go
verb · noun
Simple meaning
To move, either physically or in an abstract sense.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
gohIPA pronunciation (US)
ˈɡoʊ
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
verb
To move, either physically or in an abstract sense
To move (a particular distance, or in a particular fashion).
intransitive
To move through space (especially to or through a place). (May be used of tangible things such as people or cars, or intangible things such as moods or information.)
intransitive
To navigate (to a file or folder on a computer, a site on the internet, a memory, etc).
To become, move to or come to (a state, position, situation)
Move away from a place into another direction
noun
A turn at something, or in something (e.g. a game).
An attempt, a try.
An approval or permission to do something, or that which has been approved.
uncountable
Power of going or doing; energy; vitality; perseverance.
The capital and largest city of Gorontalo, Indonesia.
A state of the Center-West Region, Brazil, around the city. Capital: Goiânia.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- A1 · Beginner (estimated)
- Frequency
- Very Common
- Typical Use
- Everyday English
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: To move, either physically or in an abstract sense
Used this way, go is a reasonably familiar word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Not strongly marked
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- No strong connotation
- Usage feel
- Neutral and straightforward
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
More ways to use go
- “We should go farther in this matter.”verb
- “How fast does your new car go?”verb
- “The first prize goes to Mary.”verb
Share your sentence
Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Similar Words, What’s the Difference?
Close in meaning, but not always interchangeable.
More about this wordSynonyms, forms, origin
Use This Word
See how this word sounds in a real sentence.
Ask Vocabaura
Understand the word your way.
What Does It Mean Here?
Words can change meaning depending on context.
Use it yourself
Knowing “go” starts when you use it. Pick a next step, all free.
Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.