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

Absentee-by-mail ballots are 29 days away from going out, early in-person voting is 70 days away, and Election Day is 89 days away. —Alan Wooten | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 9 Aug. 2024

If a kick goes out of bounds before the end zone, or hits the ground or is touched by the receiving team before reaching the landing zone, however, the play is blown dead and the ball will be placed at the receiving team’s 40. —Brian Wacker, Baltimore Sun, 9 Aug. 2024

Most travelers go out of their way to avoid the middle seat, but seasoned flyers often have preferred rows or specific seats that are to their liking. —Zach Wichter, USA TODAY, 9 Aug. 2024

Read: The female-midlife-crisis novel Soon after its original publication by a small feminist press, On Strike went out of print, only to be reissued briefly in 1985 and 1987 and then disappear again. —Ilana Masad, The Atlantic, 9 Aug. 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

5

: to become obsolete or unfashionable

6

: to engage in social activities