get

verb

UK /ɡet/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	get
he/she/it	gets
present participle	getting
past tense	got
past participle	got

1
transitive never passiveto obtain, receive, or be given something
Ross’s father got a new job.
Did you get tickets for the game?
I got a fine for reckless driving.
You get ten points for each correct answer.
get something from someone:
She got a ring from her grandmother.
get someone something/get something for someone:
The social worker got the family a new flat and clothes for the children.
get an answer/reply etc:
She called out to him but got no reply.
get the chance/opportunity:
Young players will get the chance to meet one of their heroes.
get permission/approval etc:
We got permission from the council to start building.
Synonyms and related words
To get something or someone
get
come by
accept
1. 1a
  to buy something
  Where did you get that wonderful carpet?
  They had to stop and get some petrol.
  get someone something/get something for someone:
  For his birthday this year, I got my dad a sweater.
  get something for £5/£100 etc:
  You can get a jacket from a charity shop for just a few pounds.
  Synonyms and related words
  To buy something
  buy
  get
  purchase
2. 1b
  to go and bring something back from somewhere else
  She went and got a photograph out of the desk.
  get someone something/get something for someone:
  Will you get me a glass of water?
  Synonyms and related words
  To go somewhere and get something or someone
  get
  pick up
  call for
3. 1c
  to earn or receive an amount of money
  I think nurses should get more.
  Helen only gets £3 an hour.
  get £20/£100 etc for something:
  I bet you could get at least £50 for the painting.
  Synonyms and related words
  To earn a particular amount of money
  generate
  get
  get back
4. 1d
  to obtain information
  Where did you get this story?
  I need to get some details from you about the accident.
  Synonyms and related words
  To find out information
  find out
  read up on
  hear of
5. 1e
  to start to have an idea or feeling
  Sometimes he gets these weird ideas.
  I got a strange feeling in my stomach as we walked towards the house.
  get the idea/impression/feeling (that):
  I got the impression they were finding the work difficult.
  Synonyms and related words
  To form an opinion, or to have an idea
  measure
  come up with
  judge
6. 1f
  to start to have an illness or medical condition
  I hope I don’t get the flu this winter.
  She eats standing up and then gets indigestion.
  Synonyms and related words
  To have or develop an illness or symptom
  suffer
  get
  contract
7. 1g
  to obtain a benefit or have a positive feeling when you do something
  He gets a lot of pleasure from spending time with his grandchildren.
  What do you get out of all this exercise?
  Synonyms and related words
  To enjoy something, or to enjoy yourself
  like
  enjoy
  go in for
  Synonyms and related words
  To have, or to take advantage of, an opportunity
  benefit
  get
  gain
8. 1h
  to obtain a particular result
  Add more water to get a thinner batter.
  What do you get if you mix red and yellow?
  Synonyms and related words
  To involve, or to be the result of something
  result
  follow
  come out of
2
linking verb to start to be in a particular state or have a particular quality
It’s getting late – I have to go.
If that spot gets any bigger you should go to the doctor.
get wet/cold/tired/ill etc:
It was raining and we all got wet.
get angry/upset etc:
If you got angry with me for this, I wouldn’t blame you.
get difficult/interesting etc:
Things are starting to get a bit difficult at home.
get to sleep:
Do you ever have problems getting to sleep?
get hot/cold/humid etc:
It’s been getting more and more humid all afternoon.
Synonyms and related words
Linking verbs
appear
be
become
1. 2a
  linking verb to become: used with past participles to form passives
  The team is determined not to get beaten again.
  I’m sick of getting shouted at for things that aren’t my fault.
  Somehow the paper got ripped.
  You should wash that cut – it might get infected.
  Synonyms and related words
  Linking verbs
  appear
  be
  become
2. 2b
  transitive to cause someone or something to be in a particular state
  I’ll get the children dressed.
  Let’s get you completely ready to go before we call a cab.
