go

/ɡoʊ/

//ɡoʊ// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"go" is a 2-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“go” is in the everyday core of English, ranked #98 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#98
frequency rank, English
2
letters
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To move, either physically or in an abstract sense:

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

go vs GP
0% similar
go vs GS
0% similar
go vs GR
0% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for go
PropertyValue
Headwordgo
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ɡoʊ/
Letters2
Frequency rank#98
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “go” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). go lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for go is 2 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɡoʊ/. Corpus data places it at rank #98 in overall English word frequency, putting it firmly in the everyday core of the language. Wiktionary records 69 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

No misspelling variants are generated for go in our index, since its letter sequence doesn't invite the usual edit-distance slips. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "GP", "GS", "GR", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English gon, goon, from Old English gān (“to go”), from Proto-West Germanic *gān, from Proto-Germanic *gāną (“to go”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰeh₁- (“to leave”). The inherited past tense form yode (compare Old English ēode) was replaced thro… The correct English form is go, spelled G-O.

Definition

  1. 1
    To move, either physically or in an abstract sense:
  2. 2
    To move, either physically or in an abstract sense:
  3. 3
    To move, either physically or in an abstract sense:
  4. 4
    To move, either physically or in an abstract sense:
  5. 5
    To move, either physically or in an abstract sense:
  6. 6
    To move, either physically or in an abstract sense:
  7. 7
    To move, either physically or in an abstract sense:
  8. 8
    To move, either physically or in an abstract sense:
  9. 9
    To move, either physically or in an abstract sense:
  10. 10
    To work or function (properly); to move or perform (as required).
  11. 11
    To start; to begin (an action or process).
  12. 12
    To take a turn, especially in a game.
  13. 13
    To attend.
  14. 14
    To proceed:
  15. 15
    To proceed:
  16. 16
    To extend along.
  17. 17
    To extend (from one point in time or space to another).
  18. 18
    To lead (to a place); to give access (to).
  19. 19
    To become, move to or come to (a state, position, situation)
  20. 20
    To become, move to or come to (a state, position, situation)
  21. 21
    To become, move to or come to (a state, position, situation)
  22. 22
    To assume the obligation or function of; to be, to serve as.
  23. 23
    To continuously or habitually be in a state.
  24. 24
    To turn out, to result; to come to (a certain result).
  25. 25
    To tend (toward a result)
  26. 26
    To contribute to a (specified) end product or result.
  27. 27
    To pass, to be used up:
  28. 28
    To pass, to be used up:
  29. 29
    To pass, to be used up:
  30. 30
    To die.
  31. 31
    To be lost or out:
  32. 32
    To be lost or out:
  33. 33
    To break down or apart:
  34. 34
    To break down or apart:
  35. 35
    To be sold.
  36. 36
    To be discarded or disposed of.
  37. 37
    To be given, especially to be assigned or allotted.
  38. 38
    To survive or get by; to last or persist for a stated length of time.
  39. 39
    To have a certain record.
  40. 40
    To be authoritative, accepted, or valid:
  41. 41
    To be authoritative, accepted, or valid:
  42. 42
    To be authoritative, accepted, or valid:
  43. 43
    To say (something), to make a sound:
  44. 44
    To say (something), to make a sound:
  45. 45
    To say (something), to make a sound:
  46. 46
    To be expressed or composed (a certain way).
  47. 47
    To resort (to).
  48. 48
    To apply or subject oneself to:
  49. 49
    To apply or subject oneself to:
  50. 50
    To apply or subject oneself to:
  51. 51
    To fit (in a place, or together with something):
  52. 52
    To fit (in a place, or together with something):
  53. 53
    To fit (in a place, or together with something):
  54. 54
    To fit (in a place, or together with something):
  55. 55
    To date.
  56. 56
    To (begin to) date or have sex with (a particular race).
  57. 57
    To attack:
  58. 58
    To attack:
  59. 59
    To attack:
  60. 60
    Used to express how some category of things generally is, as a reference for, contrast to, or comparison with, a particular example.
  61. 61
    To take (a particular part or share); to participate in to the extent of.
  62. 62
    To yield or weigh.
  63. 63
    To offer, bid or bet an amount; to pay; to sell for.
  64. 64
    To enjoy. (Compare go for.)
  65. 65
    To go to the toilet; to urinate or defecate.
  66. 66
    Expressing encouragement or approval.
  67. 67
    Clipping of go to the.
  68. 68
    To fight, usually with the fists.
  69. 69
    To pass (a specified time) in gestation; to be pregnant.

Etymology

From Middle English gon, goon, from Old English gān (“to go”), from Proto-West Germanic *gān, from Proto-Germanic *gāną (“to go”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰeh₁- (“to leave”). The inherited past tense form yode (compare Old English ēode) was replaced through suppletion in the 15th century by went, from Old English wendan (“to go, depart, wend”). cognates and related terms Cognate with Scots gae, gan, gang, ging, gyang (“to go”), Yola go, goe, goeth, gow (“to go”), West Frisian gean (“to go”), Alemannic German gaa, go (“to go, walk, step”), Bavarian geh (“to go”), Cimbrian ghéenan, gian (“to go”), Dutch gaan (“to go”), Dutch Low Saxon gan, gaon (“to go”), German gehen (“to go”), German Low German gahn (“to go”), Limburgish gaon, goëne (“to go”), Luxembourgish goen (“to go”), Vilamovian gejn, gyjn (“to go”), Yiddish גיין (geyn, “to go, walk”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish gå (“to go, walk”), Crimean Gothic geen (“to go”), Gothic 𐌲𐌰𐌲𐌲𐌰𐌽 (gaggan, “to go”). Compare also Albanian ngah (“to run, drive, go”), Ancient Greek κιχάνω (kikhánō, “to meet with, arrive at”), Avestan 𐬰𐬀𐬰𐬁𐬨𐬌 (zazāmi), Sanskrit जहाति (jáhāti, “to shun, avoid, lay aside”).

This word in other languages

ir(Español)aller(Français)gehen(Deutsch)ir(Português)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "go"?
"go" is spelled G-O. The IPA pronunciation is /ɡoʊ/.
What does "go" mean?
As a verb, "go" means: To move, either physically or in an abstract sense:
What words are commonly confused with "go"?
"go" is commonly confused with "GP", "GS", "GR". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "go"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "go" is /ɡoʊ/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "go"?
From Middle English gon, goon, from Old English gān (“to go”), from Proto-West Germanic *gān, from Proto-Germanic *gāną (“to go”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰeh₁- (“to leave”). The inherited past tense form yode (compare Old English ēode) was rep... See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “go”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is G-O - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɡoʊ/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “GP” - see the side-by-side comparison. go vs GP
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list