go through — 4 meanings

One phrase, 4 meanings. Learn them one at a time, then test yourself.

phrasal verb4 meanings

go through

1experience something difficult or unpleasant 2examine or check something carefully 3use all of something 4be officially accepted

Meaning 1 · most common

experience something difficult or unpleasant

go through sth

to experience a difficult, unpleasant, or challenging situation or period in your life.

How oftenCommon

LevelB1

Used inMostly spoken

Examples

She went through a lot after losing her job.

A: You seem a bit down lately. Everything okay?
B: Yeah, I've just been going through some personal stuff.

Common mistake

Not: He went through ~~with~~ a divorce last year.

Say: He went through a divorce last year.

'Go through + experience'. 'Go through WITH' means force yourself to complete something — different meaning.

More on “experience something difficult or unpleasant”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

During my teenage years, I went through many changes that helped me become more independent.

Tell it apart

She went through a rough patch.

experienced it

They went through the budget.

examined it

Goes with

go through + ordeal

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Next meaning: examine or check something carefully

Meaning 2

examine or check something carefully

go through sth

to look at or check something carefully, often to find information or make sure everything is correct.

How oftenCommon

LevelB1

Used inSpeech & writing

Examples

I need to go through these documents before the meeting.

A: Did you find your passport?
B: Not yet, I still have to go through all my drawers.

Common mistake

Not: Let me go through ~~with~~ my emails first.

Say: Let me go through my emails first.

'Go through + thing' (examine) takes no 'with'. 'Go through WITH something' means actually do it.

More on “examine or check something carefully”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

Before submitting my essay, I always go through it to check for mistakes.

Tell it apart

I went through the report line by line.

examined it

She's going through a hard time.

experiencing it

Goes with

go through + items

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Next meaning: use all of something

Meaning 3

use all of something

go through sth

to use or spend all of something, especially money, food, or supplies.

How oftenCommon

LevelB2

Used inMostly spoken

Examples

We went through all the milk in just two days.

A: Where did all the snacks go?
B: The kids went through them during the movie.

Common mistake

Not: We go through ~~with~~ a lot of coffee here.

Say: We go through a lot of coffee here.

No 'with' — 'go through + amount' means use up.

More on “use all of something”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

When I was living abroad, I went through my savings much faster than I expected.

Tell it apart

We go through two loaves a day.

use up

I'll go through the figures.

examine

Goes with

go through + amount

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Next meaning: be officially accepted

Meaning 4

be officially accepted

go through sth

to be officially approved or accepted, especially referring to proposals, plans, or legislation passing through a formal process.

How oftenNow and then

LevelC1

Used inSpeech & writing

Examples

The new regulation finally went through after months of debate in parliament.

A: Did your funding application go through?
B: Yes, it was approved last week!

Common mistake

Not: My loan didn't go ~~through with.~~

Say: My loan didn't go through.

This 'be approved' sense is intransitive — nothing after 'through'; 'go through with' means force yourself to do something.

More on “be officially accepted”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

If the proposal goes through, it will significantly impact local businesses by introducing stricter environmental standards.

Tell it apart

The transfer went through.

was completed/approved

Go through the figures again.

examine them

Goes with

go through

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experience something difficult or unpleasant examine or check something carefully use all of something be officially accepted