go for — 3 meanings

One phrase, 3 different jobs. Tap a meaning to jump to it — then lock each one in by saying it out loud.

phrasal verb3 meanings

1 choose or try to getto choose something or try to get or achieve it, often because you want it or think it's the best option.
2 attackto attack someone or something, either physically or with words.
3 be sold at (price)to be sold for a particular amount of money, especially at an auction or in a financial context.

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All meanings, in depth

Ordered by how often you'll hear each one — the meaning tells you what it does, the examples and tips show it in use.

choose or try to get

B1go for sthspokeninformalMost common

to choose something or try to get or achieve it, often because you want it or think it's the best option.

If you're not sure which dessert to have, I recommend you go for the chocolate cake.

A: Which job are you going to apply for?
B: I think I'll go for the marketing position.

If I had the chance to study abroad, I would definitely go for it because I love experiencing new cultures.

Common mistake

✗I'll go for to the pasta.

✓I'll go for the pasta.

'Go for + thing' directly — no 'to'.

Tell it apart

I'll go for the steak.

choose

It went for a high price.

was sold at

Use 'go for' when talking about making a choice or trying to get something, not about going somewhere.Not about physically going somewhere, but about making a choice or effort.

Often paired with

go for + choice

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attack

B2go for sthspokeninformal

to attack someone or something, either physically or with words.

The dog suddenly went for the mailman as he walked past the gate.

A: What happened at the football match?
B: Two players started shouting, and then one just went for the other.

In some debates, people go for their opponents personally instead of focusing on the topic.

Common mistake

✗Why are you going for at me?

✓Why are you going for me?

'Go for someone' takes a direct object — no extra preposition. (For criticism, 'have a go at' is also common.)

Tell it apart

The dog went for the intruder.

attacked

I'll go for the salad.

choose

Use 'go for' to describe attacking, especially in informal spoken English.Different from 'go for' meaning 'choose'; here it means to attack.

Often paired with

go for + target

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be sold at (price)

C2go for amount/price

to be sold for a particular amount of money, especially at an auction or in a financial context.

The rare manuscript went for over £50,000 at the auction.

A: Did you hear how much that vintage car went for?
B: Yeah, it went for nearly half a million dollars. Unbelievable!

At Sotheby’s, several paintings went for record-breaking sums, highlighting the growing demand for contemporary art.

Common mistake

✗These flats are going at £300,000.

✓These flats are going for £300,000.

It's 'go FOR + price', not 'go at'.

Tell it apart

The car went for £8,000.

sold at that price

I'd go for the blue one.

choose

'Go for' in this sense is commonly used in financial, business, or auction contexts to state the price something was sold for. It is neutral in register but more precise than simply saying 'cost'.Unlike the B1 sense ('choose or try to get') and the B2 sense ('attack'), this sense refers specifically to the price at which something is sold, not to a choice or an action.

Often paired with

go for + price

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choose or try to get attack be sold at (price)