d.
to take part in a strike: The printers went out yesterday in a contract dispute.
e.
Rummy. to dispose of the last card in one's hand by melding it on the table.
f.
Cards. to achieve a point score equal to or above the score necessary to win the game.
74.
go over,
a.
to repeat; review.
b.
to be effective or successful: The proposal went over very well with the trustees.
c.
to examine: The mechanic went over the car but found nothing wrong.
d.
to read; scan.
75.
go through,
a.
to bear; experience.
b.
to examine or search carefully: He went through all of his things but couldn't find the letter.
c.
to be successful; be accepted or approved: The proposed appropriation will never go through.
d.
to use up; spend completely: He went through his allowance in one day.
76.
go through with, to persevere with to the end; bring to completion: It was perhaps the biggest challenge of her life, and she resolved to go through with it.
77.
go under,
a.
to be overwhelmed or ruined; fail.
b.
(of a ship) to founder.
78.
go up,
a.
to be in the process of construction, as a building.
b.
to increase in cost, value, etc.
c.
to forget one's lines during a theatrical performance.
d.
British. to go to a university at the beginning of a term.
COLLAPSE
Idioms
79.
from the word “go”, from the very start; since the beginning.
80.
go and, to be so thoughtless, unfortunate, or silly as to: It was going to be a surprise but he went and told her.
81.
go ape over/for. ape (def. 6).
82.
go bananas. bananas (def. 2).
83.
go down on, Slang: Vulgar. to perform fellatio or cunnilingus on.
EXPAND
84.
go for broke. broke (def. 9).
85.
go for it, Informal. to pursue a goal with determination.
86.
go it alone, to act or proceed independently, without assistance, companionship, or the like: If you don't want to form a partnership, I'll go it alone.
87.
go native. native (def. 24).
88.
go the whole hog, to do something thoroughly or consistently: If you're getting a new amplifier, why don't you go the whole hog and get new speakers and a turntable, too?
89.
go to!, Archaic.
a.
you don't say! I don't believe you!
b.
let's do it! come on!
90.
go together,
a.
to be appropriate or harmonious: The rug and curtains don't go together.
b.
Informal. to keep company; date; court: They have gone together for two years.
91.
go to it, Informal. to begin vigorously and at once.
92.
go with, Informal. to keep company with; court; date: He went with her for two semesters. Also, go out with.
93.
let go,
a.
to release one's grasp or hold: Please let go of my arm.
b.
to free; release.
c.
to cease to employ; dismiss: Business was slack and many employees were let go.
d.
to become unrestrained; abandon inhibitions: She'd be good fun if she would just let go and enjoy herself.
e.
to dismiss; forget; discard: Once he has an idea, he never lets go of it.
94.
let go with, to express or utter with abandon: He let go with a sudden yell.
95.
let oneself go, to free oneself of inhibitions or restraint: Let yourself go and get mad once in a while.
96.
no go, Informal.
a.
futile; useless: We tried to get there by noon, but it was no go.
b.
not authorized or approved to proceed; canceled or aborted: Tomorrow's satellite launching is no go.
97.
on the go,
a.
very busy; active: She's always on the go.
b.
while going from place to place; while traveling.
98.
to go, Informal. (of food) for consumption off the premises where sold: coffee to go.
COLLAPSE
Origin:
before 900; Middle English gon, Old English gān; cognate with Old High German gēn, German gehen

Synonyms
1. walk, run, travel, advance.

Antonyms
1. stay.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To go on
Collins
World English Dictionary
go on
 
—vb
1.  to continue or proceed
2.  to happen or take place: there's something peculiar going on here
3.  (of power, water supply, etc) to start running or functioning
4.  (preposition) to mount or board and ride on, esp as a treat: children love to go on donkeys at the seaside
5.  theatre to make an entrance on stage
6.  to act or behave: he goes on as though he's rich
7.  to talk excessively; chatter
8.  to continue talking, esp after a short pause: ``When I am Prime Minister,'' he went on, ``we shall abolish taxes.''
9.  (foll by at) to criticize or nag: stop going on at me all the time!
10.  (preposition) to use as a basis for further thought or action: the police had no evidence at all to go on in the murder case
11.  (Brit) (foll by for) to approach (a time, age, amount, etc): he's going on for his hundredth birthday
12.  cricket to start to bowl
13.  to take one's turn
14.  (of clothes) to be capable of being put on
15.  (Brit) (used with a negative) go much on to care for; like
16.  something to go on, something to be going on with something that is adequate for the present time
 
—interj
17.  I don't believe what you're saying

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

go
O.E. gan "to go," from W.Gmc. *gai-/*gæ- (cf. O.Fris. gan, M.Du. gaen, Ger. gehen), from PIE *ghei-, perhaps connected to Skt. jihite "goes away," Gk. kikhano "I reach, meet with," but there is not general agreement on cognates. The O.E. past tense was eode, of uncertain origin but evidently
EXPAND
once a different word (perhaps connected to Goth. iddja); it was replaced 1400s by went, formerly past tense of wenden "to direct one's way" (see wend). In northern England and Scotland, however, eode tended to be replaced by gaed, a construction based on go. In modern English, only be and go take their past tenses from entirely different verbs. The word in its various forms and combinations takes up 45 columns of close print in the OED. The noun sense of "a try or turn at something" is from 1825; meaning "something that goes, a success" is from 1876. Verbal meaning "say" emerged 1960s in teen slang. Going to "be about to" is from late 15c. Go for broke is from 1951, Amer.Eng. colloquial; go down on "perform oral sex on" is from 1916. That goes without saying (1878) translates Fr. cela va sans dire. Phrase on the go "in constant motion" is from 1843; go-between is 1598; go-getter is 1910, Amer.Eng., but goer, with essentially the same meaning, is late 14c. Goner "something dead or about to die" is first recorded 1850.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Slang Dictionary

go definition


  1. n.
    a try (at something). : I'd like to have another go at it, if I can.
  2. in.
    to urinate. : Jimmy's gonna go in his pants!
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases

go on

  1. Happen, take place, as in What's going on here? [Early 1700s]

  2. Continue, as in The show must go on. [Late 1500s]

  3. Keep on doing; also, proceed, as in He went on talking, or She may go on to become a partner. [Second half of 1600s]

  4. Act, behave, especially badly. For example, Don't go on like that; stop kicking the dog. [Second half of 1700s]

  5. Also, go on and on; run on. Talk volubly, chatter, especially tiresomely. For example, How she does go on! The first usage dates from the mid-1800s; run on appeared in Nicholas Udall's Ralph Roister Doister (c. 1553): "Yet your tongue can run on."

  6. An interjection expressing disbelief, surprise, or the like, as in Go on, you must be joking! [Late 1800s]

  7. Approach; see going on.

  8. Use as a starting point or as evidence, as in The investigator doesn't have much to go on in this case. [Mid-1900s]

  9. go on something. Begin something, as in go on line, meaning "start to use a computer," or go on a binge, meaning "begin to overdo, especially drink or eat too much."

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
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