[NEW] Definition of Go by Merriam-Webster | past tense of go – NATAVIGUIDES

“going to” in sense 13 is often

— see also to go

went with an iron off the tee

went with an iron off the tee

He went to town on a big platter of beef and potatoes.

: to indulge oneself excessively He went to town on a big platter of beef and potatoes.

3 : to indulge oneself excessively He went to town on a big platter of beef and potatoes.

The team really went to town, winning 14–0.

: to be markedly successful The team really went to town, winning 14–0.

2 : to be markedly successful The team really went to town, winning 14–0.

They went to town on decorating the building.

: to work or act rapidly or efficiently They went to town on decorating the building.

1 : to work or act rapidly or efficiently They went to town on decorating the building.

: to make an all-out combative effort (as in support of a position)

: to make an all-out combative effort (as in support of a position)

: to make an all-out combative effort (as in support of a position)

: to become shattered (as in nerves or health)

: to become shattered (as in nerves or health)

: to become shattered (as in nerves or health)

: to cause one to become conceited or overconfident

: to cause one to become conceited or overconfident Fame went to her head.

2 : to cause one to become conceited or overconfident Fame went to her head.

The wine went to his head.

: to cause one to become confused, excited, or dizzy

: to cause one to become confused, excited, or dizzy The wine went to his head.

1 : to cause one to become confused, excited, or dizzy The wine went to his head.

went through his work in a daze

went through his work in a daze

had to go through quite an ordeal

went through the list of items one by one

went through the list of items one by one

: to subject to thorough examination, consideration, or study

: to subject to thorough examination, consideration, or study went through the list of items one by one

1 : to subject to thorough examination, consideration, or study went through the list of items one by one

: to be on the way to success

: to be on the way to success

: to be on the way to success

went over his notes before taking the test

went over his notes before taking the test

insists on going it alone

She told me briefly what had happened, but didn’t go into too much detail.

I’ll explain later—I don’t have the time to go into it right now.

The auditors went into every aspect of the company’s operations.

: to subject (something) to examination or discussion

: to subject (something) to examination or discussion The auditors went into every aspect of the company’s operations. I’ll explain later—I don’t have the time to go into it right now. She told me briefly what had happened, but didn’t go into too much detail.

4 : to subject (something) to examination or discussion The auditors went into every aspect of the company’s operations. I’ll explain later—I don’t have the time to go into it right now. She told me briefly what had happened, but didn’t go into too much detail.

He went into business for himself.

She decided to go into law/medicine.

: to enter (something) as a profession or occupation

: to enter (something) as a profession or occupation She decided to go into law/medicine. He went into business for himself.

3 : to enter (something) as a profession or occupation She decided to go into law/medicine. He went into business for himself.

… the car hit a patch of ice and went into a skid …

: to begin (a specified kind of movement) The plane went into a tailspin. … the car hit a patch of ice and went into a skid … — Ron Fimrite

b : to begin (a specified kind of movement) The plane went into a tailspin. … the car hit a patch of ice and went into a skid … — Ron Fimrite

Seven months later Wall Street crashed and the economy went into freefall.

Her body began jerking violently, and she went into a coma.

I went into a deep funk over the nasty things I’ve written …

“Scott went into a tizzy,” she said.

: to begin to be in (a specified state or condition)

: to begin to be in (a specified state or condition) The fugitive went into hiding. “Scott went into a tizzy,” she said. — Lucinda Franks I went into a deep funk over the nasty things I’ve written … — P. J. O’Rourke Her body began jerking violently, and she went into a coma. — Patrick Rogers et al. Seven months later Wall Street crashed and the economy went into freefall. — Bill Bryson

2 a : to begin to be in (a specified state or condition) The fugitive went into hiding. “Scott went into a tizzy,” she said. — Lucinda Franks I went into a deep funk over the nasty things I’ve written … — P. J. O’Rourke Her body began jerking violently, and she went into a coma. — Patrick Rogers et al. Seven months later Wall Street crashed and the economy went into freefall. — Bill Bryson

: to be contained in (something)

: to be contained in (something) 5 goes into 60 12 times

1 : to be contained in (something) 5 goes into 60 12 times

: to cease to be of interest or concern

: to cease to be of interest or concern

: to cease to be of interest or concern

: to achieve great success The movie was going great guns worldwide.

: to achieve great success The movie was going great guns worldwide.

went for broke to qualify for the Olympics

went for broke to qualify for the Olympics

: to put forth all one’s strength or resources

: to put forth all one’s strength or resources went for broke to qualify for the Olympics

: to put forth all one’s strength or resources went for broke to qualify for the Olympics

my dog went for the intruder

She went for him in a big way.

