Get

Get (/get/) is an English verb - the 5th commonest verb in English, after be, have, would and say.^[1] As a full verb, phrasal verb and multi-word verb, it has many meanings and synonyms. It also forms part of several idioms.

Synonyms (single word)[edit]

• arrive - get home, get to the station
• become - get rich
• capture - They got him in the end
• fetch - Can you get the breadknife?
• receive - Did you get my note?
• understand - I don't get it

Phrasal verbs[edit]

• get at - nag, insinuate, reach, intimidate^[2]
• get off - several meanings^[3]
• get on - be successful, make progress,
  • be getting on - get older
• get over - recover
• get through -

Multi-word verbs[edit]

• get away with
• get hold of (someone) - contact
• get hold of (something) - acquire
• get off with (BrE)
• get on with - continue
• get out of - avoid
• get rid of

Idioms[edit]

• get (one's) act together
• get high on (something)
• get it in the neck
• get it on with (AmE)
• get (one's) own back (on someone)
• get on with it
• get with it

Get = change[edit]

Get is very often used with adjectives to refer to change, as well as the process leading to a result. With this use it is very similar in meaning to become (although there are some differences).^[4]

• The rich are getting richer
• I'm getting tired of this

A useful way of explaining this use of get to students is to point out the difference between a state (be cold) and a process (get cold or get colder):

• Your coffee's getting cold/it'll get cold vs your coffee's cold
• This is interesting - this is getting more interesting - it gets even more interesting
• it's very late vs it's getting late

Get used to ...ing[edit]

Get can usually be used as a synonym of become and grow with ... used to ...ing.

References[edit]

• "get" Oxford Dictionaries