- [countable] (British English) (also turn North American English, British English)a person’s turn to move or play in a game or an activity
- Whose go is it?
- It's your go.
- ‘How much is it to play?’ ‘It's 50p a go.’
- go on something Can I have a go on your new bike?
- [countable] (also try)an attempt at doing something
- It took three goes to get it right.
- I doubt if he'll listen to advice from me, but I'll give it a go (= I'll try but I don't think I will succeed).
- [uncountable] (British English) energy and enthusiasm
- Mary's always got plenty of go.
Word OriginOld English gān, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch gaan and German gehen; the form went was originally the past tense of wend.
Idioms
See go in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionaryat a/one go | at/in a single go
- (British English) in one single attempt or try
- She blew out the candles at one go.
be all go
- (British English, informal) to be very busy or full of activity
- It was all go in the office today.
be a go
- (North American English, informal) to be planned and possible or allowed
- I'm not sure if Friday's trip is a go.
be on the go
(also be on the move)
- (informal) to be very active and busy
- I've been on the go all day.
- Having four children keeps me on the go.
fair go
- (Australian English, New Zealand English, informal) used to ask somebody to be reasonable
- I just wanted to say, ‘Hey mate, fair go!’
(give somebody/get) a fair shake (North American English)
(Australian English, New Zealand English (give somebody/get) a fair go)
- (informal) (to give somebody/get) fair treatment that gives you the same chance as somebody else
- Are minority students getting a fair shake at college?
- We need a government that cares about equity and a fair go for all.
first, second, etc. go
- (British English) at the first, second, etc. attempt
- I passed my driving test first go.
have a go
- (informal, especially British English) to attack somebody physically
- There were about seven of them standing round him, all waiting to have a go.
have a go (at something/at doing something)
- to make an attempt to do something
- ‘I can't start the engine.’ ‘Let me have a go.’
- I'll have a go at fixing it tonight.
- You should have a go at answering all the questions.
have a go at somebody
- (informal, British English) to criticize somebody or complain about somebody
- The boss had a go at me for being late for work.
- The government are always having a go at teachers.
have something on the go
- (British English, informal) to be in the middle of an activity or a project
- The award-winning novelist often has three or four books on the go at once.
in one go
- (informal) all together on one occasion
- I'd rather do the journey in one go, and not stop on the way.
- They ate the packet of biscuits all in one go.
leave go (of something)
- (British English, informal) to stop holding on to something synonym let go
- Leave go of my arm—you're hurting me!
let go (of somebody/something) | let somebody/something go
- to stop holding somebody/something
- Don't let go of the rope.
- Don't let the rope go.
- Let go! You're hurting me!
- to give up an idea or an attitude, or control of something
- It's time to let go of the past.
- It's time to let the past go.
let somebody/something go | let go (of somebody/something)
- to stop holding somebody/something
- Don't let the rope go.
- Don't let go of the rope.
- Let go! You're hurting me!
- to give up an idea or an attitude, or control of something
- It's time to let the past go.
- It's time to let go of the past.
make a go of something
- (informal) to be successful in something
- We've had a few problems in our marriage, but we're both determined to make a go of it.
Check pronunciation:
go