What does “get” mean?
- 1
verbto receive, buy or obtain something
I got a nice present for my birthday.
- 2
verbto become; to change to a new state
It’s getting dark, so let’s go home.
- 3
verbto arrive at or reach a place
What time did you get home last night?
Get at a glance
- Part of speech
- verb
- CEFR level
- A1 (beginner)
- Pronunciation
- /ɡɛt/ · GET
- Forms
- got, gotten
How to use “get” correctly
In US English, the past participle is usually “gotten”: “Prices have gotten higher.” But “have got” means “have”: “I’ve got two sisters.”
Common phrases with “get”
- get up
- get married
- get better
- get to know
Synonyms, opposites and related words
Idioms with “get”
- Get cracking: To start doing something quickly, without wasting more time.
- Get the ball rolling: To start an activity or process so that others can continue it.
- Get cold feet: Suddenly become too nervous to do something you had planned or agreed to do.
- Get something off your chest: Tell someone about a worry or problem so you feel better.
“get” is on these word lists
Learn these words next
- begin verbA1to start doing something or to start happening
- break verbA1to make something separate into pieces or stop working
- bring verbA1to take someone or something with you to a place
- build verbA1to make a building or other structure by putting parts together
- change verbA1to become different, or make someone or something different
- check verbA1to look at something to see if it is correct, safe or as it should be
- close verbA1to shut something, or to stop being open
- come verbA1to move toward the speaker or the place being talked about