# go out with

CEFR A2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/go-out-with
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to spend time with someone because you are in a romantic relationship with them.

For teachers: to be involved in a romantic or dating relationship with another person; an intransitive phrasal verb requiring a prepositional object.

## Examples

- Is he still going out with Sarah?
- They started going out with each other after meeting at a friend's wedding last summer.
- Although they had been going out with one another for several years, they decided to remain friends rather than pursue a formal engagement.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He is going out Sarah." but "He is going out with Sarah." — the preposition 'with' is required to link the verb to the person being dated.

## Usage notes

- always followed by 'with' when the partner is mentioned; 'go out' alone can mean to leave the house for social reasons.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'go out' (socializing generally) to avoid confusion; note that 'dating' is a more modern, often American-leaning synonym.

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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.