go bag

noun

variants or less commonly go-bag
plural go bags also go-bags
: a bag packed with survival supplies (such as water, canned food, batteries, etc.) and kept ready for use in case of an emergency that requires rapid evacuation : bug-out bag
I could stow away some bottled water and canned food, assemble a go bag—practical preparations that could come in handy in the event of a long electrical outage or the like.Scott Hines
With hurricane and wildfire seasons under way, summer is a good time to consider packing a go-bag of emergency supplies.Melissa Kossler Dutton

Examples of go bag in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Prepare a go bag and be ready to evacuate if conditions deteriorate. Sarah Perkel, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026 Community members within this area should be prepared with a go bag and secure valuables. John Wisely, Freep.com, 14 Apr. 2026 Grab-and-go bags containing a small battery pack and light blanket were to be available for residents impacted by the outage. Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 14 Feb. 2026 After more than a month on the not-so-secret NBA trade block, keeping his mental go bag ready, the fourth-year forward finally saw his once-promising Spurs tenure come to an end Wednesday afternoon. Mike Finger, San Antonio Express-News, 11 Feb. 2026 Before a major winter storm, the New York City Department of Emergency Management recommends making a household disaster plan and winterizing go bags with blankets, warm socks and gloves. Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 21 Jan. 2026 Mini Josie Top Handle Bag in Signature Canvas For a quick, throw-on-and-go bag, this Mini Josie Top Handle is perfectly compact. Alyssa Morin, InStyle, 29 Dec. 2025 Residents were also urged to prepare emergency go bags in the event of an evacuation warning or order. Nathaniel Percy, Oc Register, 22 Dec. 2025 Here’s a good starter kit of essential items to put in your go bag and keep ready at home or in the car. Matthew Korfhage, Wired News, 22 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1991, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of go bag was in 1991

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Go bag.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/go%20bag. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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