get verb

BrE /ɡet/ ; NAmE /ɡet/

In spoken North American English the past participle got·ten /ˈɡɑːtn/ is almost always used.

+ VERB FORMS

receive/obtain
1 [transitive, no passive] get something to receive something I got a letter from Dave this
morning.
What (= What presents) did you get for your birthday?
He gets (= earns) about $40 000 a year.
This room gets very little sunshine.
I got a shock when I saw the bill.
I get the impression that he is bored with his job.

2 [transitive, no passive] to obtain something get something Where did you get (= buy) that
skirt?
Did you manage to get tickets for the concert?
She opened the door wider to get a better look.
Try to get some sleep.
He has just got a new job.
get something for somebody Did you get a present for your mother?
get somebody/yourself something Did you get your mother a present?
Why don't you get yourself a car?
$100 will get you the basic model.
You can get the basic model for $100.

3 [transitive, no passive] get something (for something) to obtain or receive an amount of

money by selling something How much did you get for your car?

bring
4 [transitive] to go to a place and bring somebody/something back
SYNONYM fetch
get somebody/something Quick—go and get a cloth!
Somebody get a doctor!
I have to go and get my mother from the airport (= collect her).
get something for somebody Get a drink for John.
get somebody/yourself something Get John a drink.

punishment
5 [transitive, no passive] get something to receive something as a punishment He got ten years
(= was sent to prison for ten years) for armed robbery.

broadcasts
6 [transitive, no passive] get something to receive broadcasts from a particular television or
radio station We can't get Channel 5 in our area.

buy
7 [transitive, no passive] get something to buy something, for example a newspaper or
magazine, regularly
SYNONYM take
Which newspaper do you get?

mark/grade
8 [transitive, no passive] get something to achieve or be given a particular mark/grade in an
exam He got a ‘C’ in Chemistry and a ‘B’ in English.

illness
9 [transitive, no passive] get something to become infected with an illness; to suffer from a
pain, etc I got this cold off (= from) you!
She gets (= often suffers from) really bad headaches.

contact
10 [transitive, no passive] get somebody to be connected with somebody by telephone I wanted
to speak to the manager but I got his secretary instead.

state/condition
11 linking verb to reach a particular state or condition; to make somebody/something/yourself
reach a particular state or condition + adjective to get angry/bored/hungry/fat
You'll soon get used to the climate here.
We ought to go; it's getting late.
to get dressed/undressed (= to put your clothes on/take your clothes off)
They plan to get married in the summer.
She's upstairs getting ready.
I wouldn't go there alone; you might get (= be) mugged.
My car got (= was) stolen at the weekend.
get somebody/something + adjective Don't get your dress dirty!
He got his fingers caught in the door.
She soon got the children ready for school.

+ WHICH WORD?

12 [intransitive] get to do something to reach the point at which you feel, know, are, etc.
something After a time you get to realize that these things don't matter.
You'll like her once you get to know her.
His drinking is getting to be a problem.
She's getting to be an old lady now.

make/persuade
13 [transitive] to make, persuade, etc. somebody/something to do something get
somebody/something to do something I couldn't get the car to start this morning.
He got his sister to help him with his homework.
You'll never get him to understand.
get somebody/something doing something Can you really get that old car going again?
It's not hard to get him talking—the problem is stopping him!

get something done

14 [transitive] get something done to cause something to happen or be done I must get my hair
cut.
I'll never get all this work finished.

start
15 [transitive] get doing something to start doing something I got talking to her.
We need to get going soon.

opportunity
16 [intransitive] get to do something (informal) to have the opportunity to do something He got
to try out all the new software.
It's not fair—I never get to go first.

arrive
17 [intransitive] + adverb/preposition to arrive at or reach a place or point We got to San Diego
at 7 o'clock.
You got in very late last night.
What time did you get here?
I haven't got very far with the book I'm reading.

