# go with

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/go-with
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to look good together or to match something else. You also use it when you choose one option from a group.

For teachers: To complement or match another item aesthetically or functionally. It is also used to indicate the selection of a specific option or to agree with a proposal. The verb is inseparable and requires a direct object.

## Examples

- This red tie doesn't go with your blue shirt.
- If you aren't sure which wine to pick, the white wine usually goes with the grilled fish.
- The architect ensured that the modern glass extension would go with the original Victorian features of the historic building.

## Pitfalls

- Not "Does this tie go with to your suit?" but "Does this tie go with your suit?" — Learners sometimes add 'to' after 'with', likely confusing the structure with 'similar to' or 'match to'.

## Usage notes

- This phrasal verb is inseparable and always takes an object.
- Teaching tip: Explain the difference between 'go with' for matching items and 'suit' for how clothes look on a person.

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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.