go-ahead
noun
Usually the go-ahead permission or a signal to proceed.
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go-ahead
American
[goh-uh-hed]
/ ˈgoʊ əˌhɛd /
noun
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Usually the go-ahead permission or a signal to proceed.
They got the go-ahead on the construction work.
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Baseball. Usually the go-ahead go-ahead run.
With two outs, and the go-ahead on first, Hoffman winds up and delivers the pitch.
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Chiefly Hawaii and California. a sandal held on the foot by a strap between the big toe and the next toe.
adjective
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moving forward; advancing.
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a go-ahead Yankee peddler.
go ahead
British
verb
noun
adjective
go ahead
Idioms
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Move forward rapidly or act without restraint; also, continue something. For example, If you want to borrow the tractor, go ahead . This expression is often put as go ahead with , as in Are you going ahead with the house party? The term dates from the mid-1600s and gave rise to give the go-ahead , meaning “give permission to move or act in some way.”
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go ahead of . Make one's way to the front of, as in They went ahead of me to see the purser . [Mid-1700s]
Etymology
Origin of go-ahead
An Americanism first recorded in 1830–40; noun and adjective use of verb phrase go ahead
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The mayor has been given the go-ahead by Labour's ruling National Executive Committee, which blocked his previous attempt to stand in a by-election in January.
From BBC • May 15, 2026
Villa Park 2, Foothill 1: Jack McGuire struck out 16 and Justin Lopez hit the go-ahead home run.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026
The deal is expected to close the end of the year, subject to the go-ahead from Boralex’s shareholders and certain regulatory approvals,
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026
Some 25 minutes later, after the barrier was repaired, Allen gave the go-ahead for a restart.
From BBC • Mar. 21, 2026
“I got the go-ahead from Dr. Burgess. I’m going to start on this kitchen tomorrow,” he added.
From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
