1 A2 neutral
To continue doing something or to proceed.
"Go on — I'm listening. What happened next?"
inseparable
go on
A2 neutral inseparable intransitive
To continue, to happen, to speak further, or to urge someone to do something.
In plain English
To keep doing something, to happen somewhere, or to tell someone to continue.
What does "go on" mean?
4 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 A2 idiomatic neutral
To happen or take place, especially over a period of time.
"What's going on? Why is everyone shouting?"
inseparable
3 B1 idiomatic informal
To talk at length, often too much.
"He went on about the same topic for nearly an hour."
inseparable
4 B1 idiomatic informal
Used to encourage someone to do something, or to express mild disbelief (British English exclamation).
"'Go on, have another piece of cake — you deserve it.'"
inseparable
Usage tip
One of the most frequent phrasal verbs in English. Key senses: (1) to continue; (2) to happen; (3) to speak further; (4) an exclamation urging someone to proceed or expressing disbelief. British English uses 'go on!' as a light-hearted expression of disbelief or encouragement. Extremely important for ESL learners to master.
Words that pair with "go on"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
for hours to say what's going on forever like this
How to conjugate "go on"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
go on
I/you/we/they
3rd person
goes on
he/she/it
Past simple
went on
yesterday
Past participle
gone on
have + pp
-ing form
going on
continuous
Hear "go on" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "go on" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "go on"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
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