move/travel
18 [intransitive, transitive] to move to or from a particular place or in a particular direction,
sometimes with difficulty; to make somebody/something do this + adverb/preposition The
bridge was destroyed so we couldn't get across the river.
She got into bed.
He got down from the ladder.
We didn't get (= go) to bed until 3 a.m.
Where do we get on the bus?
I'm getting off (= leaving the train) at the next station.
Where have they got to (= where are they)?
We must be getting home; it's past midnight.
get somebody/something + adverb/preposition The general had to get his troops across the
river.
We couldn't get the piano through the door.
We'd better call a taxi and get you home.
I can't get the lid off.
19 [transitive, no passive] get something to use a bus, taxi, plane, etc We're going to be late—
let's get a taxi.
I usually get the bus to work.

meal
20 [transitive] (especially British English) to prepare a meal get something Who's getting the
lunch?
get something for somebody/yourself I must go home and get tea for the kids.
get somebody/yourself something I must go home and get the kids their tea.

telephone/door
21 [transitive] get something (informal) to answer the telephone or a door when somebody calls,
knocks, etc Will you get the phone?

catch/hit
22 [transitive] get somebody to catch or take hold of somebody, especially in order to harm or
punish them He was on the run for a week before the police got him.
to get somebody by the arm/wrist/throat
She fell overboard and the sharks got her.
He thinks everybody is out to get him (= trying to harm him).
(informal) I'll get you for that!

23 [transitive] get somebody + adverb/preposition to hit or wound somebody The bullet got
him in the neck.

understand
24 [transitive, no passive] get somebody/something (informal) to understand
somebody/something I don't get you.
She didn't get the joke.
I don't get it—why would she do a thing like that?
I get the message—you don't want me to come.

+ SYNONYMS

happen/exist
25 [transitive, no passive] get something (informal) used to say that something happens or exists
You get (= There are) all these kids hanging around in the street.
They still get cases of typhoid there.

confuse/annoy
26 [transitive, no passive] get somebody (informal) to make somebody feel confused because
they do not understand something
SYNONYM puzzle
‘What's the capital of Bhutan?’ ‘You've got me there!’ (= I don't know)
27 [transitive, no passive] get somebody (informal) to annoy somebody What gets me is having
to do the same thing all day long.

Get is one of the most common words in English, but some people try to avoid it in formal
writing.

+ MORE LIKE THIS

+ WORD ORIGIN

+ EXTRA EXAMPLES

Idioms
Most idioms containing get are at the entries for the nouns and adjectives in the idioms, for
example get somebody’s goat is at goat.
be getting ˈon (informal)
1 (of a person) to be becoming old
2 (of time) to be becoming late The time's getting on—we ought to be going.

be getting on for…
(especially British English) to be nearly a particular time, age or number It must be getting on for
midnight.
He's getting on for eighty.

can’t get ˈover something

(informal) used to say that you are shocked, surprised, amused, etc. by something I can't get over
how rude she was.

get aˈway from it all

(informal) to have a short holiday/vacation in a place where you can relax
get somebody ˈgoing
(informal) to make somebody angry, worried or excited
ˈget it
(also catch ˈhell)
(both North American English)
(British English ˈcatch it)
(informal) to be punished or spoken to angrily about something
ˌget it ˈon (with somebody)
(slang, especially North American English) to have sex with somebody
ˌget it ˈup
(slang) (of a man) to have an erection
get somebody nowhere/not get somebody anywhere
to not help somebody make progress or succeed This line of investigation is getting us nowhere.
Being rude to me won't get you anywhere.

get somewhere/anywhere/nowhere
to make some progress/no progress After six months' work on the project, at last I feel I'm getting
somewhere.
I don't seem to be getting anywhere with this letter.

ˈget there
to achieve your aim or complete a task I'm sure you'll get there in the end.
It's not perfect but we're getting there (= making progress).

ˌget ˈthis!
(informal, especially North American English) used to say that you are going to tell somebody
something that they will find surprising or interesting OK, get this guys—there are only two left!
So get this—I did all the work and he got the money.

how selfish, stupid, ungrateful, etc. can you ˈget?

(informal) used to express surprise or disapproval that somebody has been so selfish, etc.
there’s no getting aˈway from something, you can’t get aˈway from something
you have to admit that something unpleasant is true
what are you, was he, etc. ˈgetting at?
(informal) used to ask, especially in an angry way, what somebody is/was suggesting I'm partly
to blame? What exactly are you getting at?

what has got into somebody?

