go on

British  

verb

1. to continue or proceed

2. to happen or take place

   there's something peculiar going on here

3. (of power, water supply, etc) to start running or functioning

4. (preposition) to mount or board and ride on, esp as a treat

   children love to go on donkeys at the seaside

5. theatre to make an entrance on stage

6. to act or behave

   he goes on as though he's rich

7. to talk excessively; chatter

8. to continue talking, esp after a short pause

   ``When I am Prime Minister,'' he went on, ``we shall abolish taxes.''

9. (foll by at) to criticize or nag

   stop going on at me all the time!

10. (preposition) to use as a basis for further thought or action

    the police had no evidence at all to go on in the murder case

11. (foll by for) to approach (a time, age, amount, etc)

    he's going on for his hundredth birthday

12. cricket to start to bowl

13. to take one's turn

14. (of clothes) to be capable of being put on

15. (used with a negative) to care for; like

16. something that is adequate for the present time

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interjection

1. I don't believe what you're saying

go on Idioms  

1. Happen, take place, as in What's going on here? [Early 1700s]

2. Continue, as in The show must go on . [Late 1500s]

3. Keep on doing; also, proceed, as in He went on talking , or She may go on to become a partner . [Second half of 1600s]

4. Act, behave, especially badly. For example, Don't go on like that; stop kicking the dog . [Second half of 1700s]

5. Also, go on and on ; run on . Talk volubly, chatter, especially tiresomely. For example, How she does go on! The first usage dates from the mid-1800s; run on appeared in Nicholas Udall's Ralph Roister Doister (c. 1553): “Yet your tongue can run on.“

6. An interjection expressing disbelief, surprise, or the like, as in Go on, you must be joking! [Late 1800s]

7. Approach; see going on .

8. Use as a starting point or as evidence, as in The investigator doesn't have much to go on in this case . [Mid-1900s]

9. go on something . Begin something, as in go on line , meaning “start to use a computer,” or go on a binge , meaning “begin to overdo, especially drink or eat too much.”

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Example Sentences

"There's a terrible algebra situation going on here of all of these things will equal 'bye-bye'."

From BBC

He went on to serve on the boards of state-owned companies.

From BBC

The event felt poorly organized and vendors received little communication ahead of the convention that only dwindled as the weekend went on, she said.

From Los Angeles Times

Patients in greater Lincolnshire are being warned of cancelled appointments when hospital doctors go on strike for six days in a pay dispute.

From BBC

"If you squeeze half a sponge, the water only goes on that half. That's basically what the cell is doing."

From Science Daily

Related Words

• conduct
• endure
• go ahead
• happen
• hold on
• last
• occur
• persist
• proceed
• stay
• take place