Go in meaning
Go in means to enter a room or a building. It can also mean to fit inside something.
go in
go in · went · gone · going
It’s getting cold. Let’s go in.
Go in 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
Enter a room or a building
go in
- It’s getting cold. Let’s go in.
- Don’t go in there. It’s private!
- She knocked on the door and went in.
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2
Fit inside something
go in
- These books won’t go in my bag.
- Does this key go in that lock?
- The sofa didn’t go in the lift.
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3
Be understood and remembered
go in
- I read it three times, but it didn’t go in.
- Facts just don’t go in when I’m tired.
- Did any of the lesson go in?
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4
Go behind a cloud, for the sun
go in
- The sun’s gone in. It’s getting chilly.
- Every time the sun went in, we felt cold.
- Let’s take the photo before the sun goes in.
Café orders
New friends
At the airport
Slova
Use go in 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 in separable?
Go in has no object. It usually ends the sentence: Let’s go in. To name the place, use go into: We went into the bank.
Go in for something is different. It means often do or enjoy an activity, or enter a competition: I don’t really go in for sports.
Verb tenses for go in
| Present | I go in · she goes in |
|---|---|
| Past | went in |
| Present perfect | have gone in |
| -ing form | going in |
Common mistakes with go in
What learners often say, and what to say instead.
Wrong: She entered in the room quietly.
Right: She went into the room quietly.
Enter needs no in. Or say go into.
Wrong: Hello! Can I go in?
Right: Hello! Can I come in?
Ask the person inside if you can come in.
Wrong: The box doesn’t enter in the car.
Right: The box doesn’t go in the car.
For fitting inside something, say go in.
Synonyms and opposites of go in
Words close to it, and words that mean the opposite.
Similar
- come inenter, seen from the person inside
- get inenter a car or a small space
- enterthe formal word
Opposite
- go outleave a room or building
- stay outsidenot enter
Go in quiz
Three quick questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.
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1It’s raining. Let’s ___.
Go in means enter a building.
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2Choose the right sentence.
Use go into, or enter with no in.
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3Lisa knocks on your door. What does she ask?
From outside, you ask the person inside if you can come in.
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 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 aheadB2start or continue doing something you planned
- go afterB2follow or chase someone to catch them or talk to them
Go in FAQ
Questions people ask about go in.
What is the difference between go in and go into?
Go in usually ends the sentence: Let’s go in. When you name the place, go into is more usual: We went into the café.
What is the difference between go in and come in?
Come in is said by, or towards, someone inside: Come in and sit down! Go in moves away from the speaker: You go in, I’ll wait here.
What is the past tense of go in?
Went in, and the past participle is gone in: Has everyone gone in?
Use go in 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.