Definition of Go on

1. Verb. Continue a certain state, condition, or activity. "They go on moving "; "We went on working until well past midnight"

Exact synonyms: Continue, Go Along, Keep, Proceed
Generic synonyms: Act, Move
Related verbs: Bear On, Carry On, Continue, Preserve, Uphold, Continue
Specialized synonyms: Hold, Keep Going, Run On, Ride
Derivative terms: Continuance, Continuation, Continuation
Antonyms: Discontinue



2. Verb. Come to pass. "Nothing occurred that seemed important"
Exact synonyms: Come About, Fall Out, Hap, Happen, Occur, Pass, Pass Off, Take Place
Specialized synonyms: Break, Develop, Recrudesce, Arise, Come Up, Result, Intervene, Transpire, Give, Operate, Supervene, Go, Proceed, Come, Fall, Anticipate, Develop, Recur, Repeat, Come Off, Go Off, Go Over, Come Around, Roll Around, Happen, Materialise, Materialize, Bechance, Befall, Happen, Bechance, Befall, Betide, Coincide, Concur, Backfire, Backlash, Recoil, Chance, Break, Fall, Shine, Strike, Turn Out, Contemporise, Contemporize, Synchronise, Synchronize
Derivative terms: Hap, Happening

3. Verb. Move forward, also in the metaphorical sense. "The water go ons "; "Time marches on"
Exact synonyms: Advance, March On, Move On, Pass On, Progress
Generic synonyms: Go, Locomote, Move, Travel
Specialized synonyms: Forge, Penetrate, Creep Up, Sneak Up, Encroach, Impinge, Infringe, Plough On, Press On, Push On, String, String Along, Overhaul, Overtake, Pass, Close In, Draw In, Edge, Inch, Rachet Up, Ratchet, Ratchet Down, Elapse, Glide By, Go Along, Go By, Lapse, Pass, Slide By, Slip Away, Slip By
Derivative terms: Advance, Advance, Advancement, Advancer, Progress, Progress, Progression
Antonyms: Recede

4. Verb. Continue talking. "Carry on--pretend we are not in the room"
Exact synonyms: Carry On, Continue, Proceed
Specialized synonyms: Segue, Jog, Ramble, Ramble On
Generic synonyms: Speak, Talk
Derivative terms: Continuation, Continuation

5. Verb. Start running, functioning, or operating. "The computer came up"
Exact synonyms: Come On, Come Up
Generic synonyms: Get Going, Go, Start
Antonyms: Go Off

Definition of Go on

1. Verb. (&lit go on) ¹

2. Verb. To continue in extent. ¹

3. Verb. To continue an action. ¹

4. Verb. To talk about a subject frequently or at great length. ¹

5. Verb. To use and adopt (information) in order to understand an issue, make a decision, etc. ¹

6. Verb. To happen (gloss occur). ¹

7. Interjection. Expresses surprise, disbelief or incredulity. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Lexicographical Neighbors of Go On

go kaflooey
go large
go mad
go moggy
go native
go nowhere
go nuts
go off
go off at half-cock
go off at score
go off half-cocked
go off into the weeds
go off on one
go off the boil
go off the reservation
go on (current term)
go out
go out like a light
go out of one's way
go out on a limb
go out the window
go over
go over like a lead balloon
go over someone's head
go overboard
go past
go pear-shaped
go pear shaped
go pearshaped
go pee

Literary usage of Go on

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Middlemarch: A Study of Provincial Life by George Eliot (1873)
"... that she might go on speaking, her large tear-filled eyes looking at his very simply, while she said, in a sobbing, child-like way, "We could live quite ..."

2. Daniel Deronda by George Eliot (1876)
"You may go on living here. But I think of by-and-by settling a good sum on you and the children, and you can live where you like. There will be nothing for ..."

Other Resources:

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