get on

verb

got on; got on or gotten on; getting on; gets on

intransitive verb

1

: get along

was getting on in years

got on well with the boss

get on with the game

2

: to gain knowledge or understanding

got on to the racket

transitive verb

1

: to produce an unfortunate effect on : upset

the noise got on my nerves

2

: to criticize insistently

the fans got on him for losing the game

Synonyms of get on

• cope
• do
• get by
• get along
• make do
• make ends meet

Examples of get on in a Sentence

despite his new job's low pay, he was still getting on

find out how the marketing department is getting on with the new ad campaign

Recent Examples on the Web

Rather than accept his acclaim, a boozy Lee gets on stage and immediately tears into the crowd for being sellouts. — Michael Schneider, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026

The flight went on as planned, but these men knew my grandfather and heard that his daughters were getting on the plane. — Suzy Exposito, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Video shared by the sheriff’s office captures the deputy confronting Wooten and repeatedly ordering him to take his hands out of his pockets, turn around and get on his knees. — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026

The idea is to sound like an inferior buck in the brush, one that is roaming around a mature deer’s space and getting on his nerves. — Michael Hanback, Outdoor Life, 14 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1805, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Rhymes for get on

• anton
• argon
• axon
• baronne
• baryon
• baton
• boron
• buisson
• bygone
• capon
• cardon
• chiffon

Kids Definition

get on

verb

1

: get along sense 3

they got on well

2

: to start dealing with

I'll get on it right away

3

: to criticize (someone) repeatedly

4

: to grow old