To leave your home, especially to meet people or enjoy yourself.
I usually go out with my friends on Friday nights.
A: Are you doing anything tonight? B: Yeah, I'm going out for dinner with my sister.
Personally, I don't go out very often during the week because I have a lot of homework, but I like to meet my friends at the weekend.
Common mistake
✗We went outside for dinner last night.
✓We went out for dinner last night.
'Go out' (socialise) isn't 'go outside' (step into the open air).
Tell it apart
Let's go out for dinner.
leave home socially
The lights went out.
stopped working
Use 'go out' when talking about meeting friends, eating at a restaurant, or doing something fun away from home.'Go out' means to leave home for social reasons, while 'go outside' just means to step outdoors.
To stop burning, shining, or working, especially for lights or fires.
The candle went out because of the wind.
A: Why is it so dark in here? B: The lights went out during the storm.
During the interview, the power went out for a few minutes, which made everyone a bit nervous.
Common mistake
✗The candle went off.
✓The candle went out.
For flames or lights stopping, use 'go out' (not 'go off', which is for alarms and explosions).
Tell it apart
The lights went out.
stopped working
We went out for dinner.
left home socially
Use 'go out' when something like a light or fire stops by itself, not when you switch it off.'Go out' is used when something stops working on its own; 'turn off' is used when a person stops it.
To be in a romantic relationship with someone; to date someone regularly.
I heard that Anna and Mark are going out now.
A: Are you and Jamie just friends? B: No, we're actually going out.
Many young people start going out with someone in their late teens, which can be an important part of their social development.
Common mistake
✗She's going out her boyfriend.
✓She's going out with her boyfriend.
'Go out WITH someone' — don't drop 'with'.
Tell it apart
They've been going out for months.
dating
They went out for a meal.
a single social outing
'Go out (with someone)' is a common, neutral way to say you are dating or in a romantic relationship. It does not mean just meeting as friends or leaving the house together.Unlike the B1 sense ('leave home socially'), this sense refers specifically to being in a romantic relationship, not just going somewhere together.