get back

verb

got back; got back or gotten back; getting back; gets back

intransitive verb

1

: to come or go again to a person, place, or condition : return, revert

getting back to the main topic of the lecture

2

: to gain revenge : retaliate

—usually used with at

transitive verb

: to regain possession of : recover

Synonyms of get back

• retrieve
• regain
• recapture
• recover

Examples of get back in a Sentence

the distraught owner cried that she would do anything to get back her lost dog

Recent Examples on the Web

The man managed to escape, get back in his car and drive off, according to the report. — Tristan Maglunog, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026

Bay Area residents seeking to drive to Southern California along an iconic highway that passes through Big Sur were finally able to do so again Saturday, the latest sign that things are getting back to normal even as a major wildfire burns. — Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 22 Aug. 2026

Fried got back on the mound Saturday and threw a successful side session, keeping that goal in play. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 22 Aug. 2026

Willis quickly got back in his car and attempted to drive away, but Petrus pulled out a gun and shot him through the car’s window, his girlfriend would later tell police. — Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1587, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for get back

• aback
• attack
• backpack
• backtrack
• bareback
• blackjack
• brownback
• buyback
• callback
• cognac
• comeback
• cutback

Kids Definition

get back

verb

1

: to return to a person, place, or condition

getting back to our first topic

2

: to get revenge

get back at him for the insult

3

: to regain possession of