expression

go over

to review or examine

In Phrasal Verbs

In more detail

1. (verb) to examine or review something carefully

2. (verb) to travel across or on top of something

3. (verb) to be received or accepted by an audience or in a social situation

Examples

1. Let me go over your essay before you submit it.
2. The bridge goes over the river.
3. Her joke didn't go over well with the serious audience.

How to use go over

Go over has multiple distinct meanings depending on context. As a phrasal verb meaning to review or examine, it is used in academic, professional, and everyday contexts to indicate careful scrutiny. When meaning to travel across or traverse, it is more literal and spatial. When meaning to be received or accepted (often in the phrase 'go over well'), it describes how an idea, presentation, or person is perceived socially. The third sense is more idiomatic and colloquial.

Common phrases

go over something carefully
go over the details
go over the top
go over well
go over with someone

Synonyms

review · examine · check · traverse · cross

Word family

going over · went over · gone over

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse 'go over' with 'go through,' which also means to examine; however, 'go through' often implies exhaustively dealing with something item by item, while 'go over' suggests reviewing something as a whole.

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