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to go

to go

∞ 3.6
To continue to live or survive in difficult conditions
  • verb
  • /ɡoʊ/
: seguir viviendo
  • Despite rainy weather, the students were thrilled to go outside and plant their gardens.
  • keep going
  • go on living

That's that's what's kept me going for my entire career.

Examples

  • You are keeping the country going and people alive right now.

  • Food and clothes from the passengers kept him going during the difficult German post-war years.

    Academic text (2017)
  • This feels like the only route, let's keep going.

  • Justin: Marianne was worried she was going to have to go live with mean people.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Despite the harsh winter, the animals in the forest managed to go on and find food.

  • During tough times, her determination helped her go on and face each challenge.

  • He had to go on with his studies, even after facing many setbacks.

Synonyms

to live
vsto go
∞ 1.0

To continue to be alive

focuses on staying alive especially under difficult conditions
to go on
vsto go
∞ 1.0

Keep happening or keep being done without stopping

refers to staying alive through hardship, not simply persisting in actions
to survive
vsto go
∞ 2.7

Continue to exist after a dangerous or difficult event

is about continuing to be alive under difficult conditions, not only after events
to last
vsto go
∞ 1.0

To continue for a period of time

highlights staying alive under hardship rather than simply continuing for a time
to endure
vsto go
326 3.5

To deal with something difficult for a long time without giving up

is about continuing to be alive rather than only coping with hardship
to live on
vsto go
117 3.2

To continue to exist after a dangerous or difficult time

is about continuing to be alive under hardship, not only after events

Antonyms

∞ 1.0

To stop living and no longer be alive

to perish
  • Formal
120 6.0

To die suddenly or violently, often in large numbers

Idioms

there you go
  • Informal
396 4.9

Say this to show you have given something or finished a task

good to go
  • Informal
100 3.5

Ready to start or continue something

To help a lot or make something much better

from the get-go
  • Informal
51 6.6

Right from the very start

41 6.1

To risk doing or saying something to support an idea

38 3.9

So obvious that people do not need to say it

34 3.9

A person who is always busy and moves from one task or place to another

There is enough for everyone to have some

28 5.0

To do something without real effort or interest because it is expected

28 7.5

An idea or hope that is suddenly ignored and can no longer happen

Try very hard to make something happen

To have a very hard and painful time in life

21 7.7

To tell someone to start or continue after they hesitate

18 5.5

Plans or hopes suddenly fail and disappear for good

here we go again
  • Informal
16 7.8

Said to show annoyance when the same thing happens again

14 6.0

End something in a memorable and exciting way

to go bananas
  • Informal
14 8.1

To lose control because you are very excited or angry

The most important thing that makes life keep going, like money or love

An event or activity must continue even when there are problems

to go for broke
  • Informal
10 6.4

To risk everything to try to succeed

10 5.2

To keep doing the same thing without making progress

9 8.2

Stop a habit or addiction all at once

Stop being together and take different paths in life

9 7.4

To do something very different from what most people expect or usually do

Start again from the beginning when a plan or idea fails

7 6.1

To become much worse or ruined

7 3.4

All at once without stopping

don't go there
  • Informal
6 9.5

A warning not to talk about a subject because it may make people angry

6 5.3

Do not be upset when something you get easily is lost

To try very hard to win first place in a competition

6 6.9

To stop being used or followed

to go to the mat
  • Informal
5 7.6

Argue strongly to protect an idea or position

To continue until the last possible moment while the result is not known

Agree with others to avoid conflict

To become much worse very quickly and out of control

4 8.1

To act or speak without thinking first and cause problems

4 5.1

Suddenly understand something when an idea appears in your mind

To try very hard and do anything to achieve something

To try something new in a place or way no one has done before

from the word go
  • Informal
3 5.3

From the very beginning of something

to go to pot
  • Informal
3 8.2

To become ruined or not cared for

To become so angry or stressed that you cannot think clearly

do not pass go
  • Informal
3 9.1

To refuse someone any further chance and make them leave immediately

To stop being used and disappear completely

To visit a trusted person or place to get help and supplies often

2 4.6

To spend time looking at people and things happening around you without taking part

Give up control and trust God or a higher power

2 7.9

To fail completely

To have very hard times and still survive

2 9.0

Prepare to fight hard in a serious argument

1 8.1

To be rejected or ignored

People stop using something because new things replace it

Phrasal Verbs

∞ 1.0

To attend an event such as a meeting or class

∞ 1.0

Return to a previous place, topic, or state

∞ 1.3

Happen or be taking place

∞ 1.0

Leave a place to do a task, for example to help people

∞ 1.0

To move into a place, area, or state

∞ 1.0

To return to the place where you live

∞ 1.0

To move from outside into a place or room

∞ 3.6

To experience a difficult or painful time in your life

∞ 1.0

Keep happening or keep being done without stopping

∞ 1.4

To stop holding something or someone so they are free

∞ 2.2

To be present at the same time as something

∞ 2.3

Start or continue something after deciding to do it

∞ 1.0

To move to a higher position

∞ 2.1

Try to get something you want or follow someone to catch them

926 1.0

To leave a place or person and go somewhere else

874 1.8

Continue speaking after a pause or when asked

804 2.4

Date someone regularly

728 2.5

To try to get something you want by making an effort

690 1.1

To choose one thing from several options

656 2.4

To fail or happen in a bad way

655 3.7

To stop worrying about something and relax

628 1.0

To stop being seen or felt

607 1.5

To become higher in price or amount

to go forth
  • Archaic
550 8.4

To leave a place and move away

548 1.0

To get into bed to sleep

502 2.1

To choose one thing instead of others

480 2.7

To look at something carefully to find mistakes or missing details

456 1.0

To stop being awake and rest with your eyes closed

434 3.2

Start making a loud noise or explode, for example an alarm

399 1.0

To move ahead in place, in time, or in progress

391 1.9

To stop holding something so it is not in your hand

389 1.9

To become less in amount, size, or value

376 1.0

Leave your home to do something social, for example eat with friends

372 2.5

To check something carefully, like papers or work

300 3.3

To act against a rule, law, or popular opinion

298 2.0

Move in a circle around a point, like a planet around the Sun

289 3.7

To lose a competition or fight

287 2.3

Come from an earlier time

284 3.5

To pretend to agree with someone to avoid trouble

281 1.0

For time to pass

280 3.5

To choose not to react to something annoying

271 3.5

To begin doing something in a certain way

266 3.6

To exceed a limit or what people expect

to go to hell
  • Offensive
261 9.5

Tell someone angrily that you do not care about them

To use the toilet in a polite or indirect way

242 4.2

Say or do something that is not acceptable and may hurt people

236 3.4

To start fighting in a war between countries or groups

193 2.0

To start operating and do the job it was made for

To do something you promised or planned even if it feels difficult

174 1.0

To move past someone or something

165 1.0

Stop burning or shining, like a candle

163 2.5

Help make or prepare something

142 2.1

Become unsafe to eat or use because it has spoiled

137 2.3

Spread among many people, as with a story or rumor

136 1.1

Start working, like lights or an alarm

130 3.0

To be called by a certain name

115 2.5

Stop working or lose power, for example lights

113 2.1

To continue doing something or stay in the same state

111 3.4

To be true for someone or something

97 4.6

Fail to make progress or get any result

93 1.6

To leave home to take part in a social activity like eating or watching a film

To visit the sea to relax, swim, and enjoy the sun

81 1.0

To travel from home to your job

79 3.4

Have permission to leave a place where you were kept, usually after being arrested or accused

78 1.8

To follow a rule or plan

Stick with something until you finish it

75 3.8

To sink into water, like a boat that hits something

To be unable to pay debts

to go off
  • Informal
73 3.4

Happen in a smooth, successful way, especially at events

71 3.5

Find another way to avoid a difficult rule or task

65 2.2

To help pay for something, often using money

Fit well with each other, especially in color or style

64 2.4

Be enough for everyone to have a share

Compounds

go-to
  • Informal
61 4.1

A person or thing people trust and choose first for a certain need

get-go
  • Informal
54 6.9

The very start of an activity or project

30 3.4

Official permission to start something

go-to
  • Informal
20 4.9

A person or thing people always choose for a certain need

touch-and-go
  • Informal
20 7.2

A situation that is dangerous or uncertain until the last moment

go-around
  • Specialized
20 8.4

Stopping an approach or attempt to try again, for example when a plane pulls up instead of landing

18 5.0

A person who is active and tries hard to succeed, especially at work

A person who is cheerful and does not worry about future problems

15 4.9

A person who passes messages and helps two people or groups agree

12 3.3

A small low vehicle with four wheels used for racing or fun

merry-go-round
  • Texting
11 4.1

A repeating cycle of events that seems pointless and has no end

A round ride with seats shaped like animals that turns for people to sit on

7 3.0

A simple card game for two or more players where they ask for cards to make sets of four

A children's game where one person counts with eyes closed and finds hidden players

get-up-and-go
  • Informal
3 6.1

A feeling of energy and enthusiasm to start and do things

go-cart
  • US
2 2.5

A small wheeled vehicle for carrying things or young children

2 4.6

A strong wish to start new projects

give-and-go
  • Jargon
2 5.3

A basketball move where a player passes the ball then runs toward the basket to get the ball back

1 3.7

Food or drinks you buy to eat quickly away from a shop

no-go area
  • Literature
1 7.5

A place people are afraid to enter or are not allowed to enter because it is dangerous

go-to resource
  • Informal
1 4.0

A place, website, or person you often use for trusted information

1 9.3

Clothes you wear for church or other special events

1 7.2

A board game for two players using black and white stones to surround and capture opponent stones

go-slow
  • UK
1 7.4

A protest where workers work slowly on purpose to pressure their employer

go-to remedy
  • Informal
1 3.7

A simple, trusted way to help with a problem

sentry go
  • Archaic
1 9.7

A time when a soldier stands guard to watch a place

go board
  • Specialized
1 5.8

A flat square board with a 19x19 grid used to play Go

go-to-meeting
  • Archaic
1 7.2

Clothes you wear to church or other special events

go-to excuse
  • Informal
1 4.7

A usual reason someone gives to avoid blame

go-devil
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A person who likes adventure and often takes big risks

People can do what they want without rules or plans

merry-go-round
  • Texting
3.8

A set of images on a website that change automatically or when you click

How Alive

to thrive
233 3.2
to survive
∞ 2.7
to go
∞ 3.6
to hang on
  • Informal
227 3.3
to die
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

go infinitive
going present participle
goes third person singular
went past
gone past participle

Etymology

Go started with the idea of keeping on moving (Old English gān), so to 'go' in hard times means to continue or survive. That's why we say someone 'goes' without food or 'keeps going' through difficulty.