adj
Very common
gone
gon
Gone (adj) means No longer present; having left or departed. Example: “By the time I got there, everyone was gone.”
adj
1
No longer present; having left or departed.
"By the time I got there, everyone was gone."
"The pain in his knee was finally gone after weeks of rest."
"When I looked back, the bus was already gone."
2
Used up, finished, or no longer existing.
"All the good seats were gone within minutes."
"The milk is gone, so I will buy some more on the way home."
"Her savings were gone after the repairs to the roof."
3
Dead, or beyond saving.
"Doctors said the patient was already gone by the time the ambulance arrived."
"Don't waste time on that laptop; it's gone and not worth fixing."
"The vet feared the poor bird was gone before we even arrived."
4
Deeply infatuated with someone.
"He's completely gone on her — he talks about nothing else."
"Ever since the party, my sister has been completely gone on him."
"She's gone on a boy from her art class, and everyone can tell."
prep
1
Past or later than a stated time.
"It was gone midnight when we finally left the party."
"It was gone ten o'clock before the train finally arrived."
"It's gone six, so the shops will be closing soon."
How to use gone
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe past participle of "go" — covers everything from someone leaving, to something running out, to being dead or hopelessly smitten.
Common mistake
Needs a helping verb: say "she has gone," not "she gone" (that's only standard in some dialects).
Common pairings
long gone
far gone
all gone
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Word forms
- Comparative
- further gone, farther gone, goner
- Superlative
- furthest gone, farthest gone, gonest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
By the time I got there, everyone was _____.
Etymology
The past participle of "go," tracing back through Middle and Old English to a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to go."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for gone
See all rhymes for gone →Frequently asked questions
What does “gone” mean?
The word “gone” means no longer present; having left or departed. In plain terms, the past participle of "go" — covers everything from someone leaving, to something running out, to being dead or hopelessly smitten.
How do you pronounce “gone”?
“Gone” is pronounced gon (/ɡɔn/ in IPA).
How do you use “gone” in a sentence?
Here is “gone” used in a sentence: “By the time I got there, everyone was gone.”
What part of speech is “gone”?
Depending on how it is used, “gone” can be an adjective and a preposition.
Where does the word “gone” come from?
The word “gone” comes from Old English. The past participle of "go," tracing back through Middle and Old English to a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to go.".
Is “gone” a common word?
“Gone” is a very common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “gone” have?
“Gone” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: no longer present; having left or departed.
What is the difference between 'gone' and 'went'?
Both come from the verb 'go,' but they work differently. 'Went' is the simple past — 'She went home.' 'Gone' is the past participle, used with have, has, or had, or as an adjective — 'She has gone home,' or 'The milk is gone.' A quick rule: never say 'went' after 'have.'
What is the difference between 'gone' and 'absent'?
'Gone' stresses that someone or something has left or departed and is no longer here. 'Absent' simply means not present, whether or not they ever arrived. A pupil away from school is absent; someone who was here and then left is gone. Gone implies departure, while absent just implies missing.
What is the opposite of 'gone'?
The clearest opposite is 'present' or 'here' — still in place rather than departed. Depending on context you might also say 'remaining,' 'back,' or 'returned.' If 'gone' means a supply has run out, then its opposite becomes 'available' or 'in stock.' The right pairing follows the sense you intend.
What does it mean when something is 'all gone'?
'All gone' means nothing is left — a supply has been used up or finished. A child's plate is 'all gone' once the food is eaten; money is 'all gone' when it's spent. It's a common, gentle, informal way to say something has been completely depleted or has disappeared entirely.
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