go for

verb

went for; gone for; going for; goes for
Synonyms of go fornext

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Like the Spanish culinary culture itself, going for tapas is an inherently social experience. Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Feb. 2026 Some items can be pretty valuable—a vintage bamboo two-tier bar cart was recently seen going for $1,295 on 1stDibs. Heather Bien, Martha Stewart, 25 Feb. 2026 Those gaps leave open questions about whether the missing species are deeper in the forest, farther up the rivers, or possibly gone for good. Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2026 Hungry customers might go for the meatloaf stuffed with jalapeño poppers ($21). Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas Morning News, 25 Feb. 2026 Make sure to test the vinegar solution on a small, less visible part of your carpet before going for a full treatment. Shagun Khare, The Spruce, 25 Feb. 2026 Even parents who go for other child-self-care offerings—which these days include meditation apps for children, yoga for children, and superfood powders for children—might not buy into the idea that a 3-year-old needs aesthetically branded skin care. Nancy Walecki, The Atlantic, 25 Feb. 2026 Most importantly, don't sweat the details and just go for it. Maggie Gillette, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Feb. 2026 During the minimum, on the other hand, the sun may go for months without a single sunspot. Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 25 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of go for was circa 1586

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Go for.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/go%20for. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on go for

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster