go for

verb

went for; gone for; going for; goes for

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

Five of his six hits in this stretch — all but the bunt single in the third inning Friday — have gone for extra bases (three home runs, two doubles). —Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 20 June 2026

Newcomers should go for the combo meal to get a taste of each of KISS’ meats. —Usa Today Network, USA Today, 19 June 2026

Lackland is where Air Force enlistees go for basic military training. —Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 19 June 2026

For the folks who are there for fun, or there for ports, and are just eating on the go for fuel, that’s perfectly fine. —Scott Laird, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026

There’s really good hills and stuff to go for, like, a nice nighttime walk after dinner. —Rachel Brodsky, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026

That pair won’t go for sale, but Jordan Brand has cooked up something else for the rest of Knicks fans. —Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 18 June 2026

Defector is the place to go for all good hoop writing, au courant. —Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 18 June 2026

That goes for Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 17 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for go for

• abhor
• abor
• adore
• afore
• ardour
• ashore
• backdoor
• before
• bookstore
• candour
• centaur
• claymore