From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishgo on phrasal verb1 continueCONTINUE/NOT STOP a) to continue doing something or being in a situationgo on doing something He went on working until he was 91. with One of the actors was unwell and couldn’t go on with the performance. I can’t go on like this for much longer. b) to continue without stopping The noise goes on 24 hours a day. The screaming went on and on (=continued for a long time). → ongoing2 happenHAPPEN to happen I don’t know what’s going on. What were the children doing while all this was going on? Like all good resorts, there is plenty going on. → goings-on3 do something nextCONTINUE/START AGAIN to do something after you have finished doing something elsego on to do something She went on to become a successful surgeon. to Go on to the next question when you’ve finished.4 continue talkingCONTINUE/START AGAIN to continue talking, especially after stopping or changing to a different subject Go on, I’m listening. ‘But, ’ he went on, ‘we have to deal with the problems we’re facing.’ with After a short pause Maria went on with her story.5 go on spoken a) CONFIDENTused to encourage someone to do something Go on, have another piece of cake. b) used when you are agreeing to do something or giving permission for something ‘Are you sure you won’t have another drink?’ ‘Oh, go on then.’ ‘Can I go outside, Dad?’ ‘Yeah, go on then.’ c) (also go on with you) British English old-fashionedBELIEVE used to tell someone that you do not believe them6 use as proof go on somethingPROVE to base an opinion or judgment on something Police haven’t much to go on in their hunt for the killer. 7 start to workSTART DOING something if a machine or piece of equipment goes on, it starts to work The heat goes on automatically at 6 o’clock.8 timePASS/TIME PASSING to pass As time went on, I grew fond of him.9 behaveBEHAVE British English informal the way someone goes on is the way they behave The way she’s going on, she’ll have a nervous breakdown.10 be going on (for) 5 o’clock/60/25 etcALMOST to be nearly a particular time, age, number etc Nancy must be going on for 60. She’s one of those wise teenagers who’s 16 going on 70 (=she behaves as though she is older than she is).11 go in frontBEFORE (also go on ahead) to go somewhere before the other people you are with Bill went on in the car and I followed on foot. 12 talk too much informalTALK TO somebody to talk too much I really like Clare but she does go on. about I got tired of him going on about all his problems. He just went on and on about his new girlfriend.13 criticize British English informal to continue to criticize someone or ask them to do something in a way that annoys them The way she went on, you would have thought it was all my fault. at Stop going on at me!go on at somebody to do something My wife’s always going on at me to dress better.go on at somebody about something He’s always going on at me about fixing the door.14 develop British English spoken informalPROGRESS to develop or make progress15 to be going on with/to go on with British English informalNOW if you have enough of something to be going on with, you have enough for now Have you got enough money to be going on with? → go→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
go on• It has to do with not knowing what is going on.• Marlon: What's going on?• Their remit is not to charge or discipline officers, but to uncover exactly what has gone on.• If you'd been with me, I might have stiffened myself and gone on with it.go on doing something• We can't go on fighting like this.• As part of the class, they go on company tours and job shadows organized by the business partners.• If student reports are anything to go on, the system does appear to work at Thayer.• If you'd been with me, I might have stiffened myself and gone on with it.• It has to do with not knowing what is going on.• Marlon: What's going on?• Their remit is not to charge or discipline officers, but to uncover exactly what has gone on.• They were sharp and deadly and able to cut off anything that the Sparks tried to get going on offense.go on to do something• The team leader and his fourth dealer went on to be stockbrokers.• After dropping out of Harvard, he went on to become one of the richest men in the world.• Edinburgh survived a narrow 65-64 win over Bedford in their pool and went on to defeat surprise semi-finalists Heriot Watt 70-42.• Pedro went on to describe the rhythm of gang life.• I later went on to explain why I was so upset with them.• But as the search goes on to find a replacement for peat scientists are optimistic.• They went on to other secrets.• He went on to retire nine in a row.• She always wanted Mikey to go on to university and become a doctor or a lawyer.go with• This'll have to do to go on with.• There's something not right about the way he goes on with her.• Couldn't go on with it, not after what happened.• If you then choose to go on with it, you are ready to begin a lifetime of training in depth.• But just for a minute or two, I want to go on with that other thing.• With a dramatic and conscious deliberateness, Allen turns to face Angelita, who is still going on with the itinerary.• It took two additional tractors to disinter the float and permit Hirt and Channing to go on with the show.go on• It has to do with not knowing what is going on.• Marlon: What's going on?• Their remit is not to charge or discipline officers, but to uncover exactly what has gone on.• As part of the class, they go on company tours and job shadows organized by the business partners.• They were sharp and deadly and able to cut off anything that the Sparks tried to get going on offense.• If student reports are anything to go on, the system does appear to work at Thayer.• If you'd been with me, I might have stiffened myself and gone on with it.go on something• It has to do with not knowing what is going on.• Marlon: What's going on?• Their remit is not to charge or discipline officers, but to uncover exactly what has gone on.• As part of the class, they go on company tours and job shadows organized by the business partners.• They were sharp and deadly and able to cut off anything that the Sparks tried to get going on offense.• If student reports are anything to go on, the system does appear to work at Thayer.• If you'd been with me, I might have stiffened myself and gone on with it.go about• It went on about 15 minutes too long.• And I think it's fruitless going on about blame and suspicion and guilt.• But Puddephat goes on about hermeneutics and ontology, and the master pretends he understands.• I don't think I can stand another evening of Ted going on and on about his health problems.• Look, I'm sorry I kept you waiting, but there's no need to go on and on about it.• Fatty: What are you going on about, Marlon?• I wish you'd stop going on about my haircut.• I gave him a lecture about how the car was too heavy, going on about power-to-weight ratios.• The first I knew about it was Malcolm going on about rubber.• Our neighbours are always going on about the noise we make.• Why do I go on about this, I wonder.• We go on about those Barossa and Hunter River reds of ours, but really!• She was going on about what a genius her brother is.go at• The ferry's flag flew at half mast as the probe went on at Cork's Ringaskiddy port.• I don't think it's a boat for people like the one we went on at school.• Something must be going on at school.• Then he took until 11: 30 to inform his staff of what went on at the earlier meeting.• There was some spitting going on at the end of the game.• Funny stuff going on at the Olympics.• During the time they have off they are kept in touch with what is going on at work by their line manager.• I must say I was not totally happy about her going on at Yeo Davis, with me in the government. 