go on

present singular third person goes on · participle present going on · past went on · participle past gone on

1. intransitiveTo continue in extent.

   The meeting seemed to go on forever.

   1 more example

   This road goes on for another twenty miles.

   Synonyms: endure, abide, aby, astand, endure, lie, prevail, hold on

2. intransitiveTo continue an action.

   I think I've said enough now; I'm not sure I should go on.

   3 more examples

   He went on walking even when the policeman told him to stop.

   One might imagine that the directors foresaw the somewhat uninspiring appearance of the future Manchester stations, and decided to start as it was intended to go on.

   1957 September 28, M. D. Greville and G. O. Holt, “Railway Development in Manchester—1”, in Railway Magazine, page 615

   She crept up the stairs [...] On she went, across the landing, from which sprang the tall window, and up the next flight until she reached the top.

   1967, Barbara Sleigh, Jessamy, Sevenoaks, Kent: Bloomsbury, published 1993, →ISBN, page 84

   Synonyms: keep on, carry on, advance, forthgo, proceed, resume

3. intransitiveTo proceed (to do something).

   "Do you want to hear a joke?" — "Oh, all right, go on then."

   2 more examples

   He started the competition badly but went on to win the gold medal.

   The kid who starts a business selling candy out of his locker always goes on to be a major sleazeball later in life.

   2012, The Onion Book of Known Knowledge, page 63

   Synonyms: carry on, continue, carry on, continue, keep on, proceed, roll on, hunker down

4. intransitiveTo talk frequently or at great length (about a subject).

   Sam goes on and on about Pokémon.

   4 more examples

   Near-synonyms: blather, prattle, drone on, rabbit; see also Thesaurus:chatter

   Will you stop going on about your stupid holiday?

   Don't ask Sam about Pokémon, because he'll go on and on.

   "I don't believe you." I shake my head. "How on earth did you remember that? I must have told you years ago."[…] "First of all, you go on about it far more than you think you do,[…]."

   2002, Jane Green, Bookends, trade paperback, published 2003, →ISBN, page 67

   Synonyms: blather, prattle, drone on, rabbit

5. intransitiveprogressive aspectTo happen (occur).

   What's going on downstairs? What's all that noise down there?

   3 more examples

   I really don't want to know what goes on between you and your boyfriend behind closed doors.

   Mister Crowley, what went on in your head? Oh, Mister Crowley, did you talk to the dead? Your lifestyle to me seems so tragic with the thrill of it all You fooled all the people with magic Yeah, you waited on Satan's call

   1981, Ozzy Osbourne, “Mr. Crowley”, in Blizzard of Ozz, performed by Ozzy Osbourne

   At the time, with the D-Day invasion of Europe going on, their heroism was hardly noticed. Plenty of other heroes were dying elsewhere. Plenty of bigger bits of history were being made.

   2022 January 12, Benedict le Vay, “The heroes of Soham...”, in RAIL, number 1948, page 43

   Synonyms: come to pass, take place, bechance, befall, behap, belimp, betide, betime

6. intransitiveTo move or proceed so as to become "on" in any of various senses.

   Bertha's about to finish her song. Who's going on next?

   2 more examples

   Smith went on for Jones at left back after Jones got injured.

   It was pitch black and then suddenly all the lights went on.

1. Expressing that the speaker can continue speaking without interruption from the listener.

   Go on! You were saying about those other ones too?

2. Expressing surprise, disbelief or incredulity.

   A: He asked Fiona to marry him. B: Go on! A: It's true, I swear.

   Synonyms: fiddlesticks, go on with you, horsefeathers, pull the other one, applesauce, bender, bollocks, bosh

3. AustraliaNew ZealandespeciallyExpressing encouragement, see come on.

   Go on! You can do it!

   Synonyms: attaboy, you go, girl, all right, c'mon, carn, come along, come on, heigh

4. UKespeciallyYes; okay; it's a deal.

   —So three hundred on the chair then, and can we do two-fifty on the clock? —Go on, then.

present singular third person goes on · participle present going on · past went on · participle past gone on

1. transitiveTo use and adopt (information) in order to understand an issue, make a decision, etc.; to go by.

   We can't go on what this map says; it's twenty years out of date.

   1 more example

   I didn't make a decision because I didn't have anything to go on.