If you go through an experience or a period of time, especially an unpleasant or difficult one, you experience it.
He was going through a very difficult time. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
South Africa was going through a period of irreversible change. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
2. phrasal verb
If you go through a lot of things such as papers or clothes, you look at them, usually in order to sort them into groups or to search for a particular item.
It was evident that someone had gone through my possessions. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
3. phrasal verb
If you go through a list, story, or plan, you read or check it from beginning to end.
Going through his list of customers is a massive job. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
4. phrasal verb
When someone goes through a routine, procedure, or series of actions, they perform it in the way they usually do.
Every night, they go through the same routine: he opens the bedroom window, she closesit. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
5. phrasal verb
If a law, agreement, or official decision goes through, it is approved by a parliament or committee.
The bill might have gone through if the economy was growing. [VERBPARTICLE]
More Synonyms of go through
See full dictionary entry for go
go through in British English
verb(intransitive)
1. (adverb)
to be approved or accepted
the amendment went through
2. (preposition)
to consume; exhaust
we went through our supplies in a day
some men go through a pair of socks in no time
3. Also: go over(preposition)
to examine and revise as necessary
they went through the figures
4. (preposition)
to suffer
she went through tremendous pain
5. Also: go over(preposition)
to rehearse
let's just go through the details again
6. Also: go over(preposition)
to clean
I went through the cupboards in the spring-cleaning
7. (preposition)
to participate in
she went through the degree ceremony without getting too nervous
8. (adverb; foll bywith)
to bring to a successful conclusion, often by persistence
9. (preposition)
(of a book) to be published in
that book has gone through three printings this year alone
10.
to proceed to the next round of a competition
go through in American English
1.
to perform thoroughly
2.
to endure; suffer; experience
3. US
to look through; search
4. US
to get approval or acceptance
5.
to spend
See full dictionary entry for go
Examples of 'go through' in a sentence
go through
They actually go through a special ceremony in front of their friends.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She goes through the whole list of what she wants and that is that dining room.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We were going through difficult times and needed to cut jobs.
The Sun (2016)
One day she went through my phone and read all the texts to and from my ex about me seeing my son.
The Sun (2016)
Under protest, we went through the procedure again.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
If you were given the option of not going through that experience, would you take it?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But the good Lord wanted us to go through this again.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We still have a chance to go through, we just need to play well in the next games.
The Sun (2016)
Although they have been doing this for 26 years, they are far from just going through the motions.
The Sun (2016)
So I used to fill out the forms by going through my phone book, and bunk off.
The Sun (2016)
Did he say a vow or go through a ceremony?
Christianity Today (2000)
This week the trio announced they were going through the process again.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
What he had to go through has been just horrible.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
We did go through some dark times.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We went through the list of available actresses again.
Sidney Sheldon The Other Side of Me
You go through a period feeling kind of vacant.
The Sun (2006)
You went through a horrible experience made worse by the fear and anxiety he left you with.
The Sun (2014)
Each audience member goes through it alone and is not passive.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The entire print run sold out in one day and the book quickly went through five editions.
Paula Byrne PERDITA: The Life of Mary Robinson (2004)
Last year he went through the competition without dropping a set in a sustained detonation of brilliance.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
They go through a similar routine on returning to their pack from the hunt.
Jan Fennell, Foreword by Monty Roberts THE DOG LISTENER: Learning the Language of your Best Friend (2002)
The stories we heard of what those people went through on that day were hard to comprehend.
The Sun (2006)
Things need addressing as am not prepared to go through a relegation again.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
She is going through a difficult time with her divorce.
The Sun (2014)
Some go through a period of mourning.
The Sun (2009)
You have to feel for a young bowler who goes through that experience.
The Sun (2006)
Go through this book and complete each of the exercises that have been set.
O'Keeffe, John Your One Week Way to Mind-Fitness (1994)
Do not try to stay awake to go through the closing routine!
Munro, Bill Dr. & Munro, Frances Beat Stress (1992)
She couldn't stand to think of her going through them alone.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In addition, assessors usually go through the exercises as participants before rating others.
A Conceptual View of Human Resource Management: Strategic Objectives, Environments,Functions
She decides she can't go through with the ceremony until she lets him know just how much she loves him.
The Sun (2008)
The winners will go through to the competition 's semi-final stage.
The Sun (2014)
In other languages
go through
British English: go through /ɡəʊ θruː/ VERB
If you go through a difficult experience or period of time, it happens to you.
He was going through a very difficult time.
