GO FOR

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does go for mean? 

• GO FOR (verb)
  The verb GO FOR has 5 senses:

1. be pertinent or relevant or applicable

2. give an affirmative reply to; respond favorably to

3. intend with some possibility of fulfilment

4. have a fancy or particular liking or desire for

5. make an attempt at achieving something

  Familiarity information: GO FOR used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GO FOR (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Be pertinent or relevant or applicable

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

apply; go for; hold

Context example:

The same rules go for everyone

Hypernyms (to "go for" is one way to...):

bear on; come to; concern; have to do with; pertain; refer; relate; touch; touch on (be relevant to)

Verb group:

apply; lend oneself (be applicable to; as to an analysis)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Give an affirmative reply to; respond favorably to

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

accept; consent; go for

Context example:

I go for this resolution

Hypernyms (to "go for" is one way to...):

react; respond (show a response or a reaction to something)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "go for"):

give (consent to engage in sexual intercourse with a man)

agree (consent or assent to a condition, or agree to do something)

settle (accept despite lack of complete satisfaction)

contract in (consent in writing to pay money to a trade union for political use)

allow; countenance; let; permit (consent to, give permission)

buckle under; give in; knuckle under; succumb; yield (consent reluctantly)

take in charge; undertake (accept as a charge)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Intend with some possibility of fulfilment

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

go for; hope

Context example:

I hope to have finished this work by tomorrow evening

Hypernyms (to "go for" is one way to...):

be after; plan (have the will and intention to carry out some action)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s VERB-ing

Sense 4

Meaning:

Have a fancy or particular liking or desire for

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

fancy; go for; take to

Context example:

She fancied a necklace that she had seen in the jeweler's window

Hypernyms (to "go for" is one way to...):

desire; want (feel or have a desire for; want strongly)

"Go for" entails doing...:

like (find enjoyable or agreeable)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

They go for more bread

Sense 5

Meaning:

Make an attempt at achieving something

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Synonyms:

go for; try for

Context example:

She tried for the Olympics

Hypernyms (to "go for" is one way to...):

compete; contend; vie (compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

 Context examples 

But I dare say you will go for all that.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

“You may go for’ard and turn in,” I said, taking it from him.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Go for the gold, dear Pisces, as your destiny seems to be shaping up before your eyes.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Still, it did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his back before the blow fell.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

And, Jim, if you was to see Silver, you wouldn't go for to sell Ben Gunn?

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

“In that case, of course, Acton’s and Cunningham’s are just the places he would go for, since they are far the largest about here.”

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

There remained two busts, and it was obvious that he would go for the London one first.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

To think that so little should go for so much!

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

If I would not go for the sake of your father, I should think it scandalous to go for the sake of his heir.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

Shall I go for the police?

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)