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

Rhodes went for the Figure Four, but Punk fought out and tried a GTS. — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026

Each battery pack keeps the headphones going for over 85 hours, and the internal battery can run for three hours. — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 1 Aug. 2026

The same goes for Blackberry & Bay (as in, bay leaves), lending to a more autumnal fruity scent. — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 31 July 2026

The same goes for film, which saw 443 shoot days, a 20% dip year on year. — Katie Campione, Deadline, 31 July 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