American English: go through
Arabic: يَجْتَازُ
Brazilian Portuguese: passar por
Chinese: 经历
Croatian: proživjeti
Czech: projít
Danish: gå igennem
Dutch: doormaken
European Spanish: atravesar
Finnish: käydä läpi läpikäydä
French: traverser
German: durchmachen
Greek: διέρχομαι
Italian: attraversare
Japanese: 経験する
Korean: 경험하다
Norwegian: gå gjennom
Polish: przejść
European Portuguese: passar por
Romanian: a trece prin
Russian: пережить
Latin American Spanish: atravesar
Swedish: gå igenom
Thai: ผ่านไป
Turkish: geçirmek
Ukrainian: долати
Vietnamese: trải qua
All related terms of 'go through'
go through hell
If you go through hell , or if someone puts you through hell , you have a very difficult or unpleasant time.
go through with
If you go through with an action you have decided on, you do it, even though it may be very unpleasant or difficult for you.
go through the hoop
to be subjected to an ordeal
go through the mill
to experience a very difficult situation
go through the roof
If the level of something such as the price of a product or the rate of inflation goes through the roof , it suddenly increases very rapidly indeed.
go through one's paces
to show one's abilities , skills , etc.
go through the ceiling
to suddenly increase very rapidly
go through the motions
If you say that someone is going through the motions , you think they are only saying or doing something because it is expected of them without being interested, enthusiastic , or sympathetic .
go through the wringer
to go through a very difficult period or situation which upsets you greatly and makes you ill or unhappy
go through fire and water
to undergo great difficulties or dangers
be put/go through the wringer
If you say that someone has been put through the wringer or has gone through the wringer , you mean that they have suffered a very difficult or unpleasant experience .
put sb/go through their paces
If you put someone through their paces or make them go through their paces , you get them to show you how well they can do something.
to hit the roof go through the roof
If you hit the roof or go through the roof , you become very angry indeed, and usually show your anger by shouting at someone.
make someone jump through hoops
to make someone prove their ability and willingness to obtain something that they want by forcing them to do a lot of difficult things first
go over sth with a fine-tooth comb/go through sth with a fine-tooth comb
If you say that you will go over something with a fine-tooth comb or go through something with a fine-tooth comb , you are emphasizing that you will search it thoroughly or examine it very carefully.
Chinese translation of 'go through'
go through
vt fus
[place, town]路过(過) (lùguò)
(= undergo) 经(經)历(歷) (jīnglì)
he's going through a difficult time他正经(經)历(歷)着(著)困难(難)时(時)期 (tā zhèng jīnglìzhe kùnnan shíqī)
(= search through) 翻遍 (fānbiàn)
(= run through)[list, book, story]仔细(細)查看 (zǐxì chákàn)
( person ) 离(離)开(開) líkāi ( to party, club ) 出去消遣 chūqù xiāoqiǎn ▶ to go out of 离(離)开(開) líkāi ▶ are you going out tonight? 你今晚出去吗(嗎)？ nǐ jīnwǎn chūqù ma?
go on at
( nag ) 向 ... 唠(嘮)唠(嘮)叨叨 xiàng ... láolao-dāodao
go on about
对(對) ... 唠(嘮)唠(嘮)叨叨 duì ... láolao-dāodao
go on
( continue ) 继(繼)续(續) jìxù
go off with
( run away with : lover ) 同 ... 私奔 tóng ... sībēn
go off
( esp Brit : begin to dislike : person, place, idea etc ) 不再喜欢(歡) bù zài xǐhuan
go into
( enter : building, room ) 进(進)入 jìnrù
go in for
( competition ) 参(參)加 cānjiā
go in
( enter ) 进(進)去 jìnqù
go for
( fetch ) 去取 qù qǔ
go down
( fall : price, level, amount ) 下降 xiàjiàng
go by
( vehicle, years, time ) 过(過)去 guòqù
go back to
( activity, work, school ) 回到 huídào
go back on
( promise, agreement ) 背弃(棄) bèiqì
go back
( return ) 返回 fǎnhuí
go away
( leave ) 离(離)开(開) líkāi
go around
( circulate : news, rumour ) 传(傳)播 chuánbō
go along with
( agree with : plan, idea, decision ) 赞(贊)同 zàntóng
go along
去 qù
go ahead
( take place : event ) 发(發)生 fāshēng
go against
( be unfavourable to ) 不利于(於) bù lìyú
go after
( pursue : person ) 追赶(趕) zhuīgǎn
go about
( tackle ) 处(處)理 chǔlǐ
(to go through) a bad/rough patch
经(經)受不幸/困难(難)时(時)期 jīngshòu bùxìng/kùnnan shíqī
(phrasal verb)
Definition
to be approved
The bill might have gone through if the economy had been growing.