go out

G

go out (phrasal verb)
/ɡoʊ aʊt/

Meaning

• Leave one’s home or place for social or recreational activity.
• Date someone romantically or be in a romantic relationship.
• Cease burning, shining, or operating (usually for lights, fires, or machines).
• Be sent or broadcast (like information, announcements, or signals).
• Take part in something actively, especially in sports or public events.
• Stop functioning or collapse, especially physically or emotionally.
• Be eliminated or exit a competition or contest.
• Extend oneself emotionally or make an effort socially.

Synonyms: exit; date; fail; expire; extinguish; collapse; depart; broadcast; compete.

Example Sentences

Origin and History

The core verb “go” has deep roots in Old English, predating the 12th century. It signifies movement and progression. When combined with “out,” the literal sense of “moving forth, abroad, or outdoors” emerges as the most fundamental and likely the earliest usage. This simple combination would have been an intuitive way to describe exiting a confined space.

Earliest Printed Record

While pinpointing a single, universally agreed-upon “earliest” printed record for every nuanced meaning of “go out” is complex due to its broad application, the literal sense of “departing” or “exiting” can be traced back quite far. For example, some historical linguistic sources indicate its use in phrases like “they yeden out, and wenten in to the swyne” (from a Wycliffite Bible translation around 1395), demonstrating the established use of “went out” (the past tense of “go out”) in the sense of leaving a place. This particular example shows the phrase already in common usage in the late 14th century in England, suggesting its origin as a common English phrasal verb.

Evolutions of Meaning

Over centuries, “go out” developed various extended meanings, often building upon its original sense of departure or cessation.

Social Engagements and Dating

One prominent evolution is its use in the context of social activities. By the second half of the 1700s, “to go out” began to mean “to take part in social life outside the home,” such as attending entertainments or social functions. This naturally led to the more specific romantic sense of “to date someone,” which is still very common today. This meaning likely developed in English-speaking countries as social customs evolved and public leisure activities became more prevalent.

Extinguishment and Cessation

Another significant meaning emerged around the 14th to 15th centuries: “to cease to illuminate, burn, or function.” This applies to lights, fires, or even objects becoming unfashionable. The idea of something “going out” implies its light or presence departing. This usage, also seen across English-speaking regions, highlights a metaphorical extension of the literal act of departure. For instance, “the fire has gone out.”

Beyond the Literal: Figurative Uses

Further figurative meanings arose, often reflecting the idea of disappearance or termination. “Go out of fashion” implies a style departing from popularity. “Go out of print” means a book is no longer being produced, suggesting its availability has “departed.” Even phrases like “my sympathy went out to her” show an emotional “sending forth” or extension.

Imagined and Speculative Theories

Beyond documented linguistic shifts, one can imagine other, perhaps more whimsical, origins for certain shades of “go out.”

The Echoing Silence Theory

Consider a primitive society. When the last person left a dwelling, the fire would “go out” and silence would descend. The phrase “go out” for a fire extinguishing could have been an observation linked to the departure of human presence, a subtle connection between absence and cessation.

The “Stepping Beyond” Theory

For social contexts, “going out” could have been seen as literally stepping beyond the confines of one’s home into the wider world of social interaction, a distinct boundary crossing that merited its own phrasing. This would have been a universal concept, not tied to a single country, as human socialisation is inherent.

Variants

• goes out
• went out
• gone out
• going out
• go out with (romantic version)

Light, Love, Phrasal Verbs

Last update: July 12, 2025 12:25 AM