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

The current surge in healthcare hiring can’t go on forever.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 2, 2026

But the wait will go on for at least four more years.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

"When I go on outside broadcasts, our viewers come up and chat and I love that," she said.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

Even issues that would go on to be more contentious within feminism and outside it—body positivity, trans rights—did crucial work.

From Slate • Mar. 31, 2026

He shuts the door behind him, sits on a table in the corner, gives me a go on gesture.

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

Related Words

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