go through

4 meanings

Meanings
  1. 1 experience something difficult or unpleasant B1
  2. 2 be officially accepted or approved B2
  3. 3 do something you planned or promised, even though it is difficult B2
  4. 4 use up a supply of something, often quickly B2
1 go through sth

experience something difficult or unpleasant

B1

What does "go through" mean in this sense?

To go through something difficult means to experience or endure a hard situation, such as a painful event, an emotional struggle, or a tough period in life. It focuses on the fact that someone is living through the experience — not whether they overcome it or survive it, just that they are in the middle of it or have experienced it. You'll often hear it in supportive or empathetic conversations, like when someone is comforting a friend who is having a hard time. It works with objects like 'a tough time', 'a lot', 'a divorce', or 'grief'. A very common and natural pattern is 'I know what you're going through', which shows understanding and sympathy.

Examples

How to use it

go through + difficult experience

The most common pattern — the object is always a hardship, emotion, or difficult situation, and it always comes after 'through'.

My neighbour went through a really tough time after losing her job.

what + subject + go/goes/went through

This pattern is very natural when talking about someone's experience in an empathetic or reflective way.

Looking back, I had no idea what my parents went through when we were young.

be going through + difficult experience

Use the continuous form to describe an experience that is happening right now or over an ongoing period.

She's going through a really difficult period at work and could use some support.

go through + a lot / so much

Intensifiers like 'a lot' or 'so much' are very common with this phrasal verb, especially in empathetic speech.

He's gone through so much this year — I really admire how he's kept going.

Common Collocations

a difficult timea lota divorcea tough periodan ordealgrief

Common Mistakes

Confusing 'go through' with 'get through'

'Go through' describes the experience of something difficult, while 'get through' means to successfully survive or cope with it. They are not always interchangeable — if you want to say someone endured something, use 'go through'; if you want to say they made it out the other side, use 'get through'.

✗ She finally got through her father's illness with courage. (if you mean she experienced it, not that she overcame it)
✓ She went through her father's illness with courage.
Adding 'with' after 'through'

Adding 'with' changes the meaning completely — 'go through with something' means to carry out a plan despite difficulty, which is a different phrasal verb. Never add 'with' when talking about experiencing something hard.

✗ She went through with a really painful breakup last year.
✓ She went through a really painful breakup last year.
Trying to separate the verb

'Go through' is inseparable, so the object must always come after 'through'. You cannot place anything between 'go' and 'through'.

✗ He went a lot through after the accident.
✓ He went through a lot after the accident.

Usage

This phrasal verb is neutral in register and works in both spoken and written English. It is especially common in empathetic contexts such as 'I know what you're going through' or 'after everything she went through'.

2 go through

be officially accepted or approved

B2

Sense 2: What does "go through" mean?

This sense of 'go through' describes a proposal, deal, law, or agreement being officially accepted or approved by the relevant people or organisation. It is used when something has passed through a formal process and received the necessary permission or ratification. The subject is almost always an inanimate thing — a bill, a merger, a sale — not a person. You will often hear it with words like 'finally' or 'eventually', suggesting that approval was uncertain or took a long time. It is common in news reporting and business conversations, but also in everyday situations such as waiting for a house sale to be completed.

Examples

How to use it

subject (deal/bill/sale/plan) + go through

This is the core pattern: an inanimate noun referring to a proposal or transaction acts as the subject, with no object following.

The proposed budget finally went through after weeks of negotiations.

if/when + subject + go through

Conditional and temporal clauses are very common with this sense, expressing uncertainty about whether approval will happen.

If the merger goes through, the company will have offices in six countries.

subject + go through + (parliament/council/committee)

You can optionally name the approving body after 'through' to specify where the approval took place.

The amendment went through parliament with a comfortable majority.

subject + finally/eventually + go through

Adverbs like 'finally' or 'eventually' are natural collocates and signal that the approval was long-awaited or uncertain.

The planning application eventually went through, and construction can now begin.

subject + have + gone through

The present perfect is used to report that approval has just been confirmed or has happened at some point with current relevance.

