verb
Very common
went
wehnt
Went (verb) means past tense of "go.". Example: “We went to the beach last weekend.”
verb
1
Past tense of "go."
"We went to the beach last weekend."
"She went straight home after the meeting."
"He went to the shop to buy some milk and bread."
How to use went
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe past-tense form of "go."
Common mistake
Never use "went" after "have/has/had" — the correct past participle is "gone" ("I have gone," not "I have went").
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- wents
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We _____ to the beach last weekend.
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."
Related words
Rhymes for went
See all rhymes for 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.'
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