[go on] {v.}
1a. To continue; not stop.
* /After he was hit by the ball, Billy quit pitching and went home, but the game went on./* /The TV picture began to jump, and it went on like that until Father turned a knob./* /I asked Jane a question but she went on reading and didn't answer./* /Mother told Jim to stop, but he went on hitting Susan./
Syn.: KEEP ON. 1b. To continue after a pause; begin with the next thing.
* /"Go on! I'm listening," said Mother./* /The teacher pointed to the map, and went on, "But the land that Columbus came to was not India."/ — Often used before an infinitive.
* /Father said Mother had gone to the hospital, and went on to say that Grandmother was coming to take care of us./
1c. (Of time:) To pass.
* /As time went on, Mary began to wonder if John had forgotten their date./* /The years went on, and Betty's classmates became gray-haired men and women./
2. To happen.
* /Mr. Scott heard the noise and went to see what was going on in the hall./* /The teacher knows what goes on when she leaves the room./
Syn.: TAKE PLACE. 3. To talk for too long, often angrily.
* /We thought Jane would never finish going on about the amount of homework she had./
4. To fit on; be able to be worn.
* /My little brother's coat wouldn't go on me. It was too small./
5. Stop trying to fool me; I don't believe you. — Used as a command, sometimes with "with".
* /When Father told Mother she was the prettiest girl in the world. Mother just said, "Oh, go on, Charles."/* /"Aunt May, your picture is in the paper." "Go on with you, boy!"/
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