go online

Meaning

To connect to the internet or to make a service, website, or device active and accessible via the internet. It is a fundamental tech term used in daily conversations and professional settings.

Examples

• I need to go online to check my bank account balance.

  I need to go online to check my bank account balance.

• The website will go online tomorrow morning at nine o'clock.

  The website will go online tomorrow morning at nine o'clock.

• My computer won't let me go online because the Wi-Fi is down.

  My computer won't let me go online because the Wi-Fi is down.

• He goes online every evening to read the latest news.

  He goes online every evening to read the latest news.

• Many businesses had to go online during the pandemic to survive.

  Many businesses had to go online during the pandemic to survive.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I need to go to online to buy some shoes.

  ✓ I need to go online to buy some shoes.

  'Online' acts as an adverb here, so you do not need the preposition 'to' before it.

• ✗ The system went on the line at noon.

  ✓ The system went online at noon.

  'On the line' is a different idiom meaning in danger or on the phone. The tech term is simply 'online'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Can you help me ___? I can't find the Wi-Fi password.

  💡 Connect to the internet.

  Show answer

  go online

• The new school registration portal will ___ next Monday.

  💡 Become active and accessible on the internet.

  Show answer

  go online