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get

¹get

verb \ˈget, ÷ˈgit\

got\ˈgät\got or got·ten\ˈgä-t^ən\get·ting

Definition of GET

transitive verb

a : to gain possession of b : to receive as a return : earn <he got a bad reputation for carelessness>

a : to obtain by concession or entreaty <get your mother's permission to go> b : to become affected by (a disease or bodily condition) : catch <got measles from his sister>

a : to seek out and obtain <hoped to get dinner at the inn> b : to obtain and bring where wanted or needed <get a pencil from the desk>

: beget

a : to cause to come or go <quickly got his luggage through customs> b : to cause to move <get it out of the house> c : to cause to be in a certain position or condition <got his feet wet> d : to make ready : prepare <get breakfast>

a : to be subjected to <got a bad fall> b : to receive by way of punishment c : to suffer a specified injury to <got my nose broken>

a : to achieve as a result of military activity b : to obtain or receive by way of benefit or advantage <he got little for his trouble> <get the better of an enemy>

a : seize b : overcome c : to have an emotional effect on <the final scene always gets me> d : irritate <the delays were starting to get her> e : puzzle f : to take vengeance on; specifically : kill g : hit

: to prevail on : cause <finally got them to tidy up their room>

a : have —used in the present perfect tense form with present meaning <I've got no money> b : to have as an obligation or necessity —used in the present perfect tense form with present meaning <you have got to come>

a : to find out by calculation <get the answer to a problem> b : memorize <got the verse by heart> c : hear d : understand <he got the joke>

: to establish communication with

: to put out in baseball

: deliver 6b <the car gets 20 miles to the gallon>

intransitive verb

a : to succeed in coming or going : to bring or move oneself <get away to the country> <got into the car> b : to reach or enter into a certain condition <got to sleep after midnight> c : to make progress <hasn't gotten far with the essay>

: to acquire wealth

a : to be able <never got to go to college> b : to come to be —often used with following present participle <got talking about old times>

a : to succeed in becoming : become <how to get clear of all the debts I owe — Shakespeare> b : to become involved <people who get into trouble with the law>

: to leave immediately <told them to get>

verbal auxiliary

—used with the past participle of transitive verbs as a passive voice auxiliary <they got caught in the act>

— get after

: to pursue with exhortation, reprimand, or attack

— get ahead

: to achieve success <determined to get ahead in life>

— get a life

: to stop wasting time on trivial or hopeless matters

— get a move on

: hurry

— get at

: to reach effectively

: to influence corruptly : bribe

: to turn one's attention to

: to try to prove or make clear <what is he getting at>

— get away with

: to avoid criticism or punishment for or the consequences of (as a reprehensible act)

— get cracking

: to make a start : get going <ought to get cracking on that assignment>

— get even

: to get revenge

— get even with

: to repay in kind

— get going

: to make a start

— get into

: to become strongly involved with or deeply interested in

— get it

: to receive a scolding or punishment

— get it on

: to become enthusiastic, energetic, or excited

: to engage in sexual intercourse

— get on

: to produce an unfortunate effect on : upset <the noise got on my nerves>

: to criticize insistently <the fans got on him for losing the game>

— get one's act together

: to put one's life, thoughts, or emotions in order : cease to be confused or misdirected

: to begin to function in a skillful or efficient manner <the company finally got its act together>

— get one's goat

: to make one angry or annoyed

— get over

a : overcome, surmount

b : to recover from

c : to reconcile oneself to : become accustomed to

: to move or travel across

— get real

: to stop deceiving oneself or fooling around : face reality

— get religion

: to undergo religious conversion

: to turn to or adopt an enlightened course of action or point of view

— get somewhere

: to be successful

— get there

: to be successful

— get through

: to reach the end of : complete

— get to

a : begin <gets to worrying over nothing at all>

b : to be ready to begin or deal with <I'll get to the accounts as soon as I can>

: to have an effect on: as

a : influence

b : bother

— get together

: to bring together : accumulate

: to come together : assemble, meet

: to reach agreement

— get wind of

: to become aware of

— get with it

: to become alert or aware : show sophisticated consciousness

See get defined for English-language learners »

See get defined for kids »

Usage Discussion of GET

The pronunciation \ˈgit\ has been noted as a feature of some British and American dialects since the 16th century. In the phonetic spelling of his own speech Benjamin Franklin records git. However, since at least 1687 some grammarians and teachers have disapproved this pronunciation. It nonetheless remains in widespread and unpredictable use in many dialects, often, but not exclusively, when get is a passive auxiliary (as in get married) or an imperative (as in get up!).

Examples of GET

He got a new bicycle for his birthday.
I never did get an answer to my question.
I got a letter from my lawyer.
She got a phone call from her sister.
Did you get my message?
You need to get your mother's permission to go.
She hasn't been able to get a job.
If you want to be successful you need to get a good education.
It took us a while to get the waiter's attention.
It took us a while to get a taxi.

Origin of GET

Middle English, from Old Norse geta to get, beget; akin to Old English bigietan to beget, Latin prehendere to seize, grasp, Greek chandanein to hold, contain

First Known Use: 13th century