went
7 synonyms for went, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — Past tense of "go."
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Etymology
"Went" was originally the past tense of a different verb, "wend" (meaning to travel or turn), but over time it was absorbed into the verb "go" as its past tense, replacing the older form "gaed."
Full origin of went →Frequently asked questions
What does “went” mean?
The word “went” means past tense of "go.". In plain terms, the past-tense form of "go.".
How do you pronounce “went”?
“Went” is pronounced wehnt (/wɛnt/ in IPA).
How do you use “went” in a sentence?
Here is “went” used in a sentence: “We went to the beach last weekend.”
What part of speech is “went”?
“Went” is a verb.
Is “went” a common word?
“Went” is a very common word in modern English.
What is the difference between went and gone?
'Went' is the simple past tense of 'go' and stands alone: 'I went home.' 'Gone' is the past participle and needs a helping verb like have, has, or had: 'I have gone home.' A useful rule: never pair 'have' with 'went' — say 'have gone.'
Is 'have went' correct?
No. 'Have went' is a common grammatical error. The past participle 'gone' must follow forms of 'have,' so the correct phrase is 'have gone,' 'has gone,' or 'had gone.' Use 'went' only on its own, without a helping verb: 'I went yesterday.'
What is the past tense of go?
The simple past tense of 'go' is 'went' — an irregular form that looks nothing like its base verb. For example, 'today I go, yesterday I went.' The past participle, used with have or had, is 'gone,' as in 'I have gone.'