: to have an interest in or liking for

: to have an interest in or liking for She went for him in a big way. — Chandler Brossard

b : to have an interest in or liking for She went for him in a big way. — Chandler Brossard

cannot go for your idea

: to try to secure or attain (something, such as a goal)

: to try to secure or attain (something, such as a goal) go for the prize

2 : to try to secure or attain (something, such as a goal) go for the prize

: to pass for or serve as

: to pass for or serve as Silvered glass once went for mirrors.

1 : to pass for or serve as Silvered glass once went for mirrors.

: to stop being an annoyance or disturbance

: to stop being an annoyance or disturbance told him to go fly a kite

: to stop being an annoyance or disturbance told him to go fly a kite

: to be sparing go easy with the sugar go easy on the kid

: to be sparing go easy with the sugar go easy on the kid

Budget cuts meant that some projects had to go by the board .

: to be discarded Budget cuts meant that some projects had to go by the board .

2 : to be discarded Budget cuts meant that some projects had to go by the board .

: to be in little demand

: to be in little demand

: to be in little demand

was afraid that his mind might go back on him

She went back on her word.

went at the problem from different angles

went at the problem from different angles

: to make an approach to went at the problem from different angles

b : to make an approach to went at the problem from different angles

go all the way

to try to get

: to set about : to begin to do

: to set about : to begin to do

: to set about : to begin to do

: to have a record of went 11–0 last season

9 of a sports team or player : to have a record of went 11–0 last season

: to engage in don’t go telling everyone

8 : to engage in don’t go telling everyone

… I started trying to write a novel. I spent about six months on it. And at a certain point I go , “You know, I don’t want to finish this. …”

… I started trying to write a novel. I spent about six months on it. And at a certain point I go , “You know, I don’t want to finish this. …” — Quentin Tarantino

… I started trying to write a novel. I spent about six months on it. And at a certain point I go , “You know, I don’t want to finish this. …” — Quentin Tarantino

— used chiefly in oral narration of speech … I started trying to write a novel. I spent about six months on it. And at a certain point I go , “You know, I don’t want to finish this. …” — Quentin Tarantino

— used chiefly in oral narration of speech … I started trying to write a novel. I spent about six months on it. And at a certain point I go , “You know, I don’t want to finish this. …” — Quentin Tarantino

: to cause (a characteristic sound) to occur the gun went bang

7 a : to cause (a characteristic sound) to occur the gun went bang

decided to go halves on the winnings

: to participate to the extent of

: to participate to the extent of decided to go halves on the winnings

b : to participate to the extent of decided to go halves on the winnings

promised to go bail for his friend

: to assume the function or obligation of

: to assume the function or obligation of promised to go bail for his friend

4 a : to assume the function or obligation of promised to go bail for his friend

willing to go $50 for the clock

went the length of the street

went the length of the street

to travel through or along

if I were going his way

to proceed along or according to

the rule goes for you, too

: to hold true : be valid the rule goes for you, too

b : to hold true : be valid the rule goes for you, too

: to be acceptable, satisfactory, or adequate anything goes here

(2) : to be acceptable, satisfactory, or adequate anything goes here

what she said went

: to carry authority what she said went

19 a (1) : to carry authority what she said went

these books go on the top shelf

to have a usual or proper place or position

will these clothes go in your suitcase

: to be capable of passing, extending, or being contained or inserted

: to be capable of passing, extending, or being contained or inserted will these clothes go in your suitcase

17 a : to be capable of passing, extending, or being contained or inserted will these clothes go in your suitcase

the tie goes with his suit

to be compatible, suitable, or becoming

the tune goes like this

: to be capable of being sung or played

: to be capable of being sung or played the tune goes like this

b : to be capable of being sung or played the tune goes like this

to be in phrasing or expression

: to undergo a change leaves go from green to red

d : to undergo a change leaves go from green to red

often used to express conversion to specified values or a specified state

— often used to express conversion to specified values or a specified state gone Hollywood go condo

— often used to express conversion to specified values or a specified state gone Hollywood go condo

to come to be

— see also go into sense 2 (below)

” … I finally went to pieces and couldn’t stop crying for two hours. … “

: to come or arrive at a certain state or condition

his knowledge fails to go very deep

used in a progressive tense before an infinitive

— used in a progressive tense before an infinitive is going to leave town

— used in a progressive tense before an infinitive is going to leave town

: to be about, intending, or expecting something

: to be about, intending, or expecting something — used in a progressive tense before an infinitive is going to leave town

