# go ahead

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/go-ahead
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. to proceed

phrasal verb · CEFR B1

to start or continue doing something, especially after waiting for a decision.

For teachers: to proceed with a planned course of action, often after a delay or after receiving authorization.

- The city decided to go ahead with the new park project despite the costs.
- The board of directors finally voted to go ahead with the merger after months of intense legal and financial negotiations.

### 2. giving permission

phrasal verb · CEFR B1 · Informal

you say this to tell someone they can start doing what they asked to do.

For teachers: used in the imperative to grant permission or express endorsement of a proposal.

- "Can I use your phone for a second?" "Sure, go ahead."
- When the intern asked if she could lead the presentation, the manager simply nodded and told her to go ahead.

### 3. permission to start

noun · CEFR B2

the permission or signal to start a project or activity.

For teachers: a signal or formal permission to proceed with a task or project.

- We are just waiting for the go-ahead from the boss before we print the books.
- The research team received the official go-ahead from the ethics committee, allowing them to begin the clinical trials immediately.

### 4. radio communication

phrasal verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to start speaking or sending a message over a radio.

For teachers: to transmit a message or signal via radio communication, typically after being acknowledged by the receiver.

- The pilot was told to go ahead with his landing request.
- Once the frequency was clear, the dispatcher signaled the unit to go ahead with the emergency transmission.

## Examples

- You can go ahead and start eating without me.
- The city council decided to go ahead with the new park project despite the high costs.
- Although several board members expressed reservations regarding the budget, the CEO decided to go ahead with the merger as originally planned.

## Usage notes

- Teaching tip: highlight its use as a polite imperative ('Go ahead!') to encourage someone to speak first in a conversation or to enter a doorway.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.