Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

go out

verb

Definition of go 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
2 a : to come to an end
b : to give up office : resign
c : to become obsolete or unfashionable
d (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
3 : to take part in social activities
4 : to go on strike
5 : break, collapse
6 : to become a candidate
  • went out for the football team

See go out defined for kids

Examples of go out in a Sentence

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

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

First Known Use of go out

before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year
NEW! Time Traveler

go out Synonyms

Synonyms

buckle, cave (in), collapse, crumple, founder, give, go, implode, tumble, yield;

Near Antonyms

inflate, rise, swell;

Related Words

deflate, flatten, melt, melt down;

break, break down, conk (out), crash, die, fail, give out, stall;

burst, shatter, smash, splinter, split;

crack, crumble, pop, snap;

Phrases

give way;

Learn More about go out

  1. See words that rhyme with go out Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for go out Britannica English: Translation of go out for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up go out? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

WORD OF THE DAY

acolyte

play

one who attends or assists a leader

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. exculpatory 'tending or serving to exculpate'

  2. ideologue 'an often blindly partisan advocate or adherent of a particular ideology'

  3. socialism 'a way of organizing a society in which major industries are owned and controlled by the government'

  4. uphold 'to let stand'

  5. due process 'a course of formal proceedings (as judicial proceedings)'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

go out

Test Your Vocabulary

Test Your Emoji Exceptionalism

  • test-your-emoji-exceptionalism-written-with-a-lot-of-emoji
  • What is this emoji intended to represent: 🤳
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Syn City

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games