Dictionary
1get
verb \ˈget, ÷ˈgit\
got \ˈgät\ got or got·ten \ˈgä-tən\ get·ting
Definition of GET
transitive verb
1
a : to gain possession of b : to receive as a return : earn <he got a bad reputation for carelessness>
2
a : 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>
3
a : 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
5
a : 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>
6
a : 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>
7
a : 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>
8
9
: to prevail on : cause <finally got them to tidy up their room>
10
a : 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>
11
a : to find out by calculation <get the answer to a problem> b : memorize <got the verse by heart> c : hear d : understand <he got the joke>
12
: to establish communication with
13
: to put out in baseball
14
: deliver 6b <the car gets 20 miles to the gallon>
intransitive verb
1
a : 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
3
a : 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>
4
a : to succeed in becoming : become <how to get clear of all the debts I owe — Shakespeare> b : to become involved <people who get into trouble with the law>
5
: to leave immediately <told them to get>
verbal auxiliary
—used with the past participle of transitive verbs as a passive voice auxiliary <they got caught in the act>
— get after
: to pursue with exhortation, reprimand, or attack
— get ahead
: to achieve success <determined to get ahead in life>
— get a life
: to stop wasting time on trivial or hopeless matters
— get a move on
: hurry
— get at
1
: to reach effectively
2
: to influence corruptly : bribe
3
: to turn one's attention to
4
: to try to prove or make clear <what is he getting at>
— get away with
: to avoid criticism or punishment for or the consequences of (as a reprehensible act)
— get cracking
: to make a start : get going <ought to get cracking on that assignment>
— get even
: to get revenge
— get even with
: to repay in kind
— get going
: to make a start
— get into
: to become strongly involved with or deeply interested in
— get it
: to receive a scolding or punishment
— get it on
1
: to become enthusiastic, energetic, or excited
2
: to engage in sexual intercourse
— get on
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>
— get one's act together
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>
— get one's goat
: to make one angry or annoyed
— get over
— get real
: to stop deceiving oneself or fooling around : face reality
— get religion
1
: to undergo religious conversion
2
: to turn to or adopt an enlightened course of action or point of view
— get somewhere
: to be successful
— get there
: to be successful
— get through
: to reach the end of : complete
— get to
— get together
— get wind of
: to become aware of
— get with it
: to become alert or aware : show sophisticated consciousness
See get defined for English-language learners
See get defined for kids
Usage Discussion of GET
The pronunciation \ˈgit\ has been noted as a feature of some British and American dialects since the 16th century. In the phonetic spelling of his own speech Benjamin Franklin records git. However, since at least 1687 some grammarians and teachers have disapproved this pronunciation. It nonetheless remains in widespread and unpredictable use in many dialects, often, but not exclusively, when get is a passive auxiliary (as in get married) or an imperative (as in get up!).
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Origin of GET
Middle English, from Old Norse geta to get, beget; akin to Old English bigietan to beget, Latin prehendere to seize, grasp, Greek chandanein to hold, contain
First Known Use: 13th century
2get
noun \ˈget\
Definition of GET
2
: a return of a difficult shot in a game (as tennis)
First Known Use of GET
14th century
3get
noun \ˈget\
plural git·tin \gē-ˈtēn, ˈgi-tin\
Definition of GET
1
: a document of release from obligation in Jewish law; specifically : a bill of divorce
2
: a religious divorce by Jewish law
Origin of GET
Late Hebrew gēṭ
First Known Use: 1892
GET Defined for Kids
get
verb \ˈget\
got \ˈgät\got or got·ten \ˈgä-tən\get·ting \ˈge-tiŋ\
Definition of GET for Kids
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
: 1catch 5 <He got pneumonia.>
5
: arrive 1 <We got home early.>
7
: become 1 <Don't get angry.> <It's getting warmer.>
8
: to cause to be <I got my feet wet.>
9
: prepare 2 <You relax while I get dinner.>
10
: irritate 1 <Don't let his teasing get to you.>
11
: 1hit 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 1 <Oh, now I get it.>
15
: persuade <We got them to lower the price.>
— get ahead
: to achieve success (as in business)
— get along
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.>
— get around
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.>
— get at
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?>
— get away
: to avoid being caught <The robber got away.>
— get away with
: to not be punished for <You won't get away with lying.>
— get back at
: to get revenge on <I'll get back at him for what he did.>
— get by
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.>
— get even
: to get revenge <Are you going to forgive her, or get even?>
— get into
: to become deeply interested in <She's really gotten into music.>
— get it
: to receive punishment <You're going to get it when Mom gets home.>
— get off
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.>
— get on
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.>
— get out
1
: 1escape 1 <Everyone got out alive.>
2
: to become known <The secret got out.>
— get over
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.>
— get up
— get wind of
: to become aware of : hear about <I got wind of their little scheme.>
Medical Dictionary
get
transitive verb \(ˈ)get\
got \(ˈ)gät\ got or got·ten \ˈgät-ən\ get·ting
Medical Definition of GET
: to catch or become affected by (a disease or bodily condition) <got measles from his brother> <got her period>
Learn More About GET
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Seen & Heard
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