  It took them three hours to get the fire under control.
  get someone/something dirty/wet etc:
  He got his suit all dirty.
  Synonyms and related words
  To have an effect
  shape
  impact
  affect
3. 2c
  linking verb to put on or take off clothing
  get into/out of/on/off:
  It’s almost three o’clock and you still have to get into your uniform.
  She looks forward to getting out of her business suit and into comfortable clothes at the end of the day.
  Synonyms and related words
  Linking verbs
  appear
  be
  become
  Synonyms and related words
  To remove clothes and not wear clothes
  bare
  change
  disrobe
  Synonyms and related words
  To put on or be wearing clothes and to dress other people
  put on
  wear
  get dressed
3
transitive never passiveto do something, or to have it done for you
get something done:
You need to get your hair cut.
I should be able to get the first chapter finished by tonight.
They tried to get Marly sent to prison.
get something doing something:
Hal managed to get my email working again.
She worked all afternoon on the car but never got it running.
Synonyms and related words
To do something
do
perform
conduct
1. 3a
  to make someone do something, or to persuade them to do it
  get someone to do something:
  I’ll get Andrew to give you a call.
  She couldn’t get them to understand what she was saying.
  If we could only get him to try harder.
  Synonyms and related words
  To encourage someone to do or to not do something
  encourage
  persuade
  convince
4
intransitive to move to or from a position or place
get down:
Abby had climbed a tree and couldn’t get down.
get in/into:
Dad stopped the car and told me to get in.
She forgot her keys and got into the house through the window.
get off:
The hill was so steep we had to get off and push our bikes.
get on/onto:
Watch your step when getting on the bus.
get out:
A car stopped and two men got out.
get up:
Half the audience got up and walked out.
Synonyms and related words
To go somewhere, or to move in a particular direction
head
go
progress
1. 4a
  transitive never passiveto make someone or something move to or from a position or place
  get someone/something down:
  Firefighters got him down using a ladder.
  get someone/something in/into:
  Let’s get you into the house where it’s warm.
  get someone/something off:
  It’s impossible to get him off the sofa and make him do anything.
  get someone/something on/onto:
  They managed to get him on the bed.
  get someone/something out:
  Get that dog out of my kitchen.
  get someone/something up:
  I don’t know how we’ll get this box up the stairs.
  Synonyms and related words
  General words meaning to move something
  budge
  propel
  guide
2. 4b
  intransitive to arrive at a place
  get from/to:
  How long does it take to get from London to Leeds?
  get home:
  What time did you get home last night?
  get to work/school etc:
  I usually get to work at about 8.30.
  get here/there:
  When will we get there?
  Synonyms and related words
  To arrive in a place, or to enter a place
  arrive
  enter
  reach
3. 4c
  intransitive to come to be in a position or place
  How did this button get in my bag?
  Synonyms and related words
  To be in a particular position or place
  occupy
  set
  exist
4. 4d
  transitive never passiveto send something to a person or place
  They can get a package across the Atlantic within 24 hours.
  get something to someone/something:
  We’ll get the timetable to you as soon as we have it.
  Synonyms and related words
  To send something somewhere
  send
  post
  ship
5. 4e
  transitive never passiveto travel a particular distance
  How far do you hope to get before lunch?
  He got halfway along the road, then remembered he had left his wallet behind.
  Synonyms and related words
  To travel in a vehicle
  go
  ride
  commute
5
intransitive to progress to a particular point when you are doing something
How far did you get with your homework?
get to:
I got to page 100 of this book before I understood what was going on.
Synonyms and related words
To make progress, or to achieve something
progress
get on with
get ahead
1. 5a
  intransitive informalto start doing something, making progress, or going somewhere
  get going/moving:
  They need to get going with this building work if they are going to finish before the winter.
  It’s time you got cracking on that assignment.
  get to work:
