go for
verb
went for; gone for; going for; goes for
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
Chandler BrossardI could go for [=would like] a cup of coffee.
5
: to hold true : be valid
The rules go for you, too.
Examples of go for in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Expertise on tax issues takes time and money to acquire; so going for the cheapest place isn’t a good bet, especially in complex tax situations.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Strahan, 54, lamented Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton going for it on fourth down when the Broncos were up 7-0 early in their loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC championship game Sunday.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Again, the intention behind his decision to flip the puck deep and go for a change was impeccable, but there was another option there that might have allowed the Canadiens to possess the puck a bit longer.
—Arpon Basu, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
The same doesn’t go for Nicola’s family.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 28 Jan. 2026
Coad said that Visa and Mastercard are too stable and not like the high-risk, high-reward growth stocks that retail traders typically go for.
—Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2026
Kaltex’s Betancur sees teens gravitating more toward rigid jeans, while Rajesh Gupta, creative director of Arvind Limited’s denim division, sees younger shoppers going for comfort stretch and more mature customers opting for higher stretch.
—Sarah Jones, Sourcing Journal, 28 Jan. 2026
Marshall, like all the rest of them, was eventually let go for not knowing anything, but not before more time was wasted by detectives, who were obliged to interview most of these sideshows.
—Literary Hub, 27 Jan. 2026
In Bend, Oregon, Outdoor Adventure Belongs to Everyone On a visit to this adventure magnet, Sophie Morgan goes for a trek in the high desert in an off-roading wheelchair and catches an outdoor concert, washed down, of course, with a few pints of local craft beer.
—Sophie Morgan, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Jan. 2026
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Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Strahan, 54, lamented Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton going for it on fourth down when the Broncos were up 7-0 early in their loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC championship game Sunday.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Again, the intention behind his decision to flip the puck deep and go for a change was impeccable, but there was another option there that might have allowed the Canadiens to possess the puck a bit longer.
—Arpon Basu, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
The same doesn’t go for Nicola’s family.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 28 Jan. 2026
Coad said that Visa and Mastercard are too stable and not like the high-risk, high-reward growth stocks that retail traders typically go for.
—Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2026
Kaltex’s Betancur sees teens gravitating more toward rigid jeans, while Rajesh Gupta, creative director of Arvind Limited’s denim division, sees younger shoppers going for comfort stretch and more mature customers opting for higher stretch.
—Sarah Jones, Sourcing Journal, 28 Jan. 2026
Marshall, like all the rest of them, was eventually let go for not knowing anything, but not before more time was wasted by detectives, who were obliged to interview most of these sideshows.
—Literary Hub, 27 Jan. 2026
In Bend, Oregon, Outdoor Adventure Belongs to Everyone On a visit to this adventure magnet, Sophie Morgan goes for a trek in the high desert in an off-roading wheelchair and catches an outdoor concert, washed down, of course, with a few pints of local craft beer.
—Sophie Morgan, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Go for.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/go%20for. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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