English Dictionary

Definition of “going”

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going (ˈɡəʊɪŋPronunciation for going) 

Definitions

noun

  1. a departure or farewell
  2. the condition of a surface such as a road or field with regard to walking, riding, etc  ⇒ muddy going 
  3. informal speed, progress, etc  ⇒ we made good going on the trip 

adjective

  1. thriving (esp in the phrase a going concern)
  2. current or accepted, as from past negotiations or commercial operation  ⇒ the going rate for electricians the going value of the firm 
  3. (postpositive) available  ⇒ the best going 
  4. See going, going, gone!

1go1 (ɡəʊPronunciation for go1) 

Definitions

verb

Word forms: goes, going, went, gone
(mainly intr)
  1. to move or proceed, esp to or from a point or in a certain direction  ⇒ to go to London to go home 
  2. (tr; takes an infinitive, often with to omitted or replaced by and) to proceed towards a particular person or place with some specified intention or purpose  ⇒ I must go and get that book 
  3. to depart  ⇒ we'll have to go at eleven 
  4. to start, as in a race: often used in commands
  5. to make regular journeys  ⇒ this train service goes to the east coast 
  6. to operate or function effectively  ⇒ the radio won't go 
  7. (copula) to become  ⇒ his face went red with embarrassment 
  8. to make a noise as specified  ⇒ the gun went bang 
  9. to enter into a specified state or condition  ⇒ to go into hysterics to go into action 
  10. to be or continue to be in a specified state or condition  ⇒ to go in rags to go in poverty 
  11. to lead, extend, or afford access  ⇒ this route goes to the north 
  12. to proceed towards an activity  ⇒ to go to supper to go to sleep 
  13. (tr; takes an infinitive) to serve or contribute  ⇒ this letter goes to prove my point 
  14. to follow a course as specified; fare  ⇒ the lecture went badly 
  15. to be applied or allotted to a particular purpose or recipient  ⇒ her wealth went to her son his money went on drink 
  16. to be sold or otherwise transferred to a recipient  ⇒ the necklace went for three thousand pounds 
  17. to be ranked; compare  ⇒ this meal is good as my meals go 
  18. to blend or harmonize  ⇒ these chairs won't go with the rest of your furniture 
  19. by or under to be known (by a name or disguise)
  20. to fit or extend  ⇒ that skirt won't go round your waist 
  21. to have a usual or proper place  ⇒ those books go on this shelf 
  22. (of music, poetry, etc) to be sounded; expressed, etc  ⇒ how does that song go? 
  23. to fail or give way  ⇒ my eyesight is going 
  24. to break down or collapse abruptly  ⇒ the ladder went at the critical moment 
  25. to die  ⇒ the old man went at 2 am 
  26. (often foll by by)
    1. (of time) to elapse  ⇒ the hours go by so slowly at the office 
    2. to travel past  ⇒ the train goes by her house at four 
    3. to be guided (by)
  27. to occur  ⇒ happiness does not always go with riches 
  28. to be eliminated, abolished, or given up  ⇒ this entry must go to save space 
  29. to be spent or finished  ⇒ all his money has gone 
  30. to circulate or be transmitted  ⇒ the infection went around the whole community 
  31. to attend  ⇒ go to school go to church 
  32. to join a stated profession  ⇒ go to the bar go on the stage 
  33. (foll by to) to have recourse (to); turn  ⇒ to go to arbitration 
  34. (foll by to) to subject or put oneself (to)  ⇒ she goes to great pains to please him 
  35. to proceed, esp up to or beyond certain limits  ⇒ you will go too far one day and then you will be punished 
  36. to be acceptable or tolerated  ⇒ anything goes in this place 
  37. to carry the weight of final authority  ⇒ what the boss says goes 
  38. (foll by into) to be contained in  ⇒ four goes into twelve three times 
  39. (often foll by for) to endure or last out  ⇒ we can't go for much longer without water in this heat 
  40. (tr) cards to bet or bid  ⇒ I go two hearts 
  41. (tr) informal mainly US to have as one's weight  ⇒ I went 112 pounds a year ago 
  42. US Canadian (usually used in commands) to 
    1. to start to act so as to  ⇒ go shut the door 
    2. to leave so as to  ⇒ go blow your brains out 
  43. informal to perform well; be successful  ⇒ that group can really go 
  44. (tr) not standard to say: widely used, esp in the historic present, in reporting dialogue  ⇒ Then she goes, ``Give it to me!'' and she just snatched it 
  45. See go and
  46. See be going
  47. See go ape
  48. See go ape over
  49. See go astray
  50. See go bail
  51. See go bush
  52. See go halves
  53. See go hard
  54. See go it
  55. See go it alone
  56. See go much on
  57. See go one better
  58. See go the whole hog
  59. See let go
  60. See let oneself go
  61. See to go

noun

Word forms: plural, goes
  1. the act of going
  2. informal 
    1. an attempt or try  ⇒ he had a go at the stamp business 
    2. an attempt at stopping a person suspected of a crime  ⇒ the police are not always in favour of the public having a go 
    3. an attack, esp verbal  ⇒ she had a real go at them 
  3. a turn  ⇒ it's my go next 
  4. informal the quality of being active and energetic  ⇒ she has much more go than I 
  5. informal hard or energetic work  ⇒ it's all go 
  6. informal a successful venture or achievement  ⇒ he made a go of it 
  7. informal a bout or attack (of an illness)  ⇒ he had a bad go of flu last winter 
  8. informal an unforeseen, usually embarrassing or awkward, turn of events  ⇒ here's a rum go 
  9. informal a bargain or agreement
  10. See all the go
  11. See from the word go
  12. See get-up-and-go
  13. See no go
  14. See on the go

adjective

  1. (postpositive) informal functioning properly and ready for action: esp used in astronautics  ⇒ all systems are go 

See also

go about , go against , go ahead , go along , go around , go at , go away , go back , go by , go down , go for , go forth , go in , going , go into , gone , go off , go on , go out , go over , go through , go to , go together , go under , go up , go with , go without

Word Origin

Old English gān;  related to Old High German gēn,  Greek kikhanein  to reach, Sanskrit jahāti he forsakes

Usage examples

  • Then at one stage Jamie dropped by to ask me how things were going.
    Hugo Wilcken, THE EXECUTION (2002)
  • The problem with all of them is that they need government investment in infrastructure to get them going.
    Country Life (2004)
  • My stroke on the putts is very good, I'm just going through a spell where the ball is not going in.
    Irish Times (2002)
  • BT is hoping for improved market conditions before going ahead with the disposal.
    Glasgow Herald (2001)
  • When they criticize and correct us they show us that our meaning structure may not be an accurate picture of what is going on.
    Dorothy Rowe, BEYOND FEAR (2002)

Commonness

All English words that begin with 'G'

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