  Enough talking, let’s get to work.
  Synonyms and related words
  To start doing something
  start on
  begin
  set about
2. 5b
  transitive never passiveto make or help someone or something start doing something, making progress, or going somewhere
  get someone/something going/moving etc:
  A new manager was brought in to get things moving.
  We’d better get the kids going or they’ll be late.
  not get someone anywhere (=will not help someone to succeed):
  That aggressive attitude won’t get you anywhere with her.
  Synonyms and related words
  To have an effect
  shape
  impact
  affect
6
transitive never passiveto fit or put something in a place
get something into/in/onto something:
You can get a lot of things into this bag.
She couldn’t quite get all the text onto the page.
Synonyms and related words
General words meaning to put something somewhere
put
place
position
7
transitive never passiveinformalto understand someone or something
Everyone laughed, but Harold didn’t seem to get the joke.
get it:
I don’t get it – what’s happening?
Oh, I get it now.
get that:
Look, I get that you’re really busy, but surely you can answer an email.
get why/what etc:
I don’t really get why she couldn’t do it herself.
Synonyms and related words
To understand something
understand
know
work out
8
intransitive/transitive never passiveto have the opportunity or be able to do something
get to do something:
Did you get to visit the Louvre when you were in Paris?
Her brothers went out a lot, but Lisa never got to go.
Synonyms and related words
To have, or to take advantage of, an opportunity
benefit
get
gain
9
transitive never passiveinformalto kill someone
It was cancer that got him in the end.
Synonyms and related words
To kill a person or animal
kill
murder
strangle
1. 9a
  to attack someone
  He’s threatened to get me if he ever catches me alone.
  Synonyms and related words
  To attack a person or object
  attack
  assault
  set on
2. 9b
  to catch or punish someone
  The police need to get the person who did this.
  out to get someone (=determined to harm or punish someone):
  The way he acts, it’s like he’s out to get me.
  Synonyms and related words
  To punish someone
  punish
  discipline
  penalize
10
transitive never passivespokento answer the door or telephone
It’s OK, I’ll get it.
Synonyms and related words
Using a telephone
answer
busy
call
11
transitive never passiveto use a particular vehicle to travel somewhere
It’s easiest if you get a taxi from the station.
He usually tries to get the 9.03 train.
Synonyms and related words
To travel in a vehicle
go
ride
commute
12
transitive never passiveto be able to receive particular broadcasts on your television or radio
Do you get cable here?
Synonyms and related words
Radio, radar and sonar signals
atmospherics
directional
footprint
1. 12a
  to regularly receive a newspaper or magazine
  We get The Observer on Sundays.
  Synonyms and related words
  To get something or someone
  get
  come by
  accept
13
transitive never passiveto reach someone by telephone
Is there a number where I can get you this evening?
Could you get me the New York office right away, please.
Synonyms and related words
Using a telephone
answer
busy
call
14
transitive never passiveto prepare a meal
It’s time to start getting dinner.
get someone breakfast/lunch/dinner:
Sit down and I’ll get you lunch.
Synonyms and related words
Prepare food for cooking or eating
bake
beat
blanch
15
transitive never passivespokento annoy someone
it gets me:
It really gets me how everyone laughs at all her stupid jokes.
what gets me:
What gets me is the way he’s so smug all the time.
Synonyms and related words
To make someone angry or annoyed
annoy
provoke
anger

phrases

can I get

get it

someone’s getting there

get someone wrong

it’s getting to the stage/point where...

you/we get...

you’ve got me (there)

phrasal verbs

get about

get across

get after

get ahead

get along

get around

get around to

get at

get away

get away from

get away with

get back

get back at

get back to

get back together

get back with

get behind

get by

get down

get down on

get down to

get in

get in on

get into

get in with

get off

get off on

get off with

get on

get on at

get onto

get on with

get out

get out of

get over

get over with

get past

get round

get round to

get through

get through to

get to

get together

get up

get up to

get