From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishgetget /ɡet/ ●●● S1 W1 verb (past tense got, past participle got /ɡɒt $ ɡɑːt/ British English, gotten /ˈɡɒtn $ ˈɡɑːtn/ American English, present participle getting) 1 receive [transitive]GET to receive something that someone gives you or sends you She got loads of presents. What did you get for Christmas? We get a lot of junk mail.get something from somebody We got a letter from Pam this morning.get something off somebody spoken informal I got it off my Dad. I got a few games free when I bought my computer.2 obtain [transitive]GET to obtain something by finding it, asking for it, or paying for it We need to get help quickly! It would be a good idea to get professional advice. You may be able to get a grant from the local authority. He cleared his throat to get our attention.get something for somebody I want you to get some information for me.get somebody something His father managed to get him a job at the local factory.3 bring [transitive]TAKE/BRING to bring someone or something back from somewhere Run upstairs and get a pillow. I went back into the office to get a pen. Shall I go and get the phone book?get somebody/something from something She’s just gone to get the kids from school.get something for somebody I’ll get a towel for you.get somebody something I’ll get you a chair.► see thesaurus at bring4 buy [transitive]GET a) to buy something Where did you get that jacket?get something for somebody Joe’s going to get tickets for all of us.get somebody something While you’re out, could you get me some batteries?get yourself something He’s just got himself a new van.get something from something I usually get vegetables from the supermarket.get something for $20/£100/50p etc You can get a decent PC for about £500 now. It’s a lovely coat, and I managed to get it cheap in the sales. b) spoken to pay for something for someone else I’ll get these drinks. c) to buy a newspaper regularly My parents always used to get the ‘Daily Telegraph’.► see thesaurus at buy5 money [transitive]BBGET a) to receive money for doing work Hospital doctors get a minimum of £50,000 a year.get £2,000/$4,000 etc for doing something He gets £4 an hour for stacking shelves. b) to receive money when you sell somethingget £100/$200 etc for something You should get a couple of hundred pounds for your old car. Did you get a good price for it?► see thesaurus at earn 6 have a feeling/idea [transitive] to start to have a feeling or an idea She began to get an uncomfortable feeling that she was being watched. I got a terrible shock when I saw how ill he looked. I got the impression that everyone was fed up with us.get pleasure from/out of something She gets a lot of pleasure from her garden.7 have/experience [transitive] to have, do, or experience something You don’t get enough exercise. I never get time to read these days. The west of the country gets quite a lot of rain. We might get the chance to go to America this year.8 illness [transitive not in passive]MIGET to catch an illness I got flu last winter and was in bed for three weeks. She was worried she might get food poisoning.9 achieve [transitive] to achieve something I got 98% in my last maths test. the person who gets the highest score10 receive a punishment [transitive] to receive something as a punishment He got ten years in prison for his part in the robbery. 11 arrive [intransitive always + adverb/preposition]ARRIVE to arrive somewhere What time will we get there? We didn’t get home until midnight.get to We got to Paris that evening.► see thesaurus at arrive12 reach a point [intransitive always + adverb/preposition]REACH to reach a particular point or stage of something I’ve got as far as chapter 5. I couldn’t wait to get to the end of the book. Where have you got up to in the story? It was disappointing to lose, having got this far in the competition.13 → get (somebody) somewhere/anywhere/nowhere14 move [intransitive always + adverb/preposition]MOVE/CHANGE POSITION to move or go somewhere Get out of my house! We managed to get past the guards. They shouted at us to get back. Peter got to his feet (=stood up).15 make something move [transitive always + adverb/preposition]MOVE something OR somebody to make something or someone move to a different place or position, especially with some difficulty I couldn’t get the disk out of the computer. Could you help me get the wardrobe up the stairs? We must get food and emergency aid into the area as quickly as possible.16 TTtravel [transitive]GET ON OR OFF A BUS, PLANE ETC to travel somewhere on a train, bus etc You can get a bus to the station. I got the 9.15 from London to Edinburgh. 17 become [linking verb]BECOME to change to a new feeling, situation, or state SYN become Don’t get upset. She soon got bored with the job. He calmed down as he got older. Eat your dinner before it gets cold. This is getting silly.get to be something informal It’s getting to be a problem.