13 : to be about, intending, or expecting something — used in a progressive tense before an infinitive is going to leave town

has a lot going for her

: to be of advantage has a lot going for her

(2) : to be of advantage has a lot going for her

: to contribute to an end or result

: to contribute to an end or result qualities that go to make a hero

e (1) : to contribute to an end or result qualities that go to make a hero

: to pass by award, assignment, or lot the prize went to a sophomore

d : to pass by award, assignment, or lot the prize went to a sophomore

: to come to be applied or appropriated

: to come to be applied or appropriated all proceeds go to charity

c : to come to be applied or appropriated all proceeds go to charity

: to come to be determined

: to come to be determined dreams go by contraries

b : to come to be determined dreams go by contraries

: to act in accordance or harmony a good rule to go by

12 a : to act in accordance or harmony a good rule to go by

: to be known goes by an alias

11 : to be known goes by an alias

to function in the proper or expected manner

: to maintain or perform a certain action or motion

: to maintain or perform a certain action or motion still going strong

b : to maintain or perform a certain action or motion still going strong

: to begin an action or motion here goes

10 a : to begin an action or motion here goes

… the echo of my girlfriend’s voice comes into my head, saying, “Whatever happens, just go with it.”

The police tried to locate the culprit, but they didn’t have much to go on.

We were just going by what we’d been told.

: to be guided, governed, or regulated We were just going by what we’d been told. The police tried to locate the culprit, but they didn’t have much to go on. : to act in agreement or cooperation … the echo of my girlfriend’s voice comes into my head, saying, “Whatever happens, just go with it.” — Jason Schwartzman

b : to be guided, governed, or regulated We were just going by what we’d been told. The police tried to locate the culprit, but they didn’t have much to go on. : to act in agreement or cooperation … the echo of my girlfriend’s voice comes into my head, saying, “Whatever happens, just go with it.” — Jason Schwartzman

to have recourse to another for corroboration, vindication , or decision

I didn’t go to do it

: to put or subject oneself went to unnecessary expense

b : to put or subject oneself went to unnecessary expense

went to work on the problem

went to work on the problem

: to apply oneself went to work on the problem

8 a : to apply oneself went to work on the problem

the election went in her favor

: to be or become especially as the result of a contest

: to be or become especially as the result of a contest the election went in her favor

c : to be or become especially as the result of a contest the election went in her favor

: to be in general or on an average

: to be in general or on an average cheap, as yachts go

b : to be in general or on an average cheap, as yachts go

everything was going well

to move along in a specified manner

to give way especially under great force or pressure

: to become impaired or weakened his hearing started to go

f : to become impaired or weakened his hearing started to go

: to pass by sale went for a good price

e : to pass by sale went for a good price

this clutter has to go

: to come to be given up or discarded

: to come to be given up or discarded this clutter has to go

d : to come to be given up or discarded this clutter has to go

: to become lost, consumed, or spent our time has gone

6 a : to become lost, consumed, or spent our time has gone

: to be habitually in a certain state or condition

: to be habitually in a certain state or condition go bareheaded

5 : to be habitually in a certain state or condition go bareheaded

that door goes to the cellar

the road goes to the lake

: to extend from point to point or in a certain direction

: to extend from point to point or in a certain direction the road goes to the lake

d (1) : to extend from point to point or in a certain direction the road goes to the lake

why did you go and spoil it

why did you go and spoil it

why did you go and spoil it go jump in a lake

— used especially to intensify a complementary verb why did you go and spoil it go jump in a lake

— used especially to intensify a complementary verb why did you go and spoil it go jump in a lake

: to proceed without delay and often in a thoughtless or reckless manner

: to proceed without delay and often in a thoughtless or reckless manner — used especially to intensify a complementary verb why did you go and spoil it go jump in a lake

c : to proceed without delay and often in a thoughtless or reckless manner — used especially to intensify a complementary verb why did you go and spoil it go jump in a lake

: to pass by means of a process like journeying

: to pass by means of a process like journeying the message went by wire

b : to pass by means of a process like journeying the message went by wire

reports go through channels to the president

: to take a certain course or follow a certain procedure

: to take a certain course or follow a certain procedure reports go through channels to the president

3 a : to take a certain course or follow a certain procedure reports go through channels to the president

went from school to the party

went from school to the party

to move out of or away from a place expressed or implied

plan to go to their beach house for the summer

: to travel to and stay in a place for a period of time

: to travel to and stay in a place for a period of time went to Paris for a month plan to go to their beach house for the summer

c : to travel to and stay in a place for a period of time went to Paris for a month plan to go to their beach house for the summer

went to the gas station before heading home

went to the gas station before heading home

goes to the office every morning

goes to the office every morning

: to travel to a place goes to the office every morning went to the gas station before heading home

b : to travel to a place goes to the office every morning went to the gas station before heading home

a housewife and mother who’s always on the go

: constantly or restlessly active a housewife and mother who’s always on the go

: constantly or restlessly active a housewife and mother who’s always on the go

Attempts to get the computer running have been no go.

