the go-ahead

noun

: permission to do something
We've finally been given the go-ahead for the project.
The company received/got the go-ahead to manufacture the new drug.

Examples of the go-ahead in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Damiani scored the go-ahead goal in the 75th minute with an assist from Cavan's 22-year-old brother -- Quinn Sullivan, his first of the season. — Cbs New York Team, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026 Damiani scored the go-ahead goal in the 75th minute with an assist from Cavan's 22-year-old brother — Quinn Sullivan, his first of the season. — ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026 Hany Mukhtar, the former MLS MVP, scored the go-ahead goal in the 49th minute. — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 16 Aug. 2026 Jake Bauers drove in the go-ahead run on a single off Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia, who entered the game with two runners on after Díaz gave up four hits. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for the go-ahead

Rhymes for the go-ahead

See All Rhymes for the go-ahead

Browse Nearby Words

thegnly
the go-ahead
the goat
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“The go-ahead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20go-ahead. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of balmy

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All