go-to

1 of 3

adjective

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 brickGenesis 11:3 (King James Version)
2
archaic
used interjectionally to express disapproval or disbelief
go to, go to; you have known what you should notWilliam Shakespeare

Examples of go-to in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Counterfeiting, his go-to solution for all his problems, was the problem. Jason Kersten, Rolling Stone, 23 Mar. 2024 Your go-to energy booster might be a creepy true crime podcast that gets your adrenaline pumping. Jenna Ryu, SELF, 22 Mar. 2024 Fjallraven Women's Kanken Hip Pack $55 $37 Convertible bags are my go-to when traveling. Gabrielle Porcaro, Travel + Leisure, 22 Mar. 2024 Danielle Frankel Photo: Courtesy of Danielle Frankel Designer Danielle Frankel Hirsch, who took home the runner-up prize in 2019’s Vogue and CFDA Fashion Fund competition (the first bridal wear designer to do so), has become a go-to designer for the chic downtown set in recent years. Laura Neilson, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2024 Craggy walnuts toasted with maple syrup and spices are my go-to salad toppers. Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 12 Mar. 2024 Zinc Bistro This is our special occasion go-to restaurant. Felicia Campbell, The Arizona Republic, 12 Mar. 2024 As Zoom increasingly became the go-to platform for meetings nationwide amid the COVID-19 pandemic, many communities have grappled with disruptive speech during public comments. Lauren J. Mapp, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2024 This was my go-to once my girls learned to roll and couldn’t be swaddled anymore. Emily Hochberg, Parents, 11 Mar. 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

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'go-to.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of go-to was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near go-to

Cite this Entry

“Go-to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/go-to. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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