go

/ɡoʊ/

//ɡoʊ// verb

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

The verdict

“go” sits in 20 confusable pairs (corpus #98) as a verb. The look-alike neighbours are the real trap.

#98
frequency rank, English
2,313
“G” headwords
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 2, 2026) - To move, either physically or in an abstract sense:

Corpus desk

Index EN-go · go · English

go · rank #98 · 0 variants · 20 confusables

  • FREQ-CORE #98
  • LEN-SHORT 2 letters
  • VOW-1 1 vowel
  • CONFUS-HIGH 20 pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-MID 2,313
  • PHOTO-FINISH because

Nearest frequency peer: because (-1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Frequency neighbourhood for “go”

Lower corpus rank = more everyday usage (inverted bar length for readability)

corpus weight

What this shows Bars show where “go” sits against the nearest ranked English headwords in the FrequencyWords band, not a reprint of letter-browse containment.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 2, 2026

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.

Easy to mix with look-alikes

The spelling risk for go is neighbouring look-alikes ("GP", "GS", …), not just typos; it is averb pronounced /ɡoʊ/. Frequency #98 among 2,313 “G” headwords. 69 recorded senses keep meaning in play.

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.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how go appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. Why don’t you go with us?
  2. This train goes through Cincinnati on its way to Chicago.

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

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.

PlainSpell is rendered directly from structured Wiktionary extracts and open word-frequency lists, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of September 2, 2026. Primary sources: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) and FrequencyWords.

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.
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