Great news — the deal has gone through and we can sign the contracts tomorrow.

Common Collocations

deal goes throughbill goes throughsale goes throughlegislation goes throughplan goes throughmerger goes through

Common Mistakes

Adding an object in the approval sense

In this sense, 'go through' is intransitive and never takes an object. Adding a noun after it changes the meaning entirely — 'the committee went through the bill' means they examined it, not that they approved it.

✗ The council went through the proposal unanimously.
✓ The proposal went through the council unanimously.
Using a person as the subject

In this approval sense, the subject must be an inanimate thing like a deal or a law. If the subject is a person, 'go through' signals a different meaning, such as experiencing something difficult or searching something carefully.

✗ The manager went through last week, so the project is approved.
✓ The project went through last week, so we can start immediately.
Confusing with 'come through'

'Come through' suggests that something has arrived or been received (like results or news), while 'go through' in this sense focuses on the moment of official approval or ratification. They are close in meaning but not always interchangeable.

✗ The planning permission came through by the city council.
✓ The planning permission went through, and the city council confirmed it yesterday.

Usage

This sense of 'go through' is common in both formal news contexts and everyday conversation, especially for house sales, deals, and legislation. It is slightly more common in British English journalism but is widely understood in all varieties.

3 go through with sth

do something you planned or promised, even though it is difficult

B2

Sense 3: What does "go through with sth" mean?

To go through with something means to complete a planned action even though you feel hesitant, scared, or uncertain about it. The phrase carries a strong implication that the person had doubts or second thoughts — if someone does something easily and willingly, you would not normally use this expression. It is often used with major, emotionally significant decisions such as medical procedures, legal actions, big financial commitments, or important life events. You will frequently see it in negative or conditional sentences, because people often talk about almost not completing something, or deciding not to go ahead at all. The phrase is equally natural in conversation and in writing, and works across a wide range of situations.

Examples

How to use it

go through with + noun phrase

The most common pattern — the object (a planned action or decision) always follows 'with' and the three-part verb never splits.

He had agreed to testify, but on the day he wasn't sure he could go through with the trial.

go through with + it

When the planned action has already been mentioned, 'it' is very commonly used as the object, especially in spoken English.

She'd been nervous about the interview for weeks, but she went through with it and did really well.

couldn't / wouldn't go through with + noun phrase

Negative and conditional forms are extremely frequent because the phrase implies difficulty — speakers often describe deciding not to complete something.

He had signed the contract but at the last moment decided he couldn't go through with the deal.

modal verb + go through with + noun phrase

The infinitive form is common after modal verbs when expressing ability, willingness, or advice about completing something.

If you're having serious doubts, you don't have to go through with the purchase — you can still pull out.

go through with + the + plan / decision / commitment

Abstract nouns referring to prior plans or commitments are very natural objects, reinforcing the sense that something was already decided.

After a long discussion, the board voted to go through with the restructuring plan.

Common Collocations

go through with the plango through with the weddinggo through with the operationgo through with the divorcego through with itgo through with the deal

Common Mistakes

Dropping 'with'

Leaving out 'with' completely changes the meaning. 'Go through something' means to experience or search through something, not to complete it despite reluctance. Always include 'with' followed by the object.

✗ I was nervous, but I went through the presentation.
✓ I was nervous, but I went through with the presentation.
Using it for easy, uncontested completions

'Go through with' always implies the person had doubts, fears, or reluctance. Using it for something done smoothly and willingly sounds unnatural — for those situations, use 'carry out' or 'complete' instead.

✗ She cheerfully went through with her morning jog as usual.
✓ She carried out her morning jog as usual.
Separating the three-part verb

Unlike some phrasal verbs, 'go through with' cannot be split — no word should be placed between 'go' and 'through', or between 'through' and 'with'. The object must always come after 'with'.

✗ She went through the surgery with.
✓ She went through with the surgery.

Usage

This phrasal verb always suggests the person had doubts or fears but completed — or chose not to complete — something important. It is neutral in register and works equally well in speaking and writing.

