Go on meaning
Go on means to continue, or last for a period of time. It can also mean to happen.
go on
go on · went · gone · going
The party went on until three in the morning.
Go on 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
Continue, or last for a period of time
go on
- The party went on until three in the morning.
- We can’t go on like this.
- Do you want to go on with the game?
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2
Happen
go on
- What’s going on here?
- Something strange is going on next door.
- There’s a lot going on at work right now.
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3
Continue speaking after a pause, or tell someone to try something
go on
- Sorry I stopped you. Please go on.
- Go on, try it! It’s delicious.
- She paused for a moment, then went on.
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4
Start working, for a light or a machine
go on
- The heating goes on at six every morning.
- Suddenly all the lights went on.
- Why won’t the TV go on?
Café orders
New friends
At the airport
Slova
Use go on 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 on separable?
Go on has no object. To name the activity, add with or use the -ing form: go on with the game, go on talking.
Go on doing and go on to do are different. Go on talking means continue talking. Go on to talk about something means finish one thing and then move to the next.
Verb tenses for go on
| Present | I go on · she goes on |
|---|---|
| Past | went on |
| Present perfect | have gone on |
| -ing form | going on |
Common mistakes with go on
What learners often say, and what to say instead.
Wrong: What does go on here?
Right: What’s going on here?
Ask with the continuous form: What’s going on?
Wrong: The meeting continued on until six.
Right: The meeting went on until six.
Continue already means go on, so don’t add on.
Wrong: He goes on about it always.
Right: He’s always going on about it.
For an annoying habit with always, use the present continuous.
Synonyms and opposites of go on
Words close to it, and words that mean the opposite.
Similar
- carry oncontinue doing something, often after a stop
- keep oncontinue doing something again and again
- happenthe general word for meaning 2
Opposite
- stopnot continue
- come to an endfinish, after lasting some time
Go on quiz
Three quick questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.
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1Sorry, I interrupted you. Please ___.
Go on means continue speaking.
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2Choose the right sentence.
What’s going on? asks what is happening.
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3Your friend isn’t sure about trying the cake. You say: ___, it’s really good!
Go on! encourages someone to do something.
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 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 on FAQ
Questions people ask about go on.
What does go on about mean?
It means talk about something for too long in a boring or annoying way: He keeps going on about his new car.
Is go on informal?
Go on for continue is a little informal. In formal writing, use continue: Work on the bridge will continue until May.
What does go on, then mean?
In British English, Go on, then is a friendly way to say yes after a little persuading: Another biscuit? Oh, go on, then.
Use go on 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.