go on

phrasal verb
Word forms "go on":
present tense I/you/we/they go on he/she/it goes on present participle going on past tense went on past participle gone on

1) [intransitive] to continue happening or doing something as before

The meeting went on a lot longer than I expected.

We can't go on like this any more. Things have got to change.

go on with:

Burton smiled and went on with his work.

go on doing something:

She can't go on pretending that everything is fine when it clearly isn't.

2) [intransitive] to happen

I wonder what's going on next door – they're making a lot of noise.

3)

a) go on something

[transitive] to start doing a particular activity or being in a particular state go on holiday/a cruise/trip/tour etc:

We're going on holiday next week.

go on strike (= stop working as a protest):

Workers voted by a large majority to go on strike.

go on sale/display:

It will go on sale this summer.

go on a diet:

I really must go on a diet!

b) go on something to start taking a particular medicine or drug

He needs to go on stronger medication.

4) [intransitive] if something such as a light or an electricity supply goes on, it starts working or becomes available

I heard the TV go on in the next room.

5)

a) [intransitive] to talk so much that people become bored or annoyed

You do go on, don't you?

go on about:

She tends to go on about how clever her children are.

go on and on (about something):

He went on and on about (= talked for a long time) me being late for work again.

b) to start talking again after a pause or interruption

Please go on – I didn't mean to interrupt you.

go on with:

He encouraged her to go on with her story.

6)

a) [intransitive] to do something after doing something else

go on to:

When you finish the first section of the test, go on to the next.

go on to do something:

They eventually went on to win the championship.

b) to go to another place after going somewhere

go on to:

After Moscow, we went on to St Petersburg for a couple of days.

7) [intransitive] if time goes on, it passes

8) go on something

[transitive] to base an opinion or decision on something

Since there were no witnesses, the police had little to go on.

9) [intransitive] to go to a place before someone else who you are with

Why don't you go on without me?

10)

a) [intransitive/transitive] to walk onto a stage to begin your part in a performance

I don't go on until the final act.

b) [intransitive] to walk onto a sports field in order to replace a member of your team

Owen went on in the 75th minute.

11) spoken

a) used for encouraging someone to do something

Go on, try it – it's really good.

b) British used for saying that you do not believe what someone is telling you

Go on! She didn't really say that.

go on with you! old-fashioned:

"Don't you look nice!" "Oh, go on with you!"

12) go on (the) TV/radio to decide to appear on television/radio in order to say something

The President went on television to appeal for calm.

13) going on (for) something almost a particular age, time, or amount

Tina is six, going on seven.