go-to

[ goh-too ]

noun
  1. a reliable person or thing one turns to as a preferred resource, strategy, option, etc.: She’s our go-to for computer advice.This dish is my go-to when I need something quick for a potluck.

  2. a person’s standard way of behaving or responding; reflex: He’s not trying to impress you—that courtly politeness is his go-to with everybody.

adjective
  1. relied on and turned to as a preferred resource, strategy, option, etc., for a particular purpose: She’s been the team’s go-to penalty kicker all season.This is my go-to dictionary.

  2. being a person’s standard way of behaving or responding; usual or habitual: When I tell them to get off the computer, their go-to excuse is that they need it for homework.

Origin of go-to

1
First recorded in 1980–85

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use go-to in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for go to

go to

verb(intr, preposition)
  1. to be awarded to: the Nobel prize last year went to a Scot

  2. go to it to tackle a task vigorously

interjection
  1. archaic an exclamation expressing surprise, encouragement, etc

adjectivego-to
    • (of a person) extremely dependable: the go-to guy in the team

    • (of a place) popularly visited: go-to destinations

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with go-to

go-to

See going to.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.