go ahead

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌɡəʊ əˈhɛd/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌɡoʊ əˈhɛd/
• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /ˌɡəʉ əˈhɛd/

  • Audio (General Australian):

    (file)

• (New Zealand) IPA^(key): /ˌɡɐʉ əˈhɛd/
• (Black Country) IPA^(key): /ˌɡu əˈhɛd/

go ahead (third-person singular simple present goes ahead, present participle going ahead, simple past went ahead, past participle gone ahead)

1. To proceed with; to begin.

   I went ahead with my plan.

   • 2022 December 14, Mel Holley, “Network News: Strikes go on as RMT rejects RDG's "detrimental" offer”, in RAIL, number 972, page 8:

     In the meantime, strikes already planned for NR are to go ahead, despite an offer being put to RMT members in an electronic ballot that was due to close on December 12 (after this issue of RAIL went to press).

2. (imperative) Used to grant permission for or to give endorsement of a suggestion or proposal.

   Synonyms: go for it, be my guest, feel free

   Go ahead and eat without me. I expect to be very late.

   • 1894, Mark Twain, chapter 12, in Tom Sawyer Abroad:

     “Tom Sawyer, I want to ask you some questions.” “Go ahead,” he says, and I see Jim chirk up to listen.

3. (procedure word, military) To send communication over the radio.

   Bravo Six Actual, this is Bravo Six Four. Go ahead, over.

• go-ahead
• go-aheadative

• go nuts
• go wild
• help oneself
• knock oneself out