► see thesaurus at becomeGRAMMAR: Linking verbsIn this meaning, get is used as a linking verb. It links the subject of the sentence with an adjective: I’m getting tired now.It soon got dark.18 make somebody/something become something [transitive] to make someone or something change to a new feeling, situation, or state Sometimes she gets me so angry! Don’t get the children too excited. He was terrified of getting her pregnant. It took them 15 minutes to get the boat ready.19 be hurt/broken etc [linking verb, transitive] used to say that something, especially something bad, happens to someone or somethingget hurt/broken/stolen etc You might get hurt if you stand there. Mind the camera doesn’t get broken. My dad got killed in a car crash. I knew I would get shouted at if I was late home. This is a question we very often get asked.get something caught/stuck etc She got her foot caught in the wire.20 make something happen to somebody/something [transitive] a) to accidentally make someone or something experience something You’re going to get us all killed! Mind you don’t get yourself burned. b) to do something, or arrange for it to be done I need to get the washing machine fixed. We must get this work finished on time.21 make something do something [transitive]FORCE somebody TO DO something to make something do a particular thingget something to do something I couldn’t get the engine to start.get something doing something We got the lawn mower working again eventually. 22 make somebody do something [transitive] to persuade or force someone to do somethingget somebody to do something I’ll get Terry to check the wiring for me. We couldn’t get him to sign the agreement.get somebody doing something In the end, we got the children clearing the playground.23 understand [transitive] informalUNDERSTAND to understand something I don’t think she got the joke. I don’t get it – it doesn’t make sense.get what/how/who etc I still don’t get how she knew about the meeting.GrammarIn this meaning, get is not used in the progressive. You say: I get it. ✗Don’t say: I’m getting it.► see thesaurus at understand24 cook [transitive]DFC to prepare food or a meal She’s just getting lunch.get somebody something Shall I get you a sandwich?25 radio/television [transitive]TCB to be able to receive a particular radio signal, television station etc Can you get satellite TV here?26 answer the door/telephone [transitive] informal to answer the door or telephone Can you get the phone? 27 catch somebody [transitive] to catch someone The police got him in the end.28 hurt/kill somebody [transitive] informal to attack, hurt, or kill someone The other gang members threatened to get him if he went to the police. I’ll get you for this!29 trick somebody [transitive] informal to deceive or trick someone I got you that time!30 on the telephone [transitive] if you get someone on the telephone, they answer the telephone when you have made a call, and so you talk to them I tried phoning him at work, but I just got his secretary.31 → get doing something32 → get to do something33 → get to like/know/understand somebody/somethingSPOKEN PHRASES34 → you get something35 → you’ve got me (there)36 → it/what gets me37 → get thisGRAMMAR: Using the passiveGet is not usually used in the passive. If you want to use a passive verb, it may be better to use obtain, which is often used in the passive. You say: Most of our electricity is obtained from nuclear power. ✗Don’t say: Most of our electricity is got from nuclear power.THESAURUSget [not in passive] to get something by finding it, asking for it, or paying for itI’ve been trying to get some information.She went to the bank to get some money.obtain formal to get somethingMaps and guides can be obtained from the tourist office.The newspaper has obtained a copy of the letter.acquire formal to get something – used about knowledge, skills, or something big or expensiveThe course helps older people to acquire computing skills.He acquired the property in 1985.inherit to get someone’s money or property after they dieJo inherited a lot of money from her mother.gain to get something useful or necessary, such as knowledge or experienceI’ve gained a lot of useful experience.The research helped us gain an insight into how a child’s mind works.earn to get something because you deserve itHe had earned a reputation as a peacemaker.She earned a lot of respect from her colleagues.get hold of something informal to get something that is rare or difficult to findI’m trying to get hold of a ticket for the game.lay your hands on something informal to get something that you want very much or that you have spent a lot of time looking forI read every book I could lay my hands on. → get about → get across → get ahead → get along → get around → get around to something → get at somebody/something → get away → get away from somebody/something → get away with something → get back → get back at somebody → get back to somebody → get behind → get by → get down → get down to something → get in → get in on something → get in with somebody → get into something → get off → get off on something → get off with somebody → get on → get onto somebody/something → get out → get out of something → get over → get round → get round to something → get through → get (something) through to somebody → get to somebody/something → get together → get up → get up to something→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
get• Did you hear? Stuart got a new job• How much are you getting a week?• Here's the card I got from Jane.• Guess what he got her for her birthday - an iron!• "Do you understand?" "Yeah, we've got it, " one of the drivers replied.• Barbara Howell and her husband, Kenneth (Barbie and Ken, get it?) run a bed-and-breakfast inn.• Dinner's ready. Can you get Jo?• Don't worry about me getting lost, I'll find it.• Could you get me my keys from the kitchen?• Did you get my message?• Forget the cooking, let's go get takeout.• Can you get the bags out of the car?• Did you remember to get the bread?• He thinks he got the cold from someone in the office.• Hi, I'm trying to get the customer services department.• Can someone get the door - I'm in the shower!• Did you get the job?• Getting the money for the house wasn't easy.• By the time we got to New York, it was snowing.