Usually the go-ahead permission or a signal to proceed.
They got the go-ahead on the construction work.
Baseball. Usually the go-ahead 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.
moving forward; advancing.
a go-ahead Yankee peddler.
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]
An Americanism first recorded in 1830–40; noun and adjective use of verb phrase go ahead
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In the sixth, Dodgers veteran third baseman Max Muncy delivered a go-ahead solo home run, his second home run in as many games and 20th of the year.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
Based on that data, the UK's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has given the go-ahead for human trials.
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
Haaland’s push on England’s Elliott Anderson led to video replay disallowing a go-ahead strike, which briefly appeared to have given Norway a second-half lead.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026
The go-ahead run had been on the line with that challenge in the Dodgers’ eventual 8-7 win over the Rockies in 11 innings.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026
Mike gave us the go-ahead to resume our ascent, and Ang Dorje and I started climbing as fast as we could in order to warm ourselves.
From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer
Sjöblom got permission from national and local governments to go ahead in January, but now faces appeals from local residents.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
So, go ahead, keep NBA schedule-makers on pins and needles.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
The new supreme leader has said he didn’t favor talks with the U.S. but allowed them to go ahead as long as Pezeshkian, the president, took responsibility for their outcome.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
The Unite union is warning of significant delays if the strikes go ahead and is urging the company to return to the negotiating table.
From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026
“It’s almost nine. Why don’t you go ahead with Richard, Charles. Tell Julian not to wait.”
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
If they can secure the zoning approval and the go-aheads from the community advisory board and gaming commission, they will then have to pay at least a $500 million license fee to the state.
From New York Times ● May 2, 2022
After my recent column on different synonyms for flip-flops — zories, go-aheads, thongs, etc. — readers wrote in to share terms they learned growing up.
From Washington Post ● May 5, 2021
But church officials say their own plan is “shovel ready,” awaiting formal go-aheads from city and state financing agencies.
From New York Times ● Mar. 26, 2010
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.
