go for

verb

went for; gone for; going for; goes for

transitive

1

: to pass for or serve as

Silvered glass once went for mirrors.

2

: to try to secure or attain (something, such as a goal)

go for the prize

Stop hesitating and just go for it.

3

a

: to accept or agree to

I asked for a loan, but they wouldn't go for it.

b

: to have an interest in or liking for

doesn't go for modern art

She went for him in a big way.

—Chandler Brossard

I could go for [=would like] a cup of coffee.

4

: attack, assail

My dog went for the intruder.

5

: to hold true : be valid

The rules go for you, too.

Examples of go for in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Amanda Seyfried went for a head-to-toe Miu Miu ensemble while in attendance at Miu Miu Women’s Tales, an event hosted during the 2026 Venice Film Festival. — Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 5 Sep. 2026

For shorter experiences, 2-hour tours go for $199 on weekdays and $209 on weekends, while 3-hour excursions cost $230 during the week and $251 on the weekend. — Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2026

My expert shopping adventure led me to 10 can’t-miss Labor Day discounts going for $20 or less. — Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026

Same goes for Kanna, the property's stylish beach club, where even hotel guests pay $255 extra for a Balinese daybed (albeit with a bottle of Moët and a seafood platter). — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for go for

• abhor
• abor
• adore
• afore
• ardour
• ashore
• backdoor
• before
• bookstore
• candour
• centaur
• claymore