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

One play before the touchdown, Cobb made up for his earlier drop with a catch-and-run on a screen pass that went for 46 yards and moved the ball to the Kennesaw State 2. — Michael Harley, Arkansas Online, 27 Sep. 2026

Sombr was another nominee that went for a maximalist coat moment, also made of a faux-fur fabric. — Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 27 Sep. 2026

So, Murphy went for it on the final play and McDowell came up golden. — Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 26 Sep. 2026

On average, a 1-carat stone now goes for $3,898, or 51% less than its average price of $8,007 in 2021, data from diamond trading platform Rapaport Group shows. — Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 26 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