# gone

/ˈɡɔn/ (US) · /ɡˈɒn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gone
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. past form of go

verb · CEFR A2

the past participle of the verb 'go'.

For teachers: the past participle of the irregular verb 'go', used to form perfect tenses and the passive voice.

- By the time I arrived at the station, the train had already gone.
- The witnesses confirmed that the suspect had already gone by the time the first patrol car reached the scene.

Usage: Used with the auxiliary verb 'have' to form the present perfect.

### 2. away or left

adjective · CEFR A2

not here anymore because you have left for another place.

For teachers: away from a specific place; having departed.

- I went to see my neighbor, but she was already gone for the day.
- The summer tourists are mostly gone now, leaving the coastal village to its quiet winter rhythms.

Usage: Often follows the verb 'to be'.

### 3. used up or finished

adjective · CEFR A2

no longer available because it has been used, eaten, or taken.

For teachers: completely consumed, spent, or exhausted.

- Is all the milk gone already? I only bought it yesterday.
- The emergency supplies were gone within forty-eight hours, forcing the relief team to request an immediate air-drop.

### 4. dead

adjective · CEFR B1

a polite way to say that someone has died.

For teachers: deceased; no longer living. Often used as a euphemism to soften the impact of death.

- My grandfather has been gone for ten years now, but I still miss him.
- Though the great poet is long gone, her influence continues to shape the work of contemporary writers across the globe.

Teaching tip: This is a common euphemism; it is softer than saying 'dead' in emotional situations.

### 5. not aware

adjective · CEFR C1 · Informal

not noticing what is happening around you, perhaps because you are very tired or confused.

For teachers: lacking awareness of one's surroundings, often due to exhaustion, mental decline, or intoxication.

- He was so tired after the marathon that he was completely gone.
- By the end of the long flight, most of the passengers looked absolutely gone, staring blankly at the baggage carousel.

### 6. past a certain time

preposition · CEFR B1 · British English · Informal

later than a specific time.

For teachers: past or later than a specified time; used to indicate that a certain hour has already passed.

- It was gone ten o'clock when we finally finished dinner.
- It was well gone midnight by the time the last guests finally decided to head home.

Usage: Always precedes the time mentioned.

Teaching tip: This is very common in British English but less frequent in American English.

## Examples

- She has gone to the store.
- By the time we arrived at the station, the last train had already gone.
- The opportunity had gone before he could even formulate a plan, leaving him to wonder what might have happened if he had acted with more conviction.

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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.