How to Use “How Did It Go?” in a Conversation

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Learn the best responses to this casual English phrase

Co-authored by Sophie Burkholder, BA Reviewed by Seth Hall

Last Updated: January 24, 2024 Fact Checked

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“How Did It Go” Meaning

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Usage

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Forming a Sentence

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How to Reply

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Example Conversations

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Tips

Asking “How did it go?” is a common question in American English, used so often in casual and professional settings that it seems like a simple phrase to slip into any chit-chat. However, this complex English idiom has many different uses and possible responses, depending on context —so don’t worry if you feel unclear on the meaning of this tricky question! Fortunately, we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide on what “how did it go?” means, how to use it, and how to respond to it.

Things You Should Know

The question “How did it go?” asks about the details of a certain event.
“How did it go?” has the same meaning as “How was it?” In both questions, the word “it” could be replaced by an event or experience like a meeting or vacation.
For example, if a friend told you they had an important meeting, you can ask about it by saying, “How did it go?” the next time you see or talk to them.

Section 1 of 5:

What does “how did it go” mean?

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“How did it go?” asks about the outcome of an event. The speaker is referring to some event or situation that took place in the past. For example, let’s say someone just gave a presentation. Asking that person “How did it go?” is the same as asking them “How did your presentation go?” or “How was your presentation?”^{[1]
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- “How’d it go?” has the same meaning as “How did it go?” “How’d” is just a contraction of “How did,” making this phrase more casual.

Section 2 of 5:

When is “how did it go” used?

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The phrase “how did it go?” is used to ask about a past event. The speaker asks the listener to tell them about a certain event or situation. These events are often related to work tasks or small talk, like asking how a meeting or doctor’s appointment went.^{[2]
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- Usually, someone asking, “How did it go?” is hoping for a positive outcome.
- For example, asking, “How did it go?” when you know someone just went on a date or had an important presentation at work is a sign of empathy or encouragement.
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“How did it go?” is used to refer to past conversations and context. Both speakers must know what the “it” in “how did it go” refers to. The two speakers must have had a previous conversation about a certain event.
- For example, say you had a job interview and had been telling your friend how nervous you were. After the interview, you call up your friend. They ask, “How did it go?”
- In this case, you automatically know that they are asking about their interview because you expected to discuss it the next time you talk to each other.

Section 3 of 5:

Forming a Sentence with “How Did It Go?”

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How did + (thing or event) go? This question is in the past tense, signified by the past tense “did.” If you already know the context of the question, you can say, “How did + it go?” Otherwise, you can replace “it” with the specific thing or event you’re asking about.^{[3]
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- How did the presentation go?
- How did your date go?
- How did your performance go?
- How did your dentist appointment go?
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Did + (thing or event) + go + (adverb)? By removing “how” from the beginning and adding an adverb at the end, you can turn “how did it go” into a yes-or-no question. “Well” is the most used adverb in this context, used to ask if something went successfully.^{[4]
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- Did it go well?
- Did the presentation go well?
- Did your date go well?
- Did your performance go well?
- Did your dentist appointment go well?
- In more casual settings with native English speakers, you may also hear “okay” used as an adverb, which has the same meaning as “well,” such as “Did it go okay?”
This question is similar to “How did it go,” but asks about a future event instead of a past one. For example, if you tell a coworker about an upcoming meeting, they may say, “How do you think it will go?”^{[5]
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Section 4 of 5:

How to Respond to “How Did It Go?”

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Respond using the verb “to go” plus an adverb. The question already includes the word “go” in its infinitive form. The simplest response is to use that same verb in the past tense, along with an adverb that describes the event.^{[6]
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- It went well.
- It went poorly.
- It went perfectly.
- It went smoothly.
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Respond using the verb “to be” plus an adjective or noun. Remember that asking “how did it go” is the same as asking “how was it.” You can respond to these questions similarly, using the past tense form of the verb “to be” with an adjective or noun that describes the event.^{[7]
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- It was great.
- It was fine.
- It was nice.
- It was a disaster.
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Give some specific details. Consider other, more specific follow-up questions someone may ask you about an event or experience you had. Depending on context, respond to “how did it go?” with the same answer you would give questions like:^{[8]
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- What was the highlight of the event or experience?
- Did it happen as planned?
- Did you enjoy yourself? Were parts of it challenging?
- Was it better than expected?
- Would you do it again? Why?
- What did others involved think about it?
- Would you recommend something like this to me?
- I know you were worried about it—how do you feel about it now?

Section 5 of 5:

Example Conversations with “How Did It Go”

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Example answers and responses Read Speaker A’s questions to see what kind of events “How did it go?” may be asking about. In each response, Speaker B correctly uses the verbs “to go” or “to be” followed by a descriptive adjective, adverb, or noun.
- Speaker A: How did it (your final exam) go?
  - Speaker B: It went badly; I didn’t know the answer to half the questions.
- Speaker A: How did it (your blind date) go?
  - Speaker B: It was great. He was polite and funny.
- Speaker A: How did it (the performance review) go?
  - Speaker B: It went pretty well, my boss had kind things to say and helpful feedback.
- Speaker A: How did it (your anniversary party) go?
  - Speaker B: It was a drag, a bunch of people had to cancel at the last minute because they were sick. But I still enjoyed celebrating with my wife.
- Speaker A: Did it (your son’s wedding) go well?
  - Speaker B: Yes, it was very beautiful and everyone had a wonderful time.
- Speaker A: Did it (your doctor’s appointment) go okay?
  - Speaker B: Yes, the appointment was helpful and the doctor said I’m in great shape for my age!
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Task-basked “how did it go” question A task-based “how did it go” question may be about a meeting, a presentation, or a project. In this dialogue, someone is asking about a client meeting, followed by three examples of bad, good, and advanced possible responses.^{[9]
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- The question: “How did it (your meeting with the client) go?”
- What this question means: I know you’ve been spending a lot of time preparing for this meeting, and you told me you were nervous about it. Did it go successfully? Did the client like what you presented? What was the outcome of the meeting? Did you feel confident about your performance?
- Weak answer: The meeting went as I imagined. The client arrived, and I gave my presentation.
- Good answer: The meeting went well. I feel like the client really responded to the new product, and I convinced them that it was the right choice for them.
- Best answer: It went smoothly; I’m so glad I spent so much time preparing and practicing. The client loved what we put together, and they will come into the office next week to review the final contract.
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Small-talk “How did it go?” question A small-talk “how did it go” question may be about an event in your personal life like a vacation, date, or party. In this hypothetical situation, you threw a surprise party for your friend and another person is asking you about it.
- The question: “How did it (your friend’s surprise party) go?”
- What this question means: I know you planned a surprise birthday party for your friend, and you put a lot of time, effort, and money into it. Was the surprise successful? What did you do at the party? Did you and others have a good time? Was your friend appreciative of everything you did for their birthday?
- Weak answer: The party was last weekend.
- Good answer: The party was really fun. My friend was super surprised and loved the food and decorations. Everyone was dancing all night!
- Best answer: The surprise party was a blast, thanks for asking! I was a little nervous someone would spoil the surprise for her, but she was shocked when she got to the party. I ordered her favorite birthday cake, and she loved it. We danced all night to a group playlist that everyone contributed to. We’ll have to do it again next year!

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Tips

"How did it went?” is not grammatically correct in standard English, so the question is always “How did it go?” This is because “did” changes the verb to its base or infinitive form, which is “go.”

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