get along

verb

got along; got along or gotten along; getting along; gets along

intransitive verb

1

a

: to proceed toward a destination : progress

b

: to approach an advanced stage

especially : to approach old age

2

: to meet one's needs : manage

we got along on a minimum of clothing

3

: to be or remain on congenial terms

Synonyms

• cope
• do
• get by
• get on
• make out
• make ends meet
• manage

Examples of get along in a Sentence

most college students can get along with just a few hours of sleep at night

the preparations for the party are getting along just fine

Recent Examples on the Web

At a time when the American government's tariff policies and 51st state talk about Canada are creating tension, the people of Detroit and Windsor seem to be getting along just fine, thank you. —Julie Hinds, Freep.com, 10 July 2025

When introducing new ducks or geese to an existing group, caregivers should proceed with care to avoid conflict—keeping at least three that get along well, and avoiding mixing birds of very different sizes, which can lead to bullying. —Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 July 2025

China and the European Union can’t seem to get along, despite sharing a common foe in U.S. President Donald Trump and his trade war. —Brit Morse, Fortune, 9 July 2025

Though filming of the episode was completed months ago, an insider told the Miami Herald that the two women are still not getting along. —Madeleine Marr july 8, Miami Herald, 8 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1683, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for get along

• evensong
• livelong
• overlong
• vietcong
• agung
• belong
• birdsong
• furlong
• headlong
• headstrong
• lifelong
• plainsong

Kids Definition

get along

verb

1

a

: progress

b

: to approach old age

getting along in years

2

: manage sense 4

get along on a small paycheck

3

: to be or remain on pleasant terms