go out

Meaning

This phrasal verb means to leave your house to socialise, have fun, or go to an event. It can also mean to be in a romantic relationship with someone. It is very common in casual, everyday conversations.

Examples

• Are you planning to go out tonight, or are you staying in?

  Are you planning to go out tonight, or are you staying in?

• We usually go out for dinner on Fridays to celebrate the end of the week.

  We usually go out for dinner on Fridays to celebrate the end of the week.

• They have been going out for three years and might get married soon.

  They have been going out for three years and might get married soon.

• I need to go out and get some fresh air because my head hurts.

  I need to go out and get some fresh air because my head hurts.

• Do you want to go out for a coffee this afternoon?

  Do you want to go out for a coffee this afternoon?

Common Mistakes

• ✗ They are going out together since last month.

  ✓ They have been going out since last month.

  When talking about an ongoing relationship that started in the past, use the present perfect continuous tense, not the present continuous.

• ✗ I went out from my house at 8 PM.

  ✓ I went out at 8 PM.

  'Go out' already means leaving your home, so saying 'from my house' is redundant and unnatural.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I don't feel like cooking tonight, so let's ___ for dinner.

  💡 Leave the house to eat somewhere else

  Show answer

  go out

• How long have you and Sarah been ___?

  💡 Dating each other

  Show answer

  going out