Is 'get-go' one word, hyphenated, or two words?

It is standardly hyphenated: 'get-go'. Some informal writing may use it as two words, but the hyphenated form is preferred in dictionaries.

Can I use 'get-go' in formal writing?

It is best avoided in very formal academic or legal writing. Use 'from the outset' or 'from the beginning' instead. It is acceptable in business communication and journalism with an informal tone.

What is the origin of 'get-go'?

It is a 20th-century American colloquialism, likely originating in African-American Vernacular English (AAVE), related to the phrase 'get going.' It gained wider popularity in the 1960s.

Is there a verb form, like 'to get-go'?

No. 'Get-go' functions solely as a noun in the fixed adverbial phrase 'from the get-go.' The similar-sounding phrasal verb is 'to get going' (to start moving or to leave).

How do you pronounce “get-go”?

Get-go: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡet ˈɡəʊ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡet ˈɡoʊ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

get-go: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

B2-C1

UK/ˌɡet ˈɡəʊ/US/ˌɡet ˈɡoʊ/

Informal, colloquial.

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Quick answer

What does “get-go” mean?

The very beginning of something.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

The very beginning of something.

The starting point or initial moment of an activity, process, or situation. It often implies continuity or problems present from inception.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

The term is understood and used in both varieties but is more deeply ingrained and frequent in American English. British English more readily uses alternatives like "from the outset" or "from the start" in formal contexts.

Connotations

In both varieties, it connotes a direct, no-nonsense, or emphatic focus on the initial conditions. It often implies a judgement about something established early on.

Frequency

Higher frequency in American English across spoken and informal written registers. In British English, it's common in informal speech and increasingly in media, but may still be perceived as a mild Americanism in very formal writing.

Grammar

How to Use “get-go” in a Sentence

from + the + get-go (adverbial)

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

from the get-goright from the get-go

medium

at the get-gosince the get-go

weak

the project's get-goa problematic get-go

Examples

Examples of “get-go” in a Sentence

adverb

British English

The plan was ambitious from the get-go.
He was sceptical right from the get-go.

American English

The team had great chemistry from the get-go.
We should have seen the issue from the get-go.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

"We identified a flaw in the marketing strategy from the get-go."

Academic

Rare; more likely in informal academic speech: "The hypothesis was problematic from the get-go."

Everyday

"I knew we'd be friends from the get-go."

Technical

Uncommon; technical reports prefer precise temporal terms like "at initialization" or "from inception."

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “get-go”

Strong

from the outsetfrom the word gofrom day one

Neutral

from the startfrom the beginning

Weak

initiallyat first

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “get-go”

at the endfinallyultimatelyin conclusion

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “get-go”

Using 'in the get-go' or 'on the get-go' (correct preposition is 'from').
Using it without 'the' (e.g., 'from get-go').
Capitalizing it as a proper noun.
Using it as a standalone noun (e.g., 'The get-go was exciting.' is very awkward).

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: It is standardly hyphenated: 'get-go'. Some informal writing may use it as two words, but the hyphenated form is preferred in dictionaries.
: It is best avoided in very formal academic or legal writing. Use 'from the outset' or 'from the beginning' instead. It is acceptable in business communication and journalism with an informal tone.
: It is a 20th-century American colloquialism, likely originating in African-American Vernacular English (AAVE), related to the phrase 'get going.' It gained wider popularity in the 1960s.
: No. 'Get-go' functions solely as a noun in the fixed adverbial phrase 'from the get-go.' The similar-sounding phrasal verb is 'to get going' (to start moving or to leave).
: The very beginning of something.
: Get-go: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡet ˈɡəʊ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡet ˈɡoʊ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“from the word go (close synonym)”
“from day one”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Imagine a runner at the starting line getting ready to GO. The moment the race starts is the GET-GO.

Conceptual Metaphor

TIME IS A JOURNEY (the 'go' implies movement). BEGINNING IS A DEPARTURE POINT.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

We knew the software had a major bug .

Multiple Choice

Which preposition is used almost exclusively with 'the get-go'?