go-ahead

[ goh-uh-hed ]

/ ˈgoʊ əˌhɛd /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for go-ahead on Thesaurus.com

Definition of go-ahead

noun

Usually the go-ahead . permission or a signal to proceed: They got the go-ahead on the construction work.

Usually the go-ahead .Baseball. go-ahead run: With two outs, and the go-ahead on first, Hoffman winds up and delivers the pitch.

Chiefly Hawaii and California. a sandal held on the foot by a strap between the big toe and the next toe.

adjective

moving forward; advancing.

enterprising: a go-ahead Yankee peddler.

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!

Were you ready for a quiz on this topic? Well, here it is! See how well you can differentiate between the uses of "was" vs. "were" in this quiz.

Question 1 of 7

“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.

true

false

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of go-ahead

An Americanism first recorded in 1830–40; noun and adjective use of verb phrase go ahead

Words nearby go-ahead

Goa, Daman, and Diu, goaf, go after, go against, go against the grain, go-ahead, go-ahead run, goal, goal area, goalball, goal crease

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use go-ahead in a sentence

In secret, before the referendum, the council went ahead and fluoridated the water anyway.
Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers|Michael Schulson|July 27, 2016|DAILY BEAST
Everywhere I go, ‘Hey Cartman, you must like Family Guy, right?’
Trolls and Martyrdom: Je Ne Suis Pas Charlie|Arthur Chu|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Bush busy engaging constituents on both sides of the same-sex marriage debate ahead of the 2004 presidential election.
Jeb Bush’s Unseen Anti-Gay Marriage Emails|Jackie Kucinich|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Luckily enough I have this dedicated flat that is just along from my house that I go to every day.
Belle & Sebastian Aren’t So Shy Anymore|James Joiner|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST

The other songs go in to lesser percentages of “me” as you move along.
Belle & Sebastian Aren’t So Shy Anymore|James Joiner|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Suddenly, however, he became aware of a small black spot far ahead in the very middle of the unencumbered track.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
The thought seemed to produce the dreaded object, for next moment a large hummock appeared right ahead.
The Giant of the North|R.M. Ballantyne
When the women came, he was preparing to go to the west side for his daily visit with Mrs. Pruitt.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux
Were you ever arrested, having in your custody another man's cash, and would rather go to gaol, than break it?
The Life and Most Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner (1801)|Daniel Defoe
He desired his secretary to go to the devil, but, thinking better of it, he recalled him as he reached the door.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini

British Dictionary definitions for go-ahead

go ahead

verb

(intr, adverb) to start or continue, often after obtaining permission

noun go-ahead

the go-ahead informal permission to proceed

adjective go-ahead

enterprising or ambitious

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-ahead

go ahead

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.”

go ahead of. Make one's way to the front of, as in They went ahead of me to see the purser. [Mid-1700s]