go out
3 meanings
leave home to do something fun, like a party or dinner
What does "go out" mean in this sense?
Examples
- We went out for dinner and drinks after work last Friday.
- I haven't gone out in weeks — I really need a night off.
- Are you going out tonight, or would you rather stay in?
How to use it
Used without any extra information when the context already makes the social meaning clear.
It's Friday night — do you want to go out?
Use 'for' to say what kind of social activity you are going out to do.
A few of us are going out for lunch — you should join us!
Use 'with' to say who you are socialising with on a particular occasion.
She went out with some colleagues after work on Thursday.
Use 'to' followed by a place or an action to give more detail about the destination or purpose.
We went out to a new bar in town and had a great time.
The -ing form can be used as a noun to talk about the idea of having a social life in general.
I haven't been doing much going out lately — I've been really busy.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
'Go out' in this sense is intransitive — it never takes a direct object. You cannot 'go out it' or 'go it out'. If you want to say where or with whom, use a preposition like 'for', 'with', or 'to'.
'Go out with someone' can mean either socialising with them on one occasion or being in a romantic relationship with them. If you want to talk about a single social event, it helps to mention the occasion: 'I went out with my friends for dinner' is clearly social. Without that context, listeners may think you mean dating.
Usage
Neutral to informal and extremely common in everyday English for social plans. 'Going out' is also used as a noun phrase, especially for nightlife: 'Going out is expensive' or 'I love going out.'
have a romantic relationship with someone
Sense 2: What does "go out" mean?
Examples
- She's been going out with her classmate for about six months now.
- Did you know that Tom and Sarah went out for two years before they broke up?
- Are they actually going out, or are they just friends?
How to use it
This is the most common pattern. Always use 'with' before the name or pronoun of the other person.
She's going out with someone from her university.
Use 'together' instead of 'with [person]' when both people are already clear from the context.
Everyone knows they're going out together — it's obvious.
Use the present perfect continuous to say how long a relationship has been happening up to now.
They've been going out for almost two years.
Use the past simple to talk about a relationship that is finished.
He went out with his classmate for six months before they split up.
Use 'start' or 'stop' before 'going out' to talk about the beginning or end of a relationship.
When did they start going out? I had no idea they were a couple.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
You must use 'with' before the other person's name or pronoun. Leaving it out is incorrect.
To talk about a relationship that is happening right now, the present continuous ('are going out') sounds much more natural than the present simple ('go out').
"Go out" can also mean leaving your home to do something social, like go to a restaurant. To make the romantic meaning clear, always include 'with [person]' or a word like 'together', and avoid adding a destination without a romantic context.
Usage
This phrasal verb is neutral and works in both British and American English, though Americans also commonly use 'date' instead. Always use 'with' before the person's name or pronoun: 'She's going out with James', never 'She's going out James'.
stop burning or shining (a fire or light)
Sense 3: What does "go out" mean?
Examples
- The candle went out as soon as we opened the window.
- All the lights went out during the storm, leaving the street in complete darkness.
- We need to add more wood — the fire is going out.
How to use it
The subject must be an inanimate light source or fire — such as a candle, flame, lamp, or campfire. This is the core pattern.
The campfire went out sometime during the night.
A prepositional phrase is often added to explain why the fire or light stopped, such as the cause (wind, storm, power cut).
The torch went out in the strong wind, and we had to find our way in the dark.
The present continuous form is used to show that a fire or light is in the process of dying down, often expressing urgency.
Quick, add more wood — the fire is going out!
Adverbs are commonly added to describe how quickly or slowly the fire or light stopped.
All the lights in the building suddenly went out.
Time expressions can be used to show when the fire or light stopped burning or shining.
We didn't add enough wood, so the fire went out overnight.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
If a person intentionally stops a fire or light, use 'put out', not 'go out'. 'Go out' only describes something stopping on its own.
