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go under meaning and examples

2025-09-12

Meaning

  • Go under is a phrasal verb that usually means:

    1. To sink beneath the surface of water or another substance.
    2. To fail in business or to become bankrupt.
    3. To lose consciousness (often used in the context of anesthesia or extreme fatigue).

Grammar and Usage

  • Part of speech: phrasal verb

  • Verb type: intransitive

  • Patterns:

    • Subject + go under
    • Company/ship/person + went under

Variations

  1. Go under (water) → to sink.
  2. Go under (business) → to fail financially.
  3. Go under (anesthesia) → to become unconscious.

Common Phrases

  • "The company went under last year."
  • "He almost went under while swimming."
  • "She went under quickly after the doctor gave her anesthesia."

Collocations

  • go under water
  • go under anesthesia
  • business go under
  • company go under

Examples

  1. The small boat went under in the storm.
  2. Many shops went under during the economic crisis.
  3. The surgeon told me I would go under in a few seconds.
  4. Without financial support, the project may go under.
  5. He nearly went under after being pulled into the strong current.
  6. The restaurant went under because of poor management.
  7. I was nervous before the operation, but I went under smoothly.
  8. Several firms went under due to rising costs.
  • sink
  • collapse
  • fail
  • go bankrupt
  • fold

Antonym

  • survive
  • stay afloat
  • succeed
  • prosper