1
as in to happen
to take place
what in the world is going on in there?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to ramble
to talk at length without sticking to a topic or getting to a point
my, but Aunt Betty does go on about all of her aches and pains
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in idiot
a stupid person
an unfortunate tendency to call those who disagree with him "brainless goons"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in thug
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang
the crime boss threatened to send the goons after him if he squealed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of go on
Jodi Guglielmi, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2025
The touchdown came on the first play after Air Force went on a 19-play, 67-yard drive that ended in a field goal.
—Idaho Statesman, 21 Sep. 2025
Randall Colburn, EW.com, 26 Aug. 2025
There’s even duck boats now, albeit with goons impaled by an anchor and buoy.
—Mark Kennedy, Boston Herald, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for go on
Verb
The band’s Saturday and Sunday night concerts in Hampton, their final nights on tour, were set to go on as planned.
—Jodi Guglielmi, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2025
The touchdown came on the first play after Air Force went on a 19-play, 67-yard drive that ended in a field goal.
—Idaho Statesman, 21 Sep. 2025
Noun
Nate is alive, but is being experimented upon by Horizen goons in some secret location.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 26 Aug. 2025
There’s even duck boats now, albeit with goons impaled by an anchor and buoy.
—Mark Kennedy, Boston Herald, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for go on
Recent Examples of Synonyms for go on
Verb
-
These real estate pros know what’s actually happening in a specific neighborhood can affect a home’s price, including microtrends that may not be reflected in the broader data.—
Mary Beth Eastman,
USA Today,
25 Sep. 2025
-
European football governing body UEFA’s allowable loss limit is less than the Premier League’s, so lowering wages has already happened at continental level, and its squad-cost rule is directly targeted at what teams spend on players.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
On the first play of the final period, Bruce rambled in for a four-yard TD for the Eagles.—
Mike Waters,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Sep. 2025
-
Since a Ralphie rambled across Folsom Field for the first time in September 1967, CU put up a sterling 5-1 record in live mascot debut runs.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
21 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
We’re then introduced to Louie, a thug who works for a loan shark, threatening and killing people.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Their neighbor, an older Jewish woman, gets arrested and Nazi thugs brazenly loot her apartment.—
Rabih Alameddine
September 2,
Literary Hub,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The difference between a calm travel day and a stressful one often comes down to what's packed in my carry-on bag.—
Gabriela Garcia,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Sep. 2025
-
For what may be the first time in the shopping mall's 49-year history, the Christmas tree inside Fairlane Town Center in Deaborn did not come down this year after the holidays.—
JC Reindl,
Freep.com,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Only a moron would cut the funding of an industry that actually brings revenue into the government’s pocket.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Seth Rollins gassed Bron up by saying Jey Uso thinks his dad is a loser and his uncle is a moron.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
She's gone toe to toe with Marvel villains, T-rexes and Bill Murray.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
27 Sep. 2025
-
Race is one of many concerns in Vineland, but One Battle After Another sets itself apart as a studio film with vividly, absurdly ugly racist villains, arguing satirically but unflinchingly that white supremacy continues to be the guiding principle for American power.—
Rory Doherty,
Time,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Earlier this year, Chinese AI firm DeepSeek rattled global markets after claiming to create a large language chatbot that outperformed competitors at a fraction of the cost.—
Ashley Capoot,Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Some state legislatures have passed grant programs meant to help schools foot the bill for those upgrades, including in Texas and Florida, where mass shootings at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas in 2018 and Robb Elementary School in 2022 rattled the country.—
Tonya Simpson,
ABC News,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
So, the parallel thing that I’ve been frustrated by recently is not just calling Trump stupid, but calling Trump voters stupid.—
Drew Broussard
May 22,
Literary Hub,
22 May 2025
-
Sometimes too stupid is actually smartski but sometimes is just stupid stupid.—
Caroline Downey,
National Review,
27 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Go on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/go%20on. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share