get */*/*/

UK [ɡet] / US verb
Word forms "get":
present tense I/you/we/they get he/she/it gets present participle getting past tense got UK [ɡɒt] / US [ɡɑt] past participle got

1) [transitive, never passive] to obtain, receive, or be given something

Ross's father got a new job.

Did you get tickets for the game?

I got a fine for reckless driving.

You get ten points for each correct answer.

get something from someone:

She got a ring from her grandmother.

get someone something/get something for someone:

The social worker got the family a new flat and clothes for the children.

get an answer/reply etc:

She called out to him but got no reply.

get the chance/opportunity:

Young players will get the chance to meet one of their heroes.

get permission/approval etc:

We got permission from the council to start building.

a) to buy something

Where did you get that wonderful carpet?

They had to stop and get some petrol.

get someone something/get something for someone:

For his birthday this year, I got my dad a sweater.

get something for £5/£100 etc:

You can get a jacket from a charity shop for just a few pounds.

b) to go and bring something back from somewhere else

She went and got a photograph out of the desk.

get someone something/get something for someone:

Will you get me a glass of water?

c) to earn or receive an amount of money

I think nurses should get more.

Helen only gets £3 an hour.

get £20/£100 etc for something:

I bet you could get at least £50 for the painting.

d) to obtain information

Where did you get this story?

I need to get some details from you about the accident.

e) to start to have an idea or feeling

Sometimes he gets these weird ideas.

I got a strange feeling in my stomach as we walked towards the house.

get the idea/impression/feeling (that):

I got the impression they were finding the work difficult.

f) to start to have an illness or medical condition

I hope I don't get the flu this winter.

She eats standing up and then gets indigestion.

g) to obtain a benefit or have a positive feeling when you do something

He gets a lot of pleasure from spending time with his grandchildren.

What do you get out of all this exercise?

h) to obtain a particular result

Add more water to get a thinner batter.

What do you get if you mix red and yellow?

2) [linking verb] to start to be in a particular state or have a particular quality

It's getting late – I have to go.

If that spot gets any bigger you should go to the doctor.

get wet/cold/tired/ill etc:

It was raining and we all got wet.

get angry/upset etc:

If you got angry with me for this, I wouldn't blame you.

get difficult/interesting etc:

Things are starting to get a bit difficult at home.

get to sleep:

Do you ever have problems getting to sleep?

get hot/cold/humid etc:

It's been getting more and more humid all afternoon.

a) [linking verb] to become: used with past participles to form passives

The team is determined not to get beaten again.

I'm sick of getting shouted at for things that aren't my fault.

Somehow the paper got ripped.

You should wash that cut – it might get infected.

b) [transitive] to cause someone or something to be in a particular state

I'll get the children dressed.

Let's get you completely ready to go before we call a cab.

It took them three hours to get the fire under control.

get someone/something dirty/wet etc:

He got his suit all dirty.

c) [linking verb] to put on or take off clothing

get into/out of/on/off:

It's almost three o'clock and you still have to get into your uniform.

She looks forward to getting out of her business suit and into comfortable clothes at the end of the day.

3)

a) [transitive, never passive] to do something, or to have it done for you

get something done:

You need to get your hair cut.

I should be able to get the first chapter finished by tonight.

They tried to get Marly sent to prison.

get something doing something:

Hal managed to get my email working again.

She worked all afternoon on the car but never got it running.

b) to make someone do something, or to persuade them to do it

get someone to do something:

I'll get Andrew to give you a call.

She couldn't get them to understand what she was saying.

If we could only get him to try harder.

4) [intransitive] to move to or from a position or place

get down:

Abby had climbed a tree and couldn't get down.

get in/into:

Dad stopped the car and told me to get in.

