Definition of get
(Entry 1 of 3)
1a
: to gain possession of
got a new bicycle
b
: to receive as a return : earn
he got a bad reputation for carelessness
2a
: to obtain by concession or entreaty
get your mother's permission to go
b
: to become affected by (a disease or bodily condition) : catch
got measles from his sister
3a
: to seek out and obtain
hoped to get dinner at the inn
b
: to obtain and bring where wanted or needed
get a pencil from the desk
4
: beget
5a
: to cause to come or go
quickly got his luggage through customs
b
: to cause to move
get it out of the house
c
: to cause to be in a certain position or condition
got his feet wet
d
: to make ready : prepare
get breakfast
6a
: to be subjected to
got a bad fall
b
: to receive by way of punishment
c
: to suffer a specified injury to
got my nose broken
7a
: to achieve as a result of military activity
b
: to obtain or receive by way of benefit or advantage
he got little for his trouble get the better of an enemy
8a
: seize
The dog got the thief by the leg.
b
: overcome
Such practices will surely get you in the end.
c
: to have an emotional effect on
the final scene always gets me
d
: irritate
the delays were starting to get her
e
: puzzle
This problem really gets me.
g
: hit
9
: to prevail on : cause
finally got them to tidy up their room
10a
: have
—used in the present perfect tense form with present meaning I've got no money
b
: to have as an obligation or necessity
—used in the present perfect tense form with present meaning you have got to come
11a
: to find out by calculation
get the answer to a problem
b
: memorize
got the verse by heart
c
: hear
Sorry, but I didn't get your name.
d
: understand
he got the joke
12
: to establish communication with
13
: to put out in baseball
14
: deliver sense 6b
the car gets 20 miles to the gallon
1a
: to succeed in coming or going : to bring or move oneself
get away to the country got into the car
b
: to reach or enter into a certain condition
got to sleep after midnight
c
: to make progress
hasn't gotten far with the essay
2
: to acquire wealth
3a
: to be able
never got to go to college
b
: to come to be
—often used with following present participle got talking about old times
4a
: to succeed in becoming : become
how to get clear of all the debts I owe— William Shakespeare
b
: to become involved
people who get into trouble with the law
5
: to leave immediately
told them to get
—used with the past participle of transitive verbs as a passive voice auxiliary they got caught in the act
get after
get ahead
get a life
get a move on
get at
get away with
get cracking
get even
get even with
get going
get into
get it
get it on
get on
get one's act together
get one's goat
get over
get real
get religion
get somewhere
get there
get through
get to
get together
get wind of
get with it
: to pursue with exhortation, reprimand, or attack
The coach really got after the players at halftime.
: to achieve success
determined to get ahead in life
: to stop wasting time on trivial or hopeless matters
: hurry
1
: to reach effectively
The valve is hard to get at unless you have a special tool.
2
: to influence corruptly : bribe
3
: to turn one's attention to
The committee finally got at the main issue.
4
: to try to prove or make clear
I don't understand what he's getting at.
: to avoid criticism or punishment for or the consequences of (such as a reprehensible act)
: to make a start : get going
ought to get cracking on that assignment
: to get revenge
: to repay in kind
: to make a start
time to get going on that assignment
: to become strongly involved with or deeply interested in
got into gymnastics at an early age
: to receive a scolding or punishment
1
: to become enthusiastic, energetic, or excited
2
: to engage in sexual intercourse
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
1
: to put one's life, thoughts, or emotions in order : cease to be confused or misdirected
2
: to begin to function in a skillful or efficient manner
the company finally got its act together
: to make one angry or annoyed
b
: to recover from
still trying to get over a bad cold
c
: to reconcile oneself to : become accustomed to
was very disappointed, but he'll get over it
2
: to move or travel across
: to stop deceiving oneself or fooling around : face reality
1
: to undergo religious conversion
2
: to turn to or adopt an enlightened course of action or point of view
: to be successful
After a difficult start we're finally getting somewhere.
: to be successful
: to reach the end of : complete
got through the ordeal unhurt
1a
: begin
gets to worrying over nothing at all
b
: to be ready to begin or deal with
I'll get to the accounts as soon as I can
1
: to bring together : accumulate
3
: to reach agreement
were unable to get together on the new contract
: to become aware of
got wind of our plans for the party
: to become alert or aware : show sophisticated consciousness
get
noun (1)Definition of get (Entry 2 of 3)
get
noun (2)Definition of get (Entry 3 of 3)
1
: a document of release from obligation in Jewish law
specifically
: a bill of divorce
2
: a religious divorce by Jewish law
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for get
The first known use of get was in the 13th century
See more words from the same century