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

Ruff didn’t go out of his way to chase matchups in the opening round with Boston, so how Buffalo would match up was an intriguing buildup to Round 2. —Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 7 May 2026

If an entity is not accountable, respectful demand correspondence must go out immediately. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026

Talk about going out with a bang before getting married. —Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2026

Her goal had always been to go out on top at the Olympic race in Cortina D'Ampezzo, the beloved slope where Vonn had won a dozen World Cup victories in her historic career. —Becky Sullivan, NPR, 6 May 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