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Glite Dictionary
✅ To choose 🏆 To try to get 📋 To apply to
to go for

to go for

430 2.1
To choose one thing instead of others
  • phrasal verb
  • /ɡoʊ fɔr/
translation icon : optar por
  • When choosing a restaurant, I usually go for Italian food.

The second one I'm going to go for is Martinelli.

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Examples

  • You know, go for what we want and take the risk that it'll all work out.

    Academic text (2014)

  • OK, next thing we'll go for maybe the eyes.

  • I am going to go for this one here.

  • You guys want to go for a ride in a car?

  • So it's like, why not go for it?

  • Do you want to go for a ride?

    Lethal Weapon 3 (1992)

  • All right, sure, it's a nice day, I'll go for a drive with you guys.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • OK, well, let's go for something in the attic.

  • After sitting all day, I decided about dusk to go for a long walk.

    Academic text (2000)

  • After supper, we go for a walk and wind up down by Beaver Pond.

    Fiction book (1993)

Synonyms

to like
vsto go for
∞ 1.0

To want something, often as a polite request

can also mean choosing or accepting rather than only having positive feelings
to accept
vsto go for
793 1.0

To take something someone offers, for example a gift or invitation

involves agreeing to take an offered item rather than preferring or choosing
to opt
vsto go for
218 3.2

To choose one thing from two or more options

includes wanting or accepting rather than only selecting
to consent
vsto go for
121 3.0

To agree to allow something to happen, often formally

relates to permitting or formal agreement rather than expressing preference or desire
to opt for
vsto go for
63 3.5

Choose one thing from several available

includes also accepting offers or showing desire beyond just choosing
to fancy
vsto go for
  • UK
54 3.2

To want something, often for a short time

is used for lasting preference or deliberate choice rather than brief liking
to go in for
vsto go for
17 4.0

To like something or to take part in it often

focuses on repeated participation and taste rather than single choice or acceptance
to plump for
vsto go for
  • UK
1 7.3

Choose someone or something after thinking about other options

is used more generally to express preference or acceptance rather than careful choice

Antonyms

to reject
839 1.9

Refuse to accept someone or something

How Preferred

to prefer
∞ 1.3
to go for
430 2.1
to accept
793 1.0
to ignore
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

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

Morphology

go + for

The meaning 'to choose or prefer' is partially derivable from 'go' (move/approach) plus 'for' (toward/purpose) via a motion-toward-choice metaphor, so learners can often infer the sense in context. However, the particle construction has several extended senses (attempt, favor, prefer) and the shift from physical movement to selecting is metaphorical rather than strictly compositional, so it is not fully predictable without prior exposure.

Etymology

Go for feels like walking up to the thing you prefer and picking it, so it means 'to choose' or 'to accept' something.