(informal) used to say that somebody has suddenly started to behave in a strange or different way
What's got into Alex? He never used to worry like that.
I’m sorry for laughing like that—I don’t know what got into me.

Phrasal Verbs
ˌget aˈbout
(British English)
= get around
ˌget aˈbove yourself
(especially British English) to have too high an opinion of yourself
ˌget aˈcross (to somebody) | ˌget somethingaˈcross (to somebody)
to be communicated or understood; to succeed in communicating something Your meaning didn't
really get across.
He's not very good at getting his ideas across.

ˌget aˈhead (of somebody)

to make progress (further than others have done) She wants to get ahead in her career.
He soon got ahead of the others in his class.

ˌget aˈlong
1 (usually used in the progressive tenses) to leave a place It's time we were getting along.

2
= get on
ˌget aˈround
1
(British English also ˌget aˈbout)
to move from place to place or from person to person She gets around with the help of a stick.
News soon got around that he had resigned.

2 (especially North American English)

= get round/around somebody
ˈget at somebody
(usually used in the progressive tenses) to keep criticizing somebody He's always getting at me.
She feels she's being got at.

ˈget at somebody/something
to reach somebody/something; to gain access to somebody/something The files are locked up
and I can't get at them.

ˈget at something
to learn or find out something The truth is sometimes difficult to get at.

ˌget aˈway
1 to have a holiday/vacation We're hoping to get away for a few days at Easter.

RELATED NOUN getaway

2 (British English, informal) used to show that you do not believe or are surprised by what
somebody has said ‘These tickets didn't cost me a thing.’ ‘Get away!’

ˌget aˈway (from…)

to succeed in leaving a place I won't be able to get away from the office before 7.

ˌget aˈway (from somebody/…)

to escape from somebody or a place
ˌget aˈway with something
1 to steal something and escape with it Thieves got away with computer equipment worth $30
000.

RELATED NOUN getaway

2 to receive a relatively light punishment He was lucky to get away with only a fine.

3 to do something wrong and not be punished for it Don't be tempted to cheat—you'll never get
away with it.
get away with doing something Nobody gets away with insulting me like that.
4 to manage with less of something than you might expect to need After the first month, you
should be able to get away with one lesson a week.

ˌget ˈback
to return, especially to your home What time did you get back last night?
We only got back from our trip yesterday.

+ SYNONYMS

ˌget somethingˈback
to obtain something again after having lost it She's got her old job back.
I never lend books—you never get them back.

ˌget ˈback (in)

(of a political party) to win an election after having lost the previous one
ˌget ˈback at somebody
(informal) to do something bad to somebody who has done something bad to you; to get revenge
on somebody I'll find a way of getting back at him!

ˌget ˈback to somebody

(informal) to speak or write to somebody again later, especially in order to give a reply I'll find
out and get back to you.

ˌget ˈback to something

to return to something Could we get back to the question of funding?

ˌget back toˈgether (with somebody)

to start a relationship with somebody again, especially a romantic relationship, after having
finished a previous relationship with the same person I just got back together with my ex-
girlfriend.
Is it true that the band is planning to get back together?

ˌget beˈhind (with something)

to fail to make enough progress or to produce something at the right time I'm getting behind with
my work.
He got behind with the payments for his car.

ˌget ˈby (on/in/with something)

to manage to live or do a particular thing using the money, knowledge, equipment, etc. that you
have How does she get by on such a small salary?
I can just about get by in German (= I can speak basic German).

ˌget ˈdown
(of children) (British English) to leave the table after a meal
ˌget somebody ˈdown
(informal) to make somebody feel sad or depressed Don’t let it get you down too much.

ˌget somethingˈdown
1 to swallow something, usually with difficulty
2 to make a note of something
SYNONYM write down
Did you get his number down?

ˌget ˈdown to something

to begin to do something; to give serious attention to something Let's get down to business.
I like to get down to work by 9.
get down to something doing something It's time I got down to thinking about that essay.

ˌget ˈin | ˌget ˈinto something

1 to arrive at a place The train got in late.
What time do you get into Heathrow?

2 to win an election The Republican candidate stands a good chance of getting in.
She first got into Parliament (= became an MP) in 2005.

3 to be admitted to a school, university, etc She's got into Durham to study law.

