For good means permanently, forever: the old cinema closed for good, it won't reopen. Good here isn't about anything good: the news can be sad or happy, they settled here for good, she quit smoking for good. It sounds conversational; official notices more often say permanently.
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leave / close / stop something + for good; for good = permanently
- The old cinema closed for good last winter.
- After years of moving between cities, they settled here for good.
- She wants to stop checking work messages at midnight for good.
What changed
First versionThe bakery closed for good, but it will reopen tomorrow morning.
RevisionThe bakery closed for good, so we will have to find another one.
Good tempts you to read it as nice or for a good cause, and closed for good can sound temporary. But it means forever: the bakery won't open tomorrow. That's why the second half changed: now we need another bakery.
For now means for the time being: the shop is closed for now. For good means it's over. For a good reason means with a valid reason: here good really does mean good.
Your turn
The shop is closing permanently, not just for renovations. It is closing ___.
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for good — The sentence says permanently, so it's for good. For now means for the time being, with a hope of reopening.
Describe a permanent change, a move, a place closing or the end of a habit, using for good.
He left the band for good and sold all his touring equipment.
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