Wordxplr

The meaning and origin of interesting English phrases

Go live

Meaning

To begin operation or become available to the public, especially referring to a system, website, or event.

Origin

The phrase "go live" first emerged from the thrilling world of broadcasting. In the early days of radio and television, programmers meticulously distinguished between "recorded" segments and those that were "live"—transmitted in real-time, unfolding before the audience's eyes. To "go live" meant to switch from a pre-recorded tape or an offline state directly to an instantaneous broadcast, creating an electrifying sense of immediacy and shared experience. As the digital age dawned, and with the rise of computers and the internet, this vibrant term leaped from the airwaves into the realm of technology and business. Now, a new website, a software application, or a major system "goes live" when it officially becomes operational and accessible to the public, carrying with it that original pulse of immediate activation from its broadcasting heritage.

Examples

  • The software development team worked tirelessly to ensure the new application would go live on schedule.
  • After months of planning, the company's new e-commerce site is finally ready to go live next week.
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