\ ˈget
, nonstandard ˈgit
\
, nonstandard ˈgit
\
got\
ˈgät
\; got or gotten\
ˈgä-tᵊn
\; getting
\; got or gotten\
ˈgä-tᵊn
\; getting
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)
\ ˈget
\
\
Definition of get (Entry 2 of 3)
get
noun (2)
\ ˈget
\
\
plural gittin\
gē-ˈtēn
, ˈgi-tin
\
, ˈgi-tin
\
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
Synonyms & Antonyms for get
Synonyms: Verb
Synonyms: Noun (1)
Antonyms: Verb
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Cite this Entry
“Get.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/get. Accessed 15 Aug. 2022.
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More Definitions for get
get
verb
\ ˈget
\
\
got\
ˈgät
\; got or gotten\
ˈgä-tᵊn
\; getting\
ˈge-tiŋ
\
Kids Definition of get
1
: to gain possession of (as by receiving, earning, buying, or winning)
Everyone gets a present. I got new clothes.
2
: to obtain by request or as a favor
Did you get permission?
3
: to come to have
I got a good night's sleep.
4
: catch entry 1 sense 5
He got pneumonia.
5
: arrive sense 1
We got home early.
6
: go sense 1, move
Get out! She gets about on crutches.
7
: become sense 1
Don't get angry. It's getting warmer.
8
: to cause to be
I got my feet wet.
9
: prepare sense 2
You relax while I get dinner.
10
: irritate sense 1
Don't let his teasing get to you.
11
: hit entry 1 sense 1
The snowball got him on the head.
12
: to find out by calculation
Did you get the answer yet?
13
: to hear correctly
Sorry, I didn't get your name.
14
: understand sense 1
Oh, now I get it.
15
: persuade
We got them to lower the price.
get ahead
get along
get around
get at
get away
get away with
get back at
get by
get even
get into
get it
get off
get on
get out
get over
get up
get wind of
: to achieve success (as in business)
1
: to approach old age
She's getting along in years.
2
: to stay friendly
The boys got along well.
3
: to manage with little
They get along on a small income.
1
: to become known by many people
The rumor quickly got around.
2
: to avoid having to deal with
He found a way to get around the rules.
3
: to do or give attention to eventually
I'll get around to it.
1
: to reach with or as if with the hand
I can't get at the switch.
2
: to deal with
There's lots to do so let's get at it.
3
: to say or suggest in an indirect way
Just what are you getting at?
: to avoid being caught
The robber got away.
: to not be punished for
You won't get away with lying.
: to get revenge on
I'll get back at him for what he did.
1
: to manage with little
We can get by with what we have.
2
: to do well enough to avoid failure
I'm just getting by in this class.
: to get revenge
Are you going to forgive her, or get even?
: to become deeply interested in
She's really gotten into music.
: to receive punishment
You're going to get it when Mom gets home.
1
: to start out on a journey
They got off on their trip.
2
: to escape punishment or harm
He got off with just a warning.
1
: to approach old age
My grandparents are getting on.
2
: to start or continue doing
Come on, let's get on with it.
3
: to stay friendly
The neighbors all got on fine.
1
: escape entry 1 sense 1
Everyone got out alive.
2
: to become known
The secret got out.
1
: to stop feeling unhappy about
She's disappointed, but she'll get over it.
2
: to recover from
I finally got over my cold.
1
: to arise from bed
3
: to find the ability
I couldn't get up the nerve to speak.
: to become aware of : hear about
I got wind of their little scheme.
get
transitive verb
\ (ˈ)get
\
\
got\
(ˈ)gät
\; got or gotten\
ˈgät-ᵊn
\; getting
\; got or gotten\
ˈgät-ᵊn
\; getting
Medical Definition of get
: to catch or become affected by (a disease or bodily condition)
got measles from his brother got her period
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Time Traveler for get
The first known use of get was in the 13th century
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