go for

verb

1. give an affirmative reply to; respond favorably to (Freq. 1)

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I cannot accept your invitation

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I go for this resolution

• Syn: ↑accept, ↑consent

• Ant: ↑refuse (for: ↑accept)

• Derivationally related forms: ↑consent (for: ↑consent), ↑acceptation (for: ↑accept)

• Hypernyms: ↑react, ↑respond

• Hyponyms:

↑give, ↑agree, ↑settle, ↑contract in, ↑permit, ↑allow, ↑let, ↑countenance, ↑yield, ↑give in, ↑succumb, ↑knuckle under, ↑buckle under, ↑undertake, ↑take in charge

• Verb Frames:

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Somebody ——s something

2. be pertinent or relevant or applicable (Freq. 1)

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The same laws apply to you!

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This theory holds for all irrational numbers

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The same rules go for everyone

• Syn: ↑apply, ↑hold

• Derivationally related forms: ↑applicative (for: ↑apply), ↑applicable (for: ↑apply)

• Hypernyms:

↑refer, ↑pertain, ↑relate, ↑concern, ↑come to, ↑bear on, ↑touch, ↑touch on, ↑have-to doe with

• Verb Group: ↑lend oneself, ↑apply

• Verb Frames:

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Something ——s

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Something is ——ing PP

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Something ——s somebody

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Something ——s something

3. intend with some possibility of fulfilment (Freq. 1)

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I hope to have finished this work by tomorrow evening

• Syn: ↑hope

• Derivationally related forms: ↑hoper (for: ↑hope)

• Hypernyms: ↑plan, ↑be after

• Verb Frames:

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Somebody ——s something

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Somebody ——s VERB-ing

4. have a fancy or particular liking or desire for

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She fancied a necklace that she had seen in the jeweler's window

• Syn: ↑fancy, ↑take to

• Derivationally related forms: ↑fancy (for: ↑fancy), ↑fancier (for: ↑fancy)

• Hypernyms: ↑desire, ↑want

• Entailment: ↑like

• Verb Frames:

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Somebody ——s something

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Somebody ——s somebody

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They go for more bread

5. make an attempt at achieving something

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She tried for the Olympics

• Syn: ↑try for

• Hypernyms: ↑compete, ↑vie, ↑contend

• Verb Frames:

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Somebody ——s something

* * *

1) decide on; choose

I wished that we had gone for plan B

■ tend to find (a particular type of person) attractive

Dionne went for the outlaw type

2) attempt to gain or attain

he went for a job as a delivery driver

■ go for it strive to the utmost to gain or achieve something (frequently said as an exhortation)

sounds like a good idea-go for it!

3) launch oneself at (someone); attack

she went for him with clawed hands

4) end up having a specified value or effect

my good intentions went for nothing

5) apply to; have relevance for

the same goes for money-grubbing lawyers

* * *

go for [phrasal verb]

1 a go for (someone) : to attack (someone)

My dog went for the intruder.

1 b go for (something) : to try to get (something)

go for the prize

If you want to achieve success, you have to stop hesitating and just go for it!

2 go for (something) : to accept or agree to (something, such as a plan or suggestion)

I asked her to lend us some money, but she wouldn't go for it. [=she wouldn't agree to lend us money]

3 go for (someone or something) informal

3 a : to like or be attracted to (someone or something)

When I see how she looks at him, I can tell she really goes for him.

I don't really go for modern art.

I could go for [=I would like] a cup of coffee right now.

3 b : to relate to or apply to (someone or something)

The rule goes for you, too. [=the rule also applies to you]

“I'd like ice cream for desert.” “That goes for me too.” [=I'd like ice cream too]

The economy here has been growing stronger, and the same goes for [=the same is true for] many other areas.

4 go for (a price) : to be sold for (a particular price)

The painting went for more than a million dollars.

5 go for (a walk, a drive, etc.) : to do an activity (such as walking or driving a car) that usually involves going somewhere

She went for a walk/stroll after dinner.

On Saturday mornings we like to go for a drive out in the countryside.

Would anyone like to go for a swim?

6

◇ If you have something going for you, you have a talent, skill, etc., that helps you.

She's not as young as some of the other athletes, but experience helps, and she has that going for her. [=she has an advantage because of her experience]

You should be more confident in yourself. You have a lot going for you! [=you have many talents, abilities, etc.]

• • •

Main Entry: ↑go