go out

verb

went out; gone out; going out; goes out
Synonyms of go outnext

intransitive verb

1
a
: to go forth, abroad, or outdoors
specifically : to leave one's house
b(1)
: to take the field as a soldier
(2)
: to participate as a principal in a duel
c
: to travel as or as if a colonist or immigrant
d
: to work away from home
e
: to be sent from a person or a place
Our thoughts go out to the victims.
Warnings went out over the radio.
2
a
: to come to an end
March went out like a lamb.
b(1)
: to stop working
The engines went out.
(2)
: to stop shining or burning
The fire is going out.
c
: to give up office : resign
d
: to become obsolete or unfashionable
styles that went out long ago
e(1)
: to play the last card of one's hand
(2)
: to reach or exceed the total number of points required for game in cards
f
: to bring a performance to a close
The band went out with a solid rendition of another Allmans classic …Joel Silverstein
3
a
: to take part in social activities
made plans to go out for drinks
b
: to date someone romantically
They've been going out for about six months.
4
: to go on strike
5
6
: to become a candidate
went out for the football team
see also:

Examples of go out in a Sentence

there was concern that the dam would go out under the force of the flood waters she enjoys going out on weekends, but during the week she's a homebody
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.
Some residents went out of their way to witness the spectacle after getting social media alerts about a man who was trapped on a billboard. Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026 Twice in the first inning of Wednesday night’s game at Yankee Stadium, a bank of lights above the latticework went out. Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026 The two weren’t mentioned in the announcement, or in the royal family’s congratulatory post, and the entire British royal family has gone out of its way to separate itself from Andrew and Fergie, considering their recent scandals. Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 6 Aug. 2026 One day in practice, a starter went out with an injury and Kron went in for a two-minute drill. Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for go out

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of go out was before the 12th century

Cite this Entry

“Go out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/go%20out. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

Kids Definition

go out

verb
1
: to leave one's home
2
: to stop working
3
: to stop burning or glowing
4
: to become a candidate
went out for the football team
5
: to become obsolete or unfashionable
6
: to engage in social activities
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