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

Days later, they were photographed going out to dinner in downtown Manhattan on July 14. — Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026

Employees go out for after-work parties (nomikai) to bond with their superiors. — Tim Brinkhof, Time, 23 July 2026

Cucumbers in Sour Cream is the timeless potluck staple that’ll never go out of style. — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 23 July 2026

No Way Home went out of its way to keep the returns of Maguire and Garfield a secret ahead of its release. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 23 July 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