1 A2 neutral
To leave your home or workplace, especially for a social occasion.
"Are you going out tonight, or staying in?"
inseparable
go out
A2 neutral inseparable intransitive
To leave a place, to be extinguished, to be in a romantic relationship, or to be eliminated from a competition.
In plain English
To leave your home, for a light to stop burning, or to have a boyfriend or girlfriend.
What does "go out" mean?
4 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 A2 neutral
For a fire, flame, or light to stop burning or functioning.
"The candle went out in the draught from the window."
inseparable
3 A2 idiomatic informal
To be in a romantic relationship with someone.
"She's been going out with him for two years."
inseparable
4 B1 idiomatic neutral
To be eliminated from a competition or contest.
"Our team went out in the semi-finals after a penalty shootout."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To move out of a place — the foundational sense from which all others branch.
Actually means
To leave your home, for a light to stop burning, or to have a boyfriend or girlfriend.
Usage tip
One of the most common phrasal verbs in English. Essential senses: (1) to leave home or go somewhere socially; (2) for a fire or light to stop burning; (3) to be in a romantic relationship ('go out with someone'); (4) to be eliminated from a competition. Standard across all varieties of English.
Words that pair with "go out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
tonight for dinner fire lights with someone first round tide
How to conjugate "go out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
go out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
goes out
he/she/it
Past simple
went out
yesterday
Past participle
gone out
have + pp
-ing form
going out
continuous
Hear "go out" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "go out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "go out"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
be eliminated be extinguished date depart go to a social event leave
Keep exploring
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