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

Grahovac got on with a single to center field before Duer flew out to center. —Tony Catalina, Austin American Statesman, 7 Mar. 2026

This phenomenon — that thousands of people become interested in curling every four years and decide to get on the ice — is well documented. —Anusha Mathur, NPR, 7 Mar. 2026

Crashes on Interstate 70 meant a closure for traffic attempting to get on the highway at Genesee. —Alan Gionet, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2026

Rafaela was 0 for 4, but got on base in the ninth via two-out hit by a pitch before Bogaerts (1 for 5) lined out to short to end the game. —Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 6 Mar. 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