ˌget somebodyˈin
to call somebody to your house to do a job
ˌget somethingˈin
1 to collect or gather something to get the crops/harvest in

2 to buy a supply of something Remember to get in some beers for this evening.

3 to manage to do or say something I got in an hour's work while the baby was asleep.
She talks so much it's impossible to get a word in.

ˌget ˈin on something

to take part in an activity He's hoping to get in on any discussions about the new project.

ˌget ˈin with somebody

(informal) to become friendly with somebody, especially in order to gain an advantage
ˌget ˈinto something
1 to put on a piece of clothing, especially with difficulty I can't get into these shoes—they're too
small.

2 to start a career in a particular profession What's the best way to get into journalism?

3 to become involved in something; to start something I got into conversation with an Italian
student.
to get into a fight
Are you sure you know what you're getting into?

4 to develop a particular habit Don't let yourself get into bad habits.
You should get into the routine of saving the document you are working on every ten minutes.
How did she get into (= start taking) drugs?

5 (informal) to become interested in something I'm really getting into jazz these days.

6 to become familiar with something; to learn something I haven't really got into my new job yet.

ˌget ˈinto something | ˌget yourself/somebody ˈinto something

to reach a particular state or condition; to make somebody reach a particular state or condition
He got into trouble with the police while he was still at school.
Three people were rescued from a yacht which got into difficulties.
She got herself into a real state (= became very anxious) before the interview.

ˌget ˈoff | ˌget ˈoff somebody

used especially to tell somebody to stop touching you or another person Get off me, that hurts!

ˌget ˈoff | ˌget somebody ˈoff

1 to leave a place or start a journey; to help somebody do this We got off straight after breakfast.
He got the children off to school.

2 (British English) to fall asleep; to make somebody do this I had great difficulty getting off to
sleep.
They couldn't get the baby off till midnight.

ˌget ˈoff | ˌget ˈoff something

to leave work with permission Could you get off (work) early tomorrow?

ˌget ˈoff something | ˌget somebody ˈoff something

to stop discussing a particular subject; to make somebody do this Please can we get off the
subject of dieting?
I couldn't get him off politics once he had started.

ˌget something ˈoff

to send something by post/mail I must get these letters off first thing tomorrow.

ˌget ˈoff on something

(informal) to be excited by something, especially in a sexual way
ˌget ˈoff (with something)
to have no or almost no injuries in an accident She was lucky to get off with just a few bruises.

ˌget ˈoff (with something) | ˌget somebody ˈoff (with something)

to receive no or almost no punishment; to help somebody do this He was lucky to get off with a
small fine.
A good lawyer might be able to get you off.

ˌget ˈoff with somebody

(informal, especially British English) to have a sexual or romantic experience with somebody; to
start a sexual relationship with somebody Steve got off with Tracey at the party.

ˌget ˈon
1
(also ˌget aˈlong)
used to talk or ask about how well somebody is doing in a particular situation He's getting on
very well at school.
How did you get on at the interview?

2 to be successful in your career, etc Parents are always anxious for their children to get on.
I don't know how he's going to get on in life.

3
(also ˌget aˈlong)
to manage or survive We can get on perfectly well without her.
I just can't get along without a secretary.

ˌget ˈon to somebody

1 to contact somebody by telephone, letter or email The heating isn't working; I'll get on to the
landlord about it.

2 to become aware of somebody’s activities, especially when they have been doing something
bad or illegal He had been stealing money from the company for years before they got on to him.

ˌget ˈon to something

to begin to talk about a new subject It's time we got on to the question of costs.

ˌget ˈon with somebody | ˌget ˈon (together) (both British English)
(also ˌget aˈlong with somebody, ˌget aˈlong (together) North American English, British
English)
to have a friendly relationship with somebody She's never really got on with her sister.
She and her sister have never really got on.
We get along just fine together.

ˌget ˈon with something

1
(also ˌget aˈlong with something)
used to talk or ask about how well somebody is doing a task I'm not getting on very fast with this
job.

2 to continue doing something, especially after an interruption Be quiet and get on with your
work.
(informal) Get on with it! We haven't got all day.

ˌget ˈout
to become known If this gets out there'll be trouble.

