get around

verb

got around; got around or gotten around; getting around; gets around

transitive verb

1

: circumvent, evade

2

: to get the better of

intransitive verb

1

a

: to find or take the necessary time or effort

—used with to

b

: to give attention or consideration

—used with to

2

: to go from place to place

3

: to become known or current

word got around that he was resigning

Synonyms

• overcome
• defeat
• master
• take
• get
• worst
• beat
• best
• stop
• conquer
• dispatch
• get the better of

Examples of get around in a Sentence

somehow, an inexperienced lawyer managed to get around the media giant's stable of high-priced legal eagles

somehow she managed to get around the rules for paying the sales tax on a car bought out of state

Recent Examples on the Web

Soon enough, word gets around that a mysterious missile has been launched from the Pacific Ocean and the realization of the consequences set in, especially when it’s determined that the thing is hitting a city in a matter of 18 minutes. —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025

To get around the tracks legally would require walking down to an intersection to cross, then walking back, adding at least 10 minutes. —Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 22 Oct. 2025

Kids can get around this by creating variations with misspellings. —​wendy Wisner, Parents, 22 Oct. 2025

Luostarinen got around Lohrei and roofed it past Swayman. —Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 22 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1798, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 3

Rhymes for get around

• aboveground
• battleground
• belowground
• paperbound
• turnaround
• ultrasound
• underground
• wraparound
• abound
• aground
• astound
• background

Kids Definition

get around

verb

1

: evade

2

: to do or deal with (something not yet done or dealt with)

will get around to it

3

: to go from place to place

4

: to become known

word got around