Go ahead meaning
Go ahead means to start or continue doing something you planned. It can also mean to say yes when someone asks to do something.
go ahead
go ahead · went · gone · going
We decided to go ahead with the wedding.
Go ahead meanings and examples
4 meanings, each with its own CEFR level. A level marked ~ is our estimate: Oxford and Cambridge give none for that meaning.
-
1
Start or continue doing something you planned
go ahead
- We decided to go ahead with the wedding.
- Go ahead and eat. Don’t wait for me.
- Should we go ahead with the plan?
-
2
Say yes when someone asks to do something
go ahead
- “Can I sit here?” “Sure, go ahead.”
- “Can I ask a question?” “Go ahead.”
- If you want the last piece, go ahead.
-
3
Happen as planned
go ahead
- The match will go ahead despite the rain.
- Did the concert go ahead in the end?
- The strike is going ahead tomorrow.
-
4
Go in front of other people
go ahead
- You go ahead. I’ll catch up with you.
- She went ahead to find us a table.
- Let the children go ahead of us.
Café orders
New friends
At the airport
Slova
Use go ahead in real conversations
- Learn new words with picture cards
- Talk with Felix, an AI tutor, about the things you love
- Short lessons at your level, a few minutes a day
Is go ahead separable?
Go ahead has no object. To name the plan, add with: go ahead with the plan. To name an action, add and: go ahead and book it.
In a race or a match, go ahead can mean take the lead: City went ahead in the tenth minute.
Verb tenses for go ahead
| Present | I go ahead · she goes ahead |
|---|---|
| Past | went ahead |
| Present perfect | have gone ahead |
| -ing form | going ahead |
Common mistakes with go ahead
What learners often say, and what to say instead.
Wrong: We’re going ahead the plan.
Right: We’re going ahead with the plan.
Use with before the plan.
Wrong: “Can I sit here?” “Yes, go.”
Right: “Can I sit here?” “Yes, go ahead.”
To give permission, say go ahead. Go alone sounds like leave.
Wrong: She worked hard to go ahead in her job.
Right: She worked hard to get ahead in her job.
Get ahead means succeed. Go ahead means start or continue.
Synonyms and opposites of go ahead
Words close to it, and words that mean the opposite.
Similar
- proceeda formal word for go ahead
- go oncontinue, often after a pause
- carry oncontinue doing something
Go ahead quiz
Three quick questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.
-
1“Can I open the window?” “Sure, ___.”
Go ahead gives permission.
-
2Choose the right sentence.
Use go ahead with plus the plan.
-
3It’s raining, but the race will ___ as planned.
An event goes ahead when it happens as planned.
More phrasal verbs with go
All phrasal verbs with go, by level, with an exercise
16 phrasal verbs start with go. Test yourself on all of them in a few minutes.
- go outA1leave your home to do something fun
- go backA1return to a place where you were before
- go inA2enter a room or a building
- go intoA2enter a place
- go onB1continue, or last for a period of time
- go awayB1leave a person or a place
- go downB1become lower, like a price, a number or a temperature
- go upB1become higher, like a price, a number or a temperature
- go forB1choose something
- go withB1look or taste good together with something
- go offB2start ringing loudly, like an alarm, or explode, like a bomb
- go throughB2live through a difficult or unpleasant time
- go overB2check something carefully, looking for mistakes
- go aroundB2be enough for everyone in a group to have some
- go afterB2follow or chase someone to catch them or talk to them
Go ahead FAQ
Questions people ask about go ahead.
What does get the go-ahead mean?
The go-ahead, with a hyphen, is a noun that means permission: The council gave the go-ahead for the new park.
Is go ahead polite?
Yes. It is a friendly way to say yes to a request. Please, go ahead sounds even more polite.
What does go ahead and mean?
Go ahead and plus a verb means just do it, don’t wait: Go ahead and order. I’ll be there in five minutes.
Use go ahead in real conversations
In Slova you learn new words with picture cards, then use them when you talk about the things you love. A few minutes a day, at your level.