Go for meaning
Go for means to choose something. It can also mean to go somewhere to do an activity, like a walk or a drink.
go for something
go for · went · gone · going
I think I’ll go for the fish.
Go for 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.
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1
Choose something
go for something
- I think I’ll go for the fish.
- We went for the cheaper flat in the end.
- Which colour did you go for?
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2
Go somewhere to do an activity, like a walk or a drink
go for something
- Let’s go for a walk after lunch.
- Do you want to go for a coffee?
- We went for a swim in the lake.
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3
Try hard to get or win something
go for something
- If you really want the job, go for it!
- She’s going for gold at the Olympics.
- He didn’t go for the promotion this year.
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4
Suddenly attack someone
go for somebody or something
- The dog went for the postman.
- Watch out, that goose goes for people!
- The cat went for my hand when I tried to lift it.
Café orders
New friends
At the airport
Slova
Use go for 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 for separable?
Go for is not separable. The thing you choose or try for comes after it: go for the fish, go for it.
The same goes for means what I said is also true for someone else: Phones off, please. The same goes for teachers.
Verb tenses for go for
| Present | I go for · she goes for |
|---|---|
| Past | went for |
| Present perfect | have gone for |
| -ing form | going for |
Common mistakes with go for
What learners often say, and what to say instead.
Wrong: I go for to buy the red one.
Right: I’ll go for the red one.
Go for is followed by a noun, not to plus a verb.
Wrong: Let’s go for walking by the river.
Right: Let’s go for a walk by the river.
Say go for a walk, or go walking.
Wrong: You want it? Go it for!
Right: You want it? Go for it!
Go for is not separable. The pronoun goes after for.
Synonyms and opposites of go for
Words close to it, and words that mean the opposite.
Similar
- choosethe general word
- opt fora formal word for choose
- go withchoose, often an idea or a company
Opposite
- turn downsay no to an offer
- avoidstay away from something
Go for quiz
Three quick questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.
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1Pizza or pasta? I’ll ___ the pasta.
Go for means choose.
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2Choose the right sentence.
Say go for a walk.
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3Your friend wants to run a marathon but is nervous. What do you say?
Go for it! means try, don’t be afraid.
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 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 aheadB2start or continue doing something you planned
- go afterB2follow or chase someone to catch them or talk to them
Go for FAQ
Questions people ask about go for.
What does go for it mean?
It is a friendly way to tell someone to try, without fear: You want to start a band? Go for it!
What is the difference between go for and go with?
Both can mean choose: I’ll go for the blue one. Go with also means look good together: The blue goes with your eyes.
What does it’s going for 50 euros mean?
It means it is being sold for that price: Used bikes are going for about 100 euros.
Use go for 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.