went home

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "went home" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to indicate that someone has returned to their residence. Example: After the meeting, she went home to relax. Alternative expressions include "returned home" and "went back home."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He went home again.

The New Yorker

Then they went home.

The New York Times

She never went home.

The New York Times

Levi went home.

The New York Times

So I went home.

The New Yorker

Monson went home.

The New York Times - Sports

Brokenhearted, she went home.

The New Yorker

(They all went home).

The New Yorker

Together they went home.

The New York Times

Many immigrants went home.

The New York Times

The crowd went home.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's return, ensure the context clarifies whose home is being referred to, especially if multiple people are involved.

Common error

Avoid using "went home" when you mean someone went to another location that isn't their residence. For example, do not say "He went home to the office", say "He went to the office" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "went home" primarily functions as a verb phrase, indicating the action of returning to one's residence. It's a straightforward way to describe someone's departure to their home, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

83%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "went home" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe someone's return to their residence. According to Ludwig AI, it functions as a verb phrase with a neutral register and is frequently used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media. While "returned home" and "headed back" can be used as alternatives, "went home" provides a clear and concise way to convey the action of going back to one's home.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

returned home

A more formal and direct synonym for going back to one's house or place of origin.

headed back

Implies a return, often used when the destination is understood or previously mentioned.

made it back home

Suggests a return that might have been challenging or eventful.

got back

A more casual way of saying someone returned, often implying a journey.

went back to their place

Specifies that the return is to their own dwelling, emphasizing possession.

retreated home

Suggests a withdrawal or retreat, often from an unpleasant situation.

made their way back

Implies a journey back, often with some effort or intention.

returned to their abode

A more archaic and formal way of saying "returned home", emphasizing the dwelling.

finished for the day

Indirectly implies that someone is done with their activities and is likely going home.

called it a night

An idiom suggesting the end of activities and the intention to go home or to sleep.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "went home"?

You can use alternatives like "returned home", "headed back", or "got back" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "went back home"?

While "went home" is more concise and common, "went back home" isn't incorrect. It can emphasize a previous departure and return, but using simply "went home" is often sufficient.

How do I use "went home" in a sentence?

"Went home" is used to describe the act of someone returning to their residence. For example: "After the party, she went home", or "He went home after work".

What's the difference between "went home" and "stayed home"?

"Went home" implies a journey or return to one's residence, whereas "stayed home" means remaining at one's residence instead of going out. For instance, "She went home after the movie", but "He stayed home because he was sick".