go-to

1 of 3

adjective

ˈgō-ˌtü 

1

informal : relied on and regularly turned to for expert knowledge, skill, or performance

the company's go-to guy

Brown became the go-to researcher for genetic conundrums.

—Brad Lemley

Nowadays, one running back will get almost all of the carries, one reliever will get nearly all of the saves. And in the NBA, the evidence is mounting that "go-to guys" are scoring an ever greater proportion of the points in any particular game.

—Steve Hirdt

2

informal : regularly or repeatedly chosen or employed for reliably good results

O'Neal's go-to move has become a soft jump hook, which he can shoot with either hand.

—Chris Ballard

While mozzarella may be the go-to cheese for pizza, … blue cheese … can also be great.

—Sam Gugino

A waitress came by and Reacher ordered his go-to breakfast, which was coffee plus a short stack of pancakes with eggs, bacon, and maple syrup.

—Lee Child

go-to

2 of 3

noun

plural go-tos also go-to's

: someone or something that is regularly or repeatedly chosen or employed for reliably good results

A neat pour of rye whiskey is usually my go-to after making cocktails all night; they have a great selection to choose from.

—Sarah Troxell

I would say I get my style inspiration definitely from like that old, Hollywood classic look. I love Audrey Hepburn—she's my go-to.

—Laura McKinney

… cable channels such as Animal Planet, National Geographic and, especially, HGTV have become the go-tos for most waiting rooms.

—Kevyn Burger

She styled four ultra-chic looks for the new season, combining both winter go-to's and some on-trend pieces for spring.

—GoodMorningAmerica.com

go to

3 of 3

verb

went to; gone to; going to; goes to

intransitive verb

1

archaic

—used interjectionally as an exhortation

and they said one to another, go to, let us make brick

—Genesis 11:3 (King James Version)

2

archaic

—used interjectionally to express disapproval or disbelief

go to, go to; you have known what you should not

—William Shakespeare

Examples of go-to in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

One of the few sets Kelce and Swift did opt to watch from side-stage was Bleachers, the band fronted by the singer’s go-to collaborator and longtime friend Jack Antonoff. —Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 17 Apr. 2024

Happy Isles Photo: Courtesy of Happy Isles A destination for every fashion girl, this boutique was originally founded in Los Angeles and is a go-to for finding special occasion dresses. —Megan O'Sullivan, Vogue, 17 Apr. 2024

Ripe banana is one of my go-to ingredients for adding sweetness more healthfully. —Ellie Krieger, Washington Post, 17 Apr. 2024

In addition to making the rounds at go-to venues like Dynasty Typewriter, the Comedy Store and the Laugh Factory, last summer Liao was included in Just for Laughs Festival’s New Faces of Comedy showcase. —Rachel Brodsky, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2024

Rugged Backpack $90 $80 The Fjallraven Kanken backpack has been my go-to travel backpack for the last eight years. —Asia London Palomba, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2024

Screens are already her go-to method of comfort, her favorite reward – even better than candy! – and all too often, the on-demand babysitter for her parents, who are overwhelmed and just trying to make it through the day. —Jennifer Jolly, USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024

Ab-Soul has also been a go-to collaborator among many R&B/hip-hop artists over the course of his career, including Jhene Aiko, Danny Brown, Chance the Rapper, The Game, Freddie Gibbs, Macklemore and the late Mac Miller. —Xander Zellner, Billboard, 16 Apr. 2024

Owning at least one pair of comfortable, go-to shoes is a must for anyone who is pregnant. —Jessica Booth, Parents, 5 Apr. 2024

Noun

Starting in the summer of 2020, while the founder Joey Wong was pregnant, the brand has established itself as a go-to for trendy jewelry. —Shanon Maglente, Good Housekeeping, 24 Mar. 2023

That the 240 seats at this restaurant are rarely bare is testament to its enduring popularity, particularly at lunchtime, when beautifully crafted dim sum are the go-to for foodies and the power-lunching set alike. —Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 28 Feb. 2023

User-friendly and powerful enough to run programs like Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop, this portable device will be your go-to for work and play on the go. —Karl Klockars, PCMAG, 28 Feb. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1984, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1997, in the meaning defined above

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1