1
as in to happen
to take place
what in the world is going on in there?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to ramble
to talk at length without sticking to a topic or getting to a point
my, but Aunt Betty does go on about all of her aches and pains
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in idiot
a stupid person
an unfortunate tendency to call those who disagree with him "brainless goons"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in thug
a violent, brutal person who is often a member of an organized gang
the crime boss threatened to send the goons after him if he squealed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of go on
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
4 July 2026
His guru, Ramakrishna, was a 19th-century mystic and spiritual teacher in Bengal whose teachings on the unity underlying all religions shaped the worldview Vivekananda would go on to spread globally.
—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
4 July 2026
Jeremy Lybarger,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
Packed with clashing Nazi goons and ice-cold blaxploitation paragons of extralegal justice, this season went inexplicably Tarantino, opening up arteries but also opportunities for a great actor to shine.
—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for go on
Verb
Right now, the unit is missing Carlos Rodón, who went on the IL with elbow inflammation on Friday, and Max Fried, who is working his way back from a left elbow bone bruise.
—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
4 July 2026
His guru, Ramakrishna, was a 19th-century mystic and spiritual teacher in Bengal whose teachings on the unity underlying all religions shaped the worldview Vivekananda would go on to spread globally.
—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
4 July 2026
Noun
The group’s funhouse palettes and repertoire of sweaty, pustulant goons tapped into the nation’s nauseous psyche.
—
Jeremy Lybarger,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
Packed with clashing Nazi goons and ice-cold blaxploitation paragons of extralegal justice, this season went inexplicably Tarantino, opening up arteries but also opportunities for a great actor to shine.
—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for go on
Recent Examples of Synonyms for go on
Verb
-
That was a normal action in football that happened by accident.
-
This is the business end, and this is the stage where, in my opinion, the big players step forward and the big players carry the pressure and make things happen.
Verb
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Look for wildflowers and endemic fauna on the Tomales Point Trail, which rambles for nearly 10 miles on this special, skinny peninsula, delivering gorgeous, foggy views of the Pacific Ocean.
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Cars lined the streets looking for parking spots as people rambled through the bustling marketplace at Clock Tower Landing.
Noun
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Mantzoukas was willing to look like a maniac and a moron in equal measure.
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Lluís then calls Puig Antich a moron.
Noun
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Alyssa Thomas' thug-like play, punching Caitlin Clark in the throat and kneeing her in the groin, is indefensible.
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Ditto Hugh Jackman’s unerring performance — perhaps his finest dramatic work yet — as a savage, unfeeling thug and unrepentant murderer and thief.
Verb
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The game included 12 triple stumpers and came down to Final Jeopardy!
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And while gasoline prices will come down eventually, American taxpayers might be on the hook for military costs long after any peace deal is signed.
Verb
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Last night’s incident emotionally rattled you, but tensions will cool in the coming hours.
-
Tradition’s stubborn, and there’s still something primal about the boom and the body-rattling force of the real thing.
Noun
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My dad has always said the lottery is a tax on the stupid.
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Problem is, even people who know baseball don’t know baseball, which makes betting on baseball stupid.
Noun
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Together, the band brings to life a mythic world of ancient heroes and villains, attracting an excited audience of headbangers and fantasy fanatics, many of whom show up in costume.
-
The performance earned her the award for best villain at the 2003 MTV Movie Awards.
Cite this Entry
“Go on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/go%20on. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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