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

2

a

: to come to an end

b

: to give up office : resign

c

: to become obsolete or unfashionable

d(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

e

: 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

Phrases

go out with a bang

: to die, end, or finish in a thrilling, forceful, or impressive way

Game of Thrones is known for its impressive production value, so it is understandable why HBO would want to go out with a bang, making the final episodes the biggest television has ever seen.

—Emily Murray

Synonyms

• buckle
• cave (in)
• collapse
• crumple
• founder
• give
• go
• implode
• tumble
• yield

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

Their first use wasn’t entirely without hiccups: The stadium lights went out right as Doval fired his last warm-up pitch in the bullpen. —Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2024

The crowd, which had been buzzing from the moment Messi went out of warmups, was silenced. —Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2024

With a memory foam insole, the round-toe flats are comfortable to walk in — whether you’re headed to the office or going out to dinner. —Isabel Garcia, Peoplemag, 19 Apr. 2024

More than 500,000 workers went out on strike nationwide in 2023, more than doubling the figure recorded a year earlier, according to Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations. —Max Zahn, ABC News, 19 Apr. 2024

The beacon light on top of one of West Allis' two water towers has gone out. —Adrienne Davis, Journal Sentinel, 18 Apr. 2024

And yet, each of the eight 40+ minute chapters goes out on an end-credits sequence that feels almost jarring in its cheeriness. —Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Apr. 2024

Conan goes out for asada in Buenos Aires with the effete and erudite Jordan Schlansky, a longtime producer and frenemy. —Stephen Rodrick, Variety, 18 Apr. 2024

My sincere condolences go out to his four children. —Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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