go out

verb

went out; gone out; going out; goes out

intransitive verb

1

a

: to go forth, abroad, or outdoors

specifically : to leave one's house

b(1)

: to take the field as a soldier

(2)

: to participate as a principal in a duel

c

: to travel as or as if a colonist or immigrant

d

: to work away from home

e

: to be sent from a person or a place

Our thoughts go out to the victims.

Warnings went out over the radio.

2

a

: to come to an end

March went out like a lamb.

b(1)

: to stop working

The engines went out.

(2)

: to stop shining or burning

The fire is going out.

c

: to give up office : resign

d

: to become obsolete or unfashionable

styles that went out long ago

e(1)

: to play the last card of one's hand

(2)

: to reach or exceed the total number of points required for game in cards

f

: to bring a performance to a close

The band went out with a solid rendition of another Allmans classic …

—Joel Silverstein

3

a

: to take part in social activities

made plans to go out for drinks

b

: to date someone romantically

They've been going out for about six months.

4

: to go on strike

5

: break, collapse

6

: to become a candidate

went out for the football team

see also go out with a bang

Synonyms of go out

• collapse
• go
• cave (in)

Examples of go out in a Sentence

there was concern that the dam would go out under the force of the flood waters

she enjoys going out on weekends, but during the week she's a homebody

Recent Examples on the Web

In a video shown at the event, Furmencio Quiroz recalled leaving with his family, his children fearful because the power had gone out, thinking they would be gone for a short time, but eventually returning to their home reduced to ashes. —Sierra Van Der Brug, Daily News, 21 Jan. 2026

Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images Reporters had said that the lights in the press cabin briefly went out after takeoff, but no explanation was offered. —Faris Tanyos, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026

Dozens of countries have been invited, with notices going out over the weekend, according to officials, including Belarus, China, Ukraine, India, Canada, Argentina, Jordan, Egypt, Hungary, and Vietnam, among others. —Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 21 Jan. 2026

But as the Hoosiers marched toward the championship, Cignetti went out and snagged quarterback Josh Hoover from TCU, essentially recruiting over his Heisman Trophy winner’s little brother. —Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 20 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for go out

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout

Kids Definition

go out

verb

1

: to leave one's home

2

: to stop working

3

: to stop burning or glowing

4

: to become a candidate

went out for the football team

5

: to become obsolete or unfashionable

6

: to engage in social activities