gave the astronauts a go for another orbit

finished the job at one go

: a spell of activity finished the job at one go

7 : a spell of activity finished the job at one go

: a turn in an activity (such as a game)

: a turn in an activity (such as a game) it’s your go

6 a : a turn in an activity (such as a game) it’s your go

you can obtain a go of brandy for sixpence

: the quantity used or furnished at one time

: the quantity used or furnished at one time you can obtain a go of brandy for sixpence — C. B. Fairbanks

4 : the quantity used or furnished at one time you can obtain a go of brandy for sixpence — C. B. Fairbanks

: the act or manner of going

: the act or manner of going

1 : the act or manner of going

: functioning properly : being in good and ready condition declared all systems go

: functioning properly : being in good and ready condition declared all systems go

: a game played between two players who alternately place black and white stones on a board checkered by 19 vertical lines and 19 horizontal lines in an attempt to enclose the larger area on the board

: a game played between two players who alternately place black and white stones on a board checkered by 19 vertical lines and 19 horizontal lines in an attempt to enclose the larger area on the board

: a game played between two players who alternately place black and white stones on a board checkered by 19 vertical lines and 19 horizontal lines in an attempt to enclose the larger area on the board

Examples of go in a Sentence

Verb

He went to the window and looked out at the yard.

She goes to the office every morning and comes home in the evening.

I’m tired. Let’s go home.

She went downstairs to the kitchen.

The train goes from New York to Chicago.

I went with my family to Rome last year.

We’re going to Iowa for a week.

The car was going too fast.

How much farther do we have to go?

She went a long way to see him.

See More

Essential Reading

 Aller is one of the most common irregular French verbs that you will come across when learning French. Let’s take a look at its use in some of the different tenses here.

Aller in the present tense

Je vais – I go, I am going
Tu vas – You go, you are going (sing.fam.)
Il va – He/It goes, he/it is going
Elle va – She/It goes, she/it is going
Nous allons – We go, we are going
Vous allez – You go, you are going (pl.pol.)
Ils vont – They (m.) go, they are going
Elles vont – They (f.) go, they are going

Aller in the near future tense

Just as in English, we can express the idea ‘I am going to do (something) with the present tense of aller plus the infinitive (to …..) of a second verb.

Je vais sortir. – I am going to go out.
Tu vas venir avec moi. – You are going to come with me.
Elle va acheter une voiture. – She is going to buy a car.
Nous allons faire les courses. – We’re going to do the shopping.
Vous allez travailler beaucoup? – Are you going to work a lot?
Ils vont vendre leur maison. – They’re going to sell their house.

Aller is used to ask people how they are.
Comment ça va? – How’s it going? This can be shortened to Ca va?
Comment allez-vous?/Comment vas-tu? – How are you?
Ca va bien. – I’m fine.
Je vais bien, merci. Et vous? – I’m fine thank you. And you?

Aller in the past tense (passé composé)

Aller is one of the verbs that forms the past tense with être. Remember that for feminine forms we add ‘e’ to the end of the past participle allé, and for plural forms we add ‘s’.

Je suis allé au cinema hier soir. – I went to the cinema last night.
Tu es allé le rencontrer à l’aéroport? – Did you go to meet him at the airport?
Elle est allée se faire couper les cheveux. – She went to have her hair cut.
Nous sommes allés chez nos cousins à Noël. – We went to our cousins’ house at Christmas.
Vous êtes allés visiter vos grandparents? – Did you go to visit your grandparents?
Ils sont allés en ville. – They have gone to town.

Aller in the future tense

The future tense is irregular in the stem:

J’irai voir le médecin. – I will go to see the doctor.
Tu iras avec eux? – Will you go with them?
Il ira en voiture. – He will go by car.
Nous irons au cinéma. – We will go to the cinema.
Vous irez avec lui la prochaine fois. – You will go with him next time.
Elles iront à la piscine en été. – They (f.) will go to the swimming pool in summer.

The reflexive verb ‘s’en aller‘ means to go away:

Je m’en vais. – I am going away.

Allez-vous-en! Go away!

That’s not a very polite note to finish on, but there we go!

Learning French in France?

Once you’ve mastered ‘Aller’, make sure you check out our other French verb and vocabulary cheat sheets including ‘Etre’ (to be), ‘Avoir’ (to have), and ‘Savoir (to know)’. Ready to improve your French? Fast-track your learning with our guide to the best apps, YouTube Channels, and French learning resources, and avoid some of the most common embarassing mistakes in our guide to French faux pas!

Thanks to Millefeuille Provence for this handy French learning resource.