ˌget somethingˈout
1 to produce or publish something Will we get the book out by the end of the year?

2 to say something with difficulty She managed to get out a few words of thanks.

ˌget ˈout (of something)

to leave or go out of a place You ought to get out of the house more.
She screamed at me to get out.

ˌget ˈout of something

1 to avoid a responsibility or duty We promised we'd go—we can't get out of it now.
get out of doing something I wish I could get out of going to that meeting.

2 to stop having a particular habit I can't get out of the habit of waking at six in the morning.

ˌget something ˈout of somebody

to persuade somebody to tell or give you something, especially by force The police finally got a
confession out of her.

ˌget something ˈout of somebody/something

to gain or obtain something good from somebody/something She seems to get a lot out of life.
He always gets the best out of people.

ˌget ˈover something

to deal with or gain control of something
SYNONYM overcome
She can't get over her shyness.
I think the problem can be got over without too much difficulty.

ˌget ˈover something/somebody

to return to your usual state of health, happiness, etc. after an illness, a shock, the end of a
relationship, etc He was disappointed at not getting the job, but he'll get over it.

ˌget ˈover yourself

(informal) to stop thinking that you are so important; to stop being so serious Just get over
yourself and stop moaning!
He needs to grow up a bit and get over himself.

ˌget somethingˈover (to somebody)

to make something clear to somebody He didn't really get his meaning over to the audience.
 ˌget something ˈover (with)
(informal) to complete something unpleasant but necessary I'll be glad to get the exam over and
done with.

ˌget ˈround/aˈround somebody

to persuade somebody to agree or to do what you want, usually by doing nice things for them
She knows how to get round her dad.

ˌget ˈround/aˈround something

to deal with a problem successfully
SYNONYM overcome
A clever lawyer might find a way of getting round that clause.

ˌget ˈround/aˈround to something

to find the time to do something I meant to do the ironing but I didn't get round to it.
get round/around to doing something I hope to get around to answering your letter next week.

ˈget through something

1 to use up a large amount of something We got through a fortune while we were in New York!

2 to manage to do or complete something Let's start—there's a lot to get through.

ˌget ˈthrough (something)

(British English) to be successful in an exam, etc.
ˌget somebody ˈthrough something
to help somebody to be successful in an exam She got all her students through the exam.

ˌget ˈthrough (something) | ˌget something ˈthrough (something)

to be officially accepted; to make something be officially accepted They got the bill through
Congress.

ˌget ˈthrough (to somebody)

1 to reach somebody Thousands of refugees will die if these supplies don't get through to them.

2 to make contact with somebody by telephone I tried calling you several times but I couldn't
get through.

ˌget ˈthrough (to something)

(of a player or team) to reach the next stage of a competition Gulbis has got through to the final.

ˌget ˈthrough to somebody

to make somebody understand or accept what you say, especially when you are trying to help
them I find it impossible to get through to her.

ˌget ˈthrough with something

to finish or complete a task
 ˈget to somebody
(informal) to annoy or affect somebody The pressure of work is beginning to get to him.

ˌget somebody/something toˈgether

to collect people or things in one place I'm trying to get a team together for Saturday.

ˌget toˈgether (with somebody)

(informal) to meet with somebody socially or in order to discuss something We must get together
for a drink sometime.
Management should get together with the union.

RELATED NOUN get-together

ˌget ˈup
1 to stand up after sitting, lying, etc.
SYNONYM rise
The class got up when the teacher came in.

+ SYNONYMS

2 if the sea or wind gets up, it increases in strength and becomes violent
ˌget ˈup | ˌget somebody ˈup
to get out of bed; to make somebody get out of bed He always gets up early.
Could you get me up at 6.30 tomorrow?

ˌget yourself/somebody ˈup as something

[often passive] (British English) to dress yourself/somebody as somebody/something else She
was got up as an Indian princess.

RELATED NOUN get-up

ˌget somethingˈup
to arrange or organize something We're getting up a party for her birthday.

ˌget ˈup to something

1 to reach a particular point We got up to page 72 last lesson.

2 to be busy with something, especially something surprising or unpleasant What on earth will he
get up to next?
She's been getting up to her old tricks again!

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary 9th edition © Oxford University Press, 2015