Phrasal Verb Go Out – 10 Meanings in English

Hello, English learners! The phrasal verb go out is very common in English, but it can have several different meanings depending on the context. In this lesson, you will learn 10 meanings of go out with clear explanations and natural example sentences to help you understand and use it more confidently.

Phrasal verbs are an essential part of English vocabulary, but let’s be honest — they can be a bit slippery. One small word changes, and suddenly the meaning runs off in a completely different direction. The phrasal verb go out is a perfect example because it has several different meanings depending on the context.

In today’s lesson, we’ll look at 10 common meanings of “go out”, with clear explanations and natural example sentences to help you understand and remember them more easily.

Let’s go through them one by one.

1. Go out = leave home to have fun

One common meaning of go out is to leave your home to socialise, relax, or do something enjoyable.

Examples:

• Mark and I are going out tonight. Simon is throwing a party.
• You can’t stay at home watching television all day. Let’s go out and have some fun.

2. Go out with someone = be in a romantic relationship with someone

If you go out with someone, you are dating them or having a romantic relationship with them.

Examples:

• Pamela used to go out with a famous football player.
• After going out together for a year, they decided to get engaged.

3. Go out = be eliminated from a competition

In sport or any competition, if a player or team goes out, they stop competing because they have lost.

Examples:

• The famous tennis player went out of the competition after a very poor performance.
• The national football team went out in the final round of the tournament.

4. Go out of use = stop being used

If something goes out of use, people stop using it because it is no longer necessary, practical, or modern.

Examples:

• Video players have gone out of use. Hardly anyone watches videotapes anymore.
• Typewriters went out of use when computers became common.

5. Go out of fashion = stop being fashionable

If something goes out of fashion, it is no longer considered stylish or popular.

Examples:

• Baggy trousers went out of fashion years ago.
• Jeans never seem to go out of fashion.

6. Go out = stop shining or working (lights)

When lights go out, they stop shining, usually because they are switched off or because of a power cut.

Examples:

• The lights went out, so Stephen turned on the torch on his phone.
• The play started as soon as the lights went out.

7. Go out = stop burning (fire)

If a fire goes out, it stops burning.

Examples:

• The fire in the stove went out while we were at the supermarket. It’s freezing in here!
• Although the campfire was huge, it went out during the night.

8. Your heart goes out to someone = feel sympathy for someone

If your heart goes out to someone, you feel deep sympathy for them because they are in a difficult or painful situation.

Examples:

• Our hearts went out to the victims of the flood.
• Her heart went out to her husband, who was trapped in a dangerous war zone.

You may also hear:

My thoughts go out to…

This is a similar expression used to show sympathy.

Example:

• Our thoughts go out to everyone affected by the disaster.

9. Go out = be broadcast

When a television or radio programme goes out, it is broadcast.

Examples:

• The new series goes out at 5 p.m. on Channel 3.
• The radio drama goes out every weekday morning.

10. Go out = become known or be announced

If news or information goes out, it becomes public or is announced to other people.

Examples:

• Word went out that the new law had been passed.
• The message went out that the vaccines were on their way.

Common Expressions with Go Out

Here are a few useful combinations to remember:

• go out tonight
• go out with someone
• go out of the competition
• go out of use
• go out of fashion
• the lights go out
• the fire goes out
• your heart goes out to someone
• the programme goes out
• the news goes out

Final Thought

As you can see, go out is a very common phrasal verb with a surprisingly wide range of meanings. It can describe social life, relationships, fashion, sport, lights, fire, broadcasting, and even sympathy. Not bad for two tiny words.

The best way to learn phrasal verbs is to study them in context, so try writing your own sentences with each meaning of go out. That will help you remember them much more easily.

Related posts:

Phrasal Verbs with GO

Phrasal Verbs for Difficult Situations

Phrasal Verbs with FOLLOW

100 Phrasal Verbs for Everyday Use + PDF

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