gone

1 of 2

adjective

ˈgȯn 

 also  ˈgän

1

a

: lost, ruined

lost looks and gone faculties

—Penelope Gilliatt

b

: dead

c

: characterized by sinking or dropping

the empty or gone feeling in the abdomen so common in elevators

—H. G. Armstrong

2

a

: involved, absorbed

far gone in hysteria

b

: possessed with a strong attachment or a foolish or unreasoning love or desire : infatuated

—often used with on

was real gone on that man

—Pete Martin

c

: pregnant

she's six months gone

3

: past

memories of gone summers

—John Cheever

4

slang : great

a real gone fashion reporter

—Inez Robb

gone

2 of 2

past participle of go entry 1

Synonyms

Adjective

• extinct
• vanished
• defunct
• expired
• done
• departed

Examples of gone in a Sentence

Adjective

She should have been back by now. She's been gone for more than an hour.

The outfielder went back to the fence and jumped, but the ball was gone.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

So many firsts, gone, charred to ash, just remnants of an area that once represented Black prosperity and joy. —Maya Richard-Craven, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025

The original pioneers were mostly busy making non-hyperpop or gone: SOPHIE tragically died in 2021; 100 gecs spent years toiling to make their zany stadium-rock second album. —Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 3 Oct. 2024

People have found out in the process — some who’ve gone virtual — their attendance has gone way up. —Peggy O’Hare, ExpressNews.com, 7 May 2020

Inspired by Eusope’s great-grandfather’s recipe, the palm-size puffs are maddeningly delicious and gone much too soon. —Soleil Ho, SFChronicle.com, 12 Mar. 2020

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from past participle of go

First Known Use

Adjective

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing gone

• been/gone down this/that road before
• days gone by
• dead and gone
• far gone
• gone/been through the wringer
• gone down the dumper
• gone out of business
• long gone

Rhymes for gone

• aune
• bon
• bonne
• brawn
• chon
• con
• conn
• crohn
• dawn
• drawn
• fawn
• hon

Kids Definition

gone

adjective

ˈgȯn 

 also  ˈgän

1

: dead entry 1 sense 1

2

a

: being advanced, involved, or absorbed

far gone in grief

b

: being infatuated

gone on each other

Medical Definition

gone

adjective

ˈgȯn also ˈgän

: pregnant

she's six months gone