v.
(gets, getting; past got; past part. got, N. Amer. or archaic gotten)
- come to have or hold; receive.
▸experience, suffer, or be afflicted with (something bad).
- succeed in attaining, achieving, or experiencing; obtain.
- move in order to pick up, deal with, or bring.
▸tend to meet with or find.
▸travel by or catch (a form of transport).
- bring or come into a specified state or condition.
▸used with past participle to form the passive mood:
the cat got drowned.
▸begin to be or do something, especially gradually or by chance:
we got talking.
- come, go, or reach:
I got to the airport.
▸move or come into a specified position or state:
she got into the car.
-
(have got)
see have.
- catch, apprehend, or thwart.
▸strike or wound with a blow or missile.
▸informal punish, injure, or kill, especially as retribution.
▸
(get one's)
informal be killed or suffer retribution.
- informal understand (an argument or the person making it).
- archaic acquire (knowledge) by study.
n.
- dated an animal's offspring.
- Brit. informal or dialect an unpleasant or stupid person.
Phrase
- get one's own back
informal have one's revenge. - get over oneself
informal stop being conceited or pretentious. - getting on for
chiefly Brit. almost (a specified time, age, or amount). - get someone with child
archaic make a woman pregnant.
Phrase verbal
- get something across
manage to communicate an idea clearly. - get ahead
become successful in one's life or career. - get along
- another way of saying get on (in sense 2).
- manage to live or survive.
- get at
- reach or gain access to.
▸bribe or unfairly influence.
- informal imply.
- Brit. informal criticize subtly and repeatedly.
- get away
- escape.
- informal said to express disbelief or scepticism.
- get away with
escape blame or punishment for. - get back at
take revenge on. - get by
manage with difficulty to live or accomplish something. - get down
N. Amer. informal dance energetically. - get down to
begin to do or give serious attention to. - get off
- informal escape a punishment; be acquitted.
- go to sleep.
-
(usu. get off with)
Brit. informal have a sexual encounter.
- N. Amer. vulgar slang have an orgasm.
- get off on
informal be excited or aroused by. - get on
- manage or make progress with a task.
▸chiefly Brit. be successful in one's life or career.
- chiefly Brit. have a harmonious or friendly relationship.
-
(be getting on)
informal be old or comparatively old.
- get out of
contrive to avoid or escape. - get over
- recover from (an ailment or an unpleasant experience).
- overcome (a difficulty).
- get something over
- manage to communicate an idea or theory.
- promptly complete an unpleasant or tedious but necessary task.
- get round
(or N. Amer. around)
- coax or persuade (someone) to do or allow something.
- deal successfully with (a problem).
▸evade (a regulation or restriction) without contravening it.
- get round to
(or N. Amer. around to)
deal with (a task) in due course. - get through
- pass or endure (a difficult experience or period).
- chiefly Brit. use up (a large amount or number of something).
- make contact by telephone.
▸succeed in communicating with someone.
- get to
- informal annoy or upset by persistent action.
- another way of saying get round to.
- get together
gather or assemble socially or to cooperate. - get up
- rise from bed after sleeping.
- (of wind or the sea) become strong or agitated.
- get someone up
dress someone in a specified smart, elaborate, or unusual way. - get something up
prepare or organize a project or piece of work. - get up to
Brit. informal be involved in (something illicit or surprising).
Derivative
Etymology
ME: from ON geta ‘obtain, beget, guess’; rel. to OE gietan.