• Go and get your father. He's in the garden.get something from somebody• How much money did you get from Grandma?get somebody something• My parents got me this T-shirt in Switzerland.go and get• I'd better go and get it straight.• If we don't go and get it the rats and rooks come and I don't like fighting rats.• Say we picture ourselves in a desert and all these people want some water, but one person goes and gets it?• He was going to go and get Janine and the baby and if necessary drag her to the flat in Westbourne Park.• Look, why don't you go and get some food together?• Tomorrow we would have to go and get them stocked up properly.• By nine that same evening I was being begged to go and get them!• Now, go and get those three lads some tea.get ... cheap• They still expected to get cheap baked beans, but would pay over the odds for high-quality fresh food.• We get cheap errors here or there.• During an air-fare war, you may get the cheapest fare by taking advantage of this offer.• Moreover, getting the cheapest rate depends on where you call, and, more importantly, when.• It would then switch itself on at a time when the electricity company has agreed it will get the cheapest rate.• And as phones get cheaper, they are within the reach of more people than just businessmen.• In comparison, the Eskimos got off cheap, though in a brutal way.• Do yu tell yu friends how yu get yu cheap thrills?get to• I want to get there before the store closes.• What time do you usually get home in the evening?• I'll call her when I get back to Chicago.• I've got to go on studying.• Unfortunately, getting to it remains unclear.• The movie gets to its mysterious combat island with a cool buildup and a sense of wonder.• You should have seen me-not too pleasant, but the pressure got to me.• When I got to my room, I opened the door and stood there with my eyes closed.• Turn left, and walk down the street until you get to some traffic lights.• It'll take us about half an hour to get to the airport.• I got to the chemist five minutes before closing time and the place was jam-packed with the elderly and respectable.• You might be disappointed when you get to the end of the book.• But if the case gets to the Law Lords, how could they conclude other than in Mr Straw's favour?• She had fallen and broken her ankle and couldn't get to the phone.• A message I've got to work out.• Can you get to your coffee, if I put it here?got to ... feet• Her heart dropped like a stone and somehow she got to her feet.• Hugh Bawn got to his feet.• Whitlock cursed angrily and got to his feet.• He got to his feet and crossed to the window of the office.• Scrambling, she got to her feet and made a grab at the kitchen knife at the sink.• He was cured, got to his feet, and preached at a revival in which many souls were saved.• Oswald got to his feet, approached the white line, stood staring at the urinal.• When I got to my feet I wiped a mixture of snot and blood from my nose and looked around.get to be something• Leonora was getting to be a pain, probing into the affairs of the company.• I want to get to be buddy-like with my folks.• I got to be careful about remembering to switch it off.• You got to be careful when the pavements are frosty cos you can slip and hurt yourself.• I got to be grown up and ask people the way.• But that's what you got to be in this job.• But it's got to be more than that.get hurt/broken/stolen etc• I don't want anybody to get hurt.• It was he who flipped the car, and she who got hurt.• Leith afterwards supposed she should have realised that that state of affairs could not go on indefinitely without some one getting hurt.• No one would pretend to be Jamie again, no one would get hurt.• He really got hurt in our last game when we lost to the Steelers in the playoffs.• Some people got hurt on mine, killed on others.• Sooner or later some one will get hurt trying to get away from him.• Male speaker People are going to get hurt, whichever way the vote goes.get something to do something• Bonnie couldn't get the light to work.get somebody to do something• I tried to get Teresa to come out tonight, but she was too busy.• I'm sure I can get Eddie to do it.• Parents learn ways to talk to and carry a baby to get it to stop crying.• My girlfriend is always trying to get me to stop smoking.get it• "So the plant takes in carbon dioxide and gives out oxygen.'' "That's it. You've got it.''• Now, I might just get it.• So you got it from both.• You couldn't get it into perspective at all.• To get it, just download it from http: / / www. macromedia. com /.• Either you've got it or you haven't.• We could get it over with right now if you like.• I told myself to go ahead, open the purse and get it over with.• Just get it through your tiny 1914-pattern mind that you have started a constitutional crisis!• You're really going to get it when Dad gets home.• Oh, now I get it - you have to divide 489 by 3.• Okay, I get it. You only get paid if you sell at least ten copies.From Longman Business Dictionarygetget /get/ verb (past tense got /gɒtgɑːt/, past participle got British English, gotten /ˈgɒtnˈgɑːtn/ American English, present participle getting)1[transitive] to receive a particular amount of moneyUganda continues to get about $100 million a year in foreign aid.The company still gets a good return on its investments.2to be given or obtain a job or workAfter university, Jonathan tried to get a job in journalism.They should be getting a lot of work through the Channel Tunnel project. → get something → across → get ahead → get around something → get back to somebody → get by → get down to something → get into something → get on with something → get out → get out ahead → get round something → get through→ See Verb tableOrigin get (1200-1300) Old Norse geta 