Go over meaning
Go over means to check something carefully, looking for mistakes. It can also mean to explain or study something again so you understand it.
go over something
go over · went · gone · going
Can you go over my CV before I send it?
Go over meanings and examples
3 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
Check something carefully, looking for mistakes
go over something
- Can you go over my CV before I send it?
- The police went over the room for clues.
- I went over the bill and found a mistake.
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2
Explain or study something again so you understand it
go over something
- The teacher went over the main points again.
- Let’s go over the plan before we start.
- I keep going over what she said in my head.
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3
Move to a person or place near you, or visit someone
go over
- He went over to the window and looked out.
- Why don’t you go over and say hello?
- We’re going over to Ana’s for dinner.
Café orders
New friends
At the airport
Slova
Use go over 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 over separable?
Go over is not separable. The thing you check comes after over: go over the essay, go over it. Never say go it over.
When go over means move or visit, there is no direct object. Add to for the place or person: go over to the window, go over to Tom’s.
Verb tenses for go over
| Present | I go over · she goes over |
|---|---|
| Past | went over |
| Present perfect | have gone over |
| -ing form | going over |
Common mistakes with go over
What learners often say, and what to say instead.
Wrong: Here’s my essay. Can you go it over?
Right: Here’s my essay. Can you go over it?
Go over is not separable. The pronoun goes after over.
Wrong: Sorry, I went over your email and didn’t reply.
Right: Sorry, I overlooked your email and didn’t reply.
Overlook means not notice. Go over means check carefully.
Wrong: We went over at the plan together.
Right: We went over the plan together.
No at after go over.
Synonyms and opposites of go over
Words close to it, and words that mean the opposite.
Similar
- go throughcheck every part, one by one
- look overcheck something, usually quickly
- reviewa more formal word for checking
Opposite
- skimread very quickly and miss details
- overlooknot notice something
Go over quiz
Three quick questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.
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1Before the test, the teacher ___ the main grammar points again.
Go over means explain or study again.
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2Choose the right sentence.
The pronoun goes after over.
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3Tom is alone at the party. Why don’t you ___ and say hello?
Go over means walk to someone near you.
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 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 over FAQ
Questions people ask about go over.
What is the difference between go over and look over?
Both mean check. Look over is usually quicker. Go over is more careful, and it can also mean explain again.
What does go over the top mean?
It means do too much: The decorations were a bit over the top. People also write OTT.
What does go over someone’s head mean?
If something goes over your head, you don’t understand it: The joke went right over my head.
Use go over 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.