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.

go to

verb

1. to be awarded to

   the Nobel prize last year went to a Scot

2. to tackle a task vigorously

interjection

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

adjective

1. 1. (of a person) extremely dependable

      the go-to guy in the team

   2. (of a place) popularly visited

      go-to destinations

Word History and Origins

Origin of go-to¹

First recorded in 1980–85

Idioms and Phrases

See going to .

Also, go toward . Contribute to a result, as in Can you name the bones that go to make the arms and legs? or The director has a good eye for seeing what will go toward an entire scene . [c. 1600]

Begin, start, as in By the time she went to call, she'd forgotten what she wanted to say . The related idiom go to it means “get started, get going.” P.G. Wodehouse used it in Louder & Funnier (1932): “Stoke up and go to it.” [First half of 1700s]

Example Sentences

“Building fires and sitting around with her family and making s’mores was her all time go-to,” Short said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Goldman is making a big push in Latin America to become the go-to financier for countries and companies across the continent.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Osmin is the go-to person for macro answers on geopolitical or other big-picture matters in Latin America.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Most established VPN providers promote WireGuard as the go-to protocol.

Read more on Salon

“The goal is to be the go-to bank in everything,” he said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• approach 
• attain 
• contact 
• end 
• go 
• join 
• lead 
• make 
• pass 
• stand 
• strike