'Go off' is used for alarms and electrical devices, not for flames or fires. Use 'go out' specifically for lights and fires ceasing to burn or shine.
In this sense, the subject must be a fire or light source, not a person. If the subject is a person, 'go out' has a completely different meaning.
Usage
This sense is neutral and used in both spoken and written English worldwide. It always has an inanimate light source or fire as the subject — if the subject is a person, it's a different sense of 'go out'.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'go out' always mean going somewhere fancy or special?
No — it just means leaving home to do something social. It could be dinner at a nice restaurant, but it could also be grabbing a coffee, meeting friends at a bar, or going to a casual party. The important thing is that you leave your home to spend time with other people.
Can I say 'I am going out' to talk about future plans?
Yes, absolutely! Using the present continuous ('I'm going out tonight') is one of the most natural ways to talk about a fixed social plan in the near future. You can also say 'We're going to go out this weekend' for plans that are a little less definite.
What's the difference between 'go out' and 'hang out'?
'Go out' suggests that you leave home and go to a specific place, like a restaurant, bar, or party. 'Hang out' is more relaxed and can happen anywhere — including at someone's house. If you're meeting friends at a café, you're going out; if you're just chilling at a friend's place, you're hanging out.
Does 'go out' have other meanings?
Yes, the same words can have different meanings depending on context. For example, a fire or candle 'goes out' when it stops burning, and 'go out with someone' can mean you are in a romantic relationship with them. The context always makes it clear which meaning is intended.
Can I use 'go out' to make an invitation or suggestion?
Yes — and it's one of the most natural ways to use it! Phrases like 'Let's go out', 'We should go out sometime', and 'Do you want to go out this Friday?' are all very common and friendly ways to invite someone to join you for a social activity.
Do I need to say 'with someone' every time, or can I just say 'going out'?
You can drop 'with [person]' if the romantic meaning is already clear from the conversation. For example, 'Are they going out?' works perfectly when everyone already knows you're talking about two people as a possible couple. If there's any chance of confusion, add 'with [name/pronoun]' to be safe.
Is 'go out with' the same as 'date'?
'Date' and 'go out with' have the same meaning, but there is a small difference in how they are used. 'Date' is more common in American English and can be used without 'with' — for example, 'She dated him for a year.' 'Go out with' is natural in both British and American English, but always needs 'with' before the person.
Can I use 'go out with' for a relationship in the past?
Yes! The past simple is very natural for talking about finished relationships. For example: 'We went out for about a year, but then we broke up.' You can also say 'We used to go out' if you want to emphasise that the relationship is now over.
Does 'go out with' only work for two people, or can I use it for a group?
In the romantic sense, 'go out with' always describes a relationship between two people — for example, 'She's going out with her colleague.' If you say 'I'm going out with my friends,' that uses a completely different meaning of 'go out', which is simply about doing something social together.
Does 'go out' always mean a fire or light stopping?
No — 'go out' has several meanings in English. In this sense, the subject is always an inanimate light source or fire, like a candle, flame, or lamp. If the subject is a person, 'go out' usually means something completely different, such as leaving the house or being in a romantic relationship.
Can I use 'go out' in the passive, like 'the candle was gone out'?
No, 'go out' in this sense cannot be used in the passive. Because nothing acts on the fire or light — it stops by itself — there is no passive form. You simply say 'the candle went out'.
What kinds of things can 'go out' in this sense?
The subject is usually a source of fire or light: a candle, flame, fire, campfire, lamp, torch, pilot light, or the lights in general. You can also say 'the power went out' when electricity stops. It is not used for screens, TVs, or alarms — those use different verbs.
Can 'go out' be used in a metaphorical way?
Yes, occasionally. A common metaphorical use is 'the light went out in his eyes', which suggests someone lost energy, hope, or vitality. However, this is a literary or poetic use — in everyday conversation, 'go out' in this sense is almost always used literally about an actual fire or light.
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