4 go through sth

use up a supply of something, often quickly

B2

Sense 4: What does "go through sth" mean?

This sense of 'go through' describes consuming or using up a supply of something, often at a surprisingly fast rate. It typically refers to tangible things like food, drink, money, fuel, or household goods — anything that can be used up over time. What makes it distinctive is the strong implication of speed or quantity: when you say someone 'goes through' something, you're often suggesting they use it surprisingly quickly or in large amounts. It's a neutral, everyday expression that fits naturally in conversations about household habits, spending, or workplace resources. A time expression like 'a week' or 'in no time' is often added to highlight just how fast the consumption is happening.

Examples

How to use it

go through + resource

The most common pattern: the consumed item (food, money, fuel, etc.) always follows 'through' directly.

This old car goes through so much petrol — it's costing a fortune.

go through + resource + time expression

Adding a time expression highlights the rate of consumption and is very common with this phrasal verb.

We go through at least three packs of coffee a week in this office.

go through + a + quantity + of + resource

Use this pattern when you want to specify an amount, making the scale of consumption clear.

The restaurant goes through a tonne of flour every month.

go through + pronoun

Pronouns like 'it' or 'them' follow 'through' just like nouns — they never go between 'go' and 'through'.

I bought a pack of batteries yesterday and we've already gone through them.

go through + a fortune / a lot / an enormous amount

Hyperbolic or emphatic expressions of quantity are very natural here and add emphasis to how much is being consumed.

They go through a fortune on takeaways every month.

Common Collocations

go through moneygo through milkgo through batteriesgo through a fortunego through suppliesgo through petrol/gas

Common Mistakes

Confusing with the 'experience' sense

Both senses of 'go through' are inseparable and very common, so learners mix them up. The key is the object: use the 'consume' sense with resources and supplies (milk, money, batteries), and reserve the 'experience' sense for situations or periods (a hard time, a stressful year).

✗ We went through a lot of stress with the new system. (intended to mean: we consumed a lot of stress)
✓ We went through a lot of coffee during the project. (consume) / We went through a lot of stress with the new system. (experience)
Trying to separate the verb

This phrasal verb cannot be split — the object must always come after 'through', even when the object is a pronoun.

✗ We went money through really fast.
✓ We went through the money really fast.
Using it without a resource object

In this sense, 'go through' always needs a concrete object (a consumable resource). Without one, the meaning shifts to a different sense of the phrasal verb entirely.

✗ We really went through during the camping trip.
✓ We really went through our supplies during the camping trip.

Usage

This phrasal verb is neutral and common in everyday British and American English. It often appears with a time expression to show how quickly something is consumed, e.g. 'We go through a litre of olive oil a week.'

Frequently Asked Questions

Can 'go through' be used in the passive, like 'a lot was gone through by her'?

No — 'go through' in this sense is never used in the passive. The person who experiences something is always the subject of the sentence. You would always say 'She went through a lot', not 'A lot was gone through by her'.

Does 'go through' always mean experiencing something difficult? I've heard it used in other ways.

No, 'go through' has other meanings too — for example, it can mean to examine something carefully (like going through a report) or to use up a supply of something. This page covers only the 'experience something difficult' sense. The context usually makes it clear which meaning is intended.

Can I say 'I go through a difficult time' in present simple to describe something happening now?

It's better to use the present continuous for something happening right now: 'I'm going through a difficult time'. The present simple sounds unnatural for a specific ongoing experience, though it works fine for general or narrative statements like 'People often go through hard times in their twenties'.

What kinds of things can follow 'go through' in this sense?

The object should be an emotional experience or difficult situation — things like 'a tough time', 'a lot', 'grief', 'a divorce', 'a rough patch', or 'an ordeal'. If the object is a document, a list, or a consumable like money or food, that signals a different meaning of 'go through'.

Can I use 'it' or 'that' instead of naming the difficult experience?

Yes — pronouns work very naturally here. You can say 'She went through it alone' or 'I can't believe you went through all that'. Using 'it' or 'that' is especially common when the difficult experience has already been mentioned in the conversation.

