Go ahead means “sure, please do” as a reply to a request, and “start, take place” when talking about plans and events. If someone asks Can I sit here?, a polite answer is Go ahead. With projects and events, it means they will start or happen after all: The match will go ahead. The expression is neutral and works both at work and at home.
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Go ahead. (= yes, please do); go ahead with + plan; go ahead and + verb; get/give the go-ahead
- “Do you mind if I open the window?” “No, go ahead, it's really hot in here.”
- The council decided to go ahead with the new cycle lane despite the complaints.
- The outdoor concert will go ahead even if it rains.
What changed
First versionThe manager said we can go ahead the new design next week.
RevisionThe manager said we can go ahead with the new design next week.
With verbs like start or launch, the object comes straight after the verb, but go ahead does not work that way: a plan or project after it needs with. We added with and left the rest unchanged.
Go on means to continue something that is already happening: Go on, I'm listening. Go ahead means to start something that was asked about or agreed on. The noun the go-ahead means official permission: We got the go-ahead from the client.
Your turn
The rain stopped an hour before the start, so the organisers decided to ___ with the outdoor concert.
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go ahead — The concert has not started yet, and the question is whether to hold it at all, so go ahead with. Go on with means to continue something already started, and here there is nothing to continue.
Write about a plan at work or in your studies that was recently approved. Say what exactly you will do and when you will start.
The director approved our budget, so we will go ahead with the new website in October.
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