Meaning & use
going through something
Last updated
“going through something” is a form of “go through”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
phraseidiom
Experiencing a difficult, painful or important period or event.
Grammar: Usually continuous; the something is a problem or stage: going through a divorce.
Patterns
- be going through something
She is going through a rough time at work.
I know you're going through something; I'm here to listen.
Many teenagers go through a shy phase.
phraseidiom
Searching or examining the contents of something carefully, or checking it from start to finish.
Grammar: Takes a thing as object: going through the files.
Patterns
- go through something
The officer is going through the documents.
I am going through my closet to find old clothes.
We went through the contract line by line.
phraseidiominformal
Using up a supply of something quickly.
Grammar: Takes a supply as object: going through paper.
Patterns
- go through something
We're going through milk very quickly this week.
The printer goes through ink fast.
He went through his savings in a year.
Word forms
| base form | go through |
|---|---|
| past tense | went through |
| past participle | gone through |
Common combinations
- going through a lot
- He is going through a lot at the moment.
- going through a phase
- She's going through a phase of loving dinosaurs.
- going through the motions
- He was just going through the motions at work.
- going through a tough time
- My friend is going through a tough time.
- going through the paperwork
- I'm going through the paperwork now.
Synonyms and how they differ
- experiencing
- Experiencing is more formal and neutral, while going through suggests the experience is hard or temporary.
- enduring
- Enduring stresses surviving something painful over a long time.
- checking
- Checking is more specific and usually quicker than going through a whole collection of things.
- using up
- Using up makes it clear that a supply is finished, while going through also suggests speed.
Word family
- go through phrasal verb
- the base phrasal verb
- walkthrough noun
- a step-by-step explanation or demonstration
- throughout preposition
- in every part of
Commonly confused: going through something or going thorough?
going through something vs going thorough
Thorough means complete and careful, but it is an adjective and cannot replace through here.
Practice
My sister is ___ a hard time since she lost her job.
Choose one answer.
Going through a hard time means experiencing it. The other options change the meaning or are not used with time in this way.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “going through something”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.