She forgot her keys and got into the house through the window.

get off:

The hill was so steep we had to get off and push our bikes.

get on/onto:

Watch your step when getting on the bus.

get out:

A car stopped and two men got out.

get up:

Half the audience got up and walked out.

a) [transitive, never passive] to make someone or something move to or from a position or place

get someone/something down:

Firefighters got him down using a ladder.

get someone/something in/into:

Let's get you into the house where it's warm.

get someone/something off:

It's impossible to get him off the sofa and make him do anything.

get someone/something on/onto:

They managed to get him on the bed.

get someone/something out:

Get that dog out of my kitchen.

get someone/something up:

I don't know how we'll get this box up the stairs.

b) [intransitive] to arrive at a place

get from/to:

How long does it take to get from London to Leeds?

get home:

What time did you get home last night?

get to work/school etc:

I usually get to work at about 8.30.

get here/there:

When will we get there?

c) [intransitive] to come to be in a position or place

How did this button get in my bag?

d) [transitive, never passive] to send something to a person or place

They can get a package across the Atlantic within 24 hours.

get something to someone/something:

We'll get the timetable to you as soon as we have it.

e) [transitive, never passive] to travel a particular distance

How far do you hope to get before lunch?

He got halfway along the road, then remembered he had left his wallet behind.

5) [intransitive] to progress to a particular point when you are doing something

How far did you get with your homework?

get to:

I got to page 100 of this book before I understood what was going on.

a) [intransitive] informal to start doing something, making progress, or going somewhere

get going/moving:

They need to get going with this building work if they are going to finish before the winter.

It's time you got cracking on that assignment.

get to work:

Enough talking, let's get to work.

b) [transitive, never passive] to make or help someone or something start doing something, making progress, or going somewhere

get someone/something going/moving etc:

A new manager was brought in to get things moving.

We'd better get the kids going or they'll be late.

not get someone anywhere (= will not help someone to succeed):

That aggressive attitude won't get you anywhere with her.

6) [transitive, never passive] to fit or put something in a place

get something into/in/onto something:

You can get a lot of things into this bag.

She couldn't quite get all the text onto the page.

7) [transitive, never passive] informal to understand someone or something

Everyone laughed, but Harold didn't seem to get the joke.

get it:

I don't get it – what's happening?

Oh, I get it now.

get why/what etc:

I don't really get why she couldn't do it herself.

8) [intransitive/transitive, never passive] to have the opportunity or be able to do something

get to do something:

Did you get to visit the Louvre when you were in Paris?

Her brothers went out a lot, but Lisa never got to go.

9) [transitive, never passive] informal to kill someone

It was cancer that got him in the end.

a) to attack someone

He's threatened to get me if he ever catches me alone.

b) to catch or punish someone

The police need to get the person who did this.

out to get someone (= determined to harm or punish someone):

The way he acts, it's like he's out to get me.

10) [transitive, never passive] spoken to answer the door or telephone

It's OK, I'll get it.

11) [transitive, never passive] to use a particular vehicle to travel somewhere

It's easiest if you get a taxi from the station.

He usually tries to get the 9.03 train.

12)

a) [transitive, never passive] to be able to receive particular broadcasts on your television or radio

Do you get cable here?

b) to regularly receive a newspaper or magazine

We get The Observer on Sundays.

13) [transitive, never passive] to reach someone by telephone

Is there a number where I can get you this evening?

Could you get me the New York office right away, please.

14) [transitive, never passive] to prepare a meal

It's time to start getting dinner.

get someone breakfast/lunch/dinner:

Sit down and I'll get you lunch.

15) [transitive, never passive] spoken to annoy someone

it gets me:

It really gets me how everyone laughs at all her stupid jokes.

what gets me:

What gets me is the way he's so smug all the time.

•

it's getting to the stage/point where... — used for saying that a situation has reached a very bad stage

Things are getting to the point where we can't stand to be in the same room.

you/we get... — spoken used for saying that something exists or can be seen in a place

You get a lot of people criticizing teachers who don't know what they're talking about.

We get a huge variety of wildlife in this area.

you've got me (there) — spoken used for saying that you do not know the answer

- get it

- someone's getting there

- get someone wrong

Phrasal verbs:

- get about

- get across

- get after

- get ahead

- get along

- get around

- get around to

- get at

- get away

- get away from

- get away with

- get back

- get back at

- get back to

- get back together

- get back with

- get behind

- get by

- get down

- get down on

- get down to

- get in

- get in on

- get into

- get in with

- get off

- get off on

- get off with

- get on

- get on at

- get onto

- get on with

- get out

- get out of

- get over

- get over with

- get past

- get round

- get round to

- get through

- get through to

- get to

- get together

- get up

- get up to

See:

hold II, know I