go through — 4 meanings

One phrase, 4 different jobs. Tap a meaning to jump to it — then lock each one in by saying it out loud.

phrasal verb4 meanings

1 experience something difficult or unpleasantto experience a difficult, unpleasant, or challenging situation or period in your life.
2 examine or check something carefullyto look at or check something carefully, often to find information or make sure everything is correct.
3 use all of somethingto use or spend all of something, especially money, food, or supplies.
4 be officially acceptedto be officially approved or accepted, especially referring to proposals, plans, or legislation passing through a formal process.

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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.

experience something difficult or unpleasant

B1go through sthspokenMost common

to experience a difficult, unpleasant, or challenging situation or period in your life.

She went through a lot after losing her job.

A: You seem a bit down lately. Everything okay?
B: Yeah, I've just been going through some personal stuff.

During my teenage years, I went through many changes that helped me become more independent.

Common mistake

✗He went through with a divorce last year.

✓He went through a divorce last year.

'Go through + experience'. 'Go through WITH' means force yourself to complete something — different meaning.

Tell it apart

She went through a rough patch.

experienced it

They went through the budget.

examined it

Use 'go through' when talking about facing problems, changes, or tough times.Not the same as 'go over', which means to review or check.

Often paired with

go through + ordeal

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examine or check something carefully

B1go through sth

to look at or check something carefully, often to find information or make sure everything is correct.

I need to go through these documents before the meeting.

A: Did you find your passport?
B: Not yet, I still have to go through all my drawers.

Before submitting my essay, I always go through it to check for mistakes.

Common mistake

✗Let me go through with my emails first.

✓Let me go through my emails first.

'Go through + thing' (examine) takes no 'with'. 'Go through WITH something' means actually do it.

Tell it apart

I went through the report line by line.

examined it

She's going through a hard time.

experiencing it

Use 'go through' when you need to check, read, or search something in detail.Different from 'go over', which can be a quick review.

Often paired with

go through + items

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use all of something

B2go through sthspoken

to use or spend all of something, especially money, food, or supplies.

We went through all the milk in just two days.

A: Where did all the snacks go?
B: The kids went through them during the movie.

When I was living abroad, I went through my savings much faster than I expected.

Common mistake

✗We go through with a lot of coffee here.

✓We go through a lot of coffee here.

No 'with' — 'go through + amount' means use up.

Tell it apart

We go through two loaves a day.

use up

I'll go through the figures.

examine

Use 'go through' when talking about finishing supplies or resources.Not the same as 'run out of', which means to have nothing left.

Often paired with

go through + amount

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be officially accepted

C1go through sth

to be officially approved or accepted, especially referring to proposals, plans, or legislation passing through a formal process.

The new regulation finally went through after months of debate in parliament.

A: Did your funding application go through?
B: Yes, it was approved last week!

If the proposal goes through, it will significantly impact local businesses by introducing stricter environmental standards.

Common mistake

✗My loan didn't go through with.

✓My loan didn't go through.

This 'be approved' sense is intransitive — nothing after 'through'; 'go through with' means force yourself to do something.

Tell it apart

The transfer went through.

was completed/approved

Go through the figures again.

examine them

'Go through' in this sense is commonly used in formal or semi-formal contexts (business, government, academia) to describe proposals, applications, or legislation being approved after review. It does not mean 'experience' or 'examine.'Unlike the B-level senses, this meaning does not refer to experiencing something or checking it, but to something (often a proposal or law) being accepted after an official process.

Often paired with

go through

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Practise one meaning at a time and save the ones you mix up for review.

experience something difficult or unpleasant examine or check something carefully use all of something be officially accepted