Does 'go through' always mean 'be approved'? It seems to have other meanings too.

No, 'go through' has several different meanings. This page covers only the approval sense, where an inanimate subject like a deal or bill is officially accepted. Other senses — such as experiencing something difficult or searching through something — are covered separately on this platform.

What kinds of things can 'go through' in this sense? Can I use it for a job application?

Yes, you can use it for any proposal, agreement, or process that requires official approval. Common examples include deals, mergers, sales, legislation, budgets, and applications. A job application going through would mean it has been accepted or passed a stage in the process.

Is 'go through' in this meaning more British or American English?

It is used in both British and American English, but it appears slightly more often in British journalism and political reporting. Speakers of all varieties will understand it naturally in the context of deals, legislation, and official approvals.

Can I use 'go through' in formal writing, or should I say 'be approved' instead?

In very formal written documents — such as legal texts or official reports — 'be approved', 'be passed', or 'be ratified' are often preferred. 'Go through' is more common in news articles, spoken language, and semi-formal business communication, so it is slightly less suited to the most formal written styles.

Can I say 'the deal is going through' to talk about something happening right now?

Yes, the present continuous works here and suggests the approval process is currently under way or in progress. For example: 'The sale is going through at the moment — we should have the keys by Friday.' It implies the process has started and is expected to complete soon.

Does 'go through with' always mean the person actually completed the action?

No — it describes the situation where completion was possible but uncertain. In negative sentences, such as 'She couldn't go through with it', the person did not complete the action. The phrase covers both outcomes: following through despite doubt, or ultimately deciding not to.

What kinds of things can follow 'go through with'?

The object is usually something significant and emotionally charged that was planned or agreed to in advance — things like a wedding, a divorce, surgery, a legal case, a business deal, or a major decision. It would sound odd with small, everyday tasks that carry no emotional weight.

Is 'go through with' the same as 'follow through on'?

'Follow through on' and 'go through with' are close in meaning, but not identical. 'Go through with' puts the emphasis on overcoming hesitation or fear to complete something. 'Follow through on' focuses more on honouring a commitment or promise, without necessarily implying the same emotional struggle.

Can I use 'go through with' in the present continuous — for example, 'I am going through with the deal right now'?

This sounds unnatural in most situations. 'Go through with' describes a decision or completion that happens at a single point, so the present continuous — which suggests an ongoing action — doesn't fit well. Past simple, present perfect, and conditional forms are far more natural.

Does 'go through with it' work when 'it' hasn't been mentioned yet?

Usually no — 'it' works as the object when the planned action is already clear from the conversation or context. If you haven't established what you're referring to, use the full noun phrase instead: 'go through with the agreement', for example.

Can 'go through' be used in the passive, like 'the money was gone through quickly'?

No — this sense of 'go through' doesn't work in the passive. You can't make the consumed item the subject of a passive sentence in any natural way. Stick to active constructions, such as 'We went through the money quickly.'

Does 'go through something' mean the supply is completely finished?

Not necessarily. Unlike 'use up', which often implies total exhaustion of a supply, 'go through' focuses more on the rate or quantity being consumed. You might say 'we go through a lot of milk' as a general habit, without meaning you've run out.

What kinds of things can you 'go through' in this sense?

Typically concrete, consumable resources — food, drink, money, fuel, household supplies, batteries, and so on. If the object is something abstract like 'a crisis' or 'a period of change', that signals the 'experience' sense, not the 'consume' sense.

Is it natural to use 'go through' with a specific amount, like 'we go through two litres a day'?

Yes, very natural. Specifying a quantity or adding a time expression (a day, a week, in no time) is actually one of the most common ways to use this phrasal verb, and it makes the rate of consumption very clear.

Can I use 'go through' to describe a habitual pattern, or is it only for one-time events?

Both are fine. You can describe a single occasion ('we went through everything at the party') or an ongoing habit ('this household goes through so much electricity'). The present simple is particularly common for habits and general rates of consumption.

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