GET (getting, got, gotten)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does get mean? 

• GET (noun)
  The noun GET has 1 sense:

1. a return on a shot that seemed impossible to reach and would normally have resulted in a point for the opponent

  Familiarity information: GET used as a noun is very rare.

• GET (verb)
  The verb GET has 36 senses:

1. come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

2. enter or assume a certain state or condition

3. cause to move; cause to be in a certain position or condition

4. receive a specified treatment (abstract)

5. reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress

6. go or come after and bring or take back

7. go through (mental or physical states or experiences)

8. take vengeance on or get even

9. achieve a point or goal

10. cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner

11. succeed in catching or seizing, especially after a chase

12. come to have or undergo a change of (physical features and attributes)

13. be stricken by an illness, fall victim to an illness

14. communicate with a place or person; establish communication with, as if by telephone

15. give certain properties to something

16. move into a desired direction of discourse

17. grasp with the mind or develop an understanding of

18. attract and fix

19. reach with a blow or hit in a particular spot

20. reach by calculation

21. acquire as a result of some effort or action

22. purchase

23. perceive by hearing

24. suffer from the receipt of

25. receive as a retribution or punishment

26. leave immediately; used usually in the imperative form

27. reach and board

28. irritate

29. evoke an emotional response

30. apprehend and reproduce accurately

31. earn or achieve a base by being walked by the pitcher

32. overcome or destroy

33. be a mystery or bewildering to

34. take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

35. undergo (as of injuries and illnesses)

36. make (offspring) by reproduction

  Familiarity information: GET used as a verb is very familiar.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GET (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A return on a shot that seemed impossible to reach and would normally have resulted in a point for the opponent

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("get" is a kind of...):

return (a tennis stroke that sends the ball back to the other player)

• GET (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Synonyms:

acquire; get

Context example:

Get permission to take a few days off from work

Verb group:

find; get; incur; obtain; receive (receive a specified treatment (abstract))

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "get"):

isolate (obtain in pure form)

get back; win back (recover something or somebody that appeared to be lost)

express; extract; press out (obtain from a substance, as by mechanical action)

capture; catch (capture as if by hunting, snaring, or trapping)

come by; come into (obtain, especially accidentally)

buy; purchase (obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction)

charter; engage; hire; lease; rent; take (engage for service under a term of contract)

have; receive (get something; come into possession of)

turn (get by buying and selling)

buy (acquire by trade or sacrifice or exchange)

find (obtain through effort or management)

glom (seize upon or latch onto something)

come upon; enter upon; luck into (take possession of)

come up; find; get hold; line up (get something or somebody for a specific purpose)

accept; have; take (receive willingly something given or offered)

obtain (come into possession of)

find; recover; regain; retrieve (get or find back; recover the use of)

catch (get or regain something necessary, usually quickly or briefly)

recoup; recover; recuperate (regain or make up for)

reclaim; repossess (claim back)

find; regain (come upon after searching; find the location of something that was missed or lost)

acquire; gain; win (win something through one's efforts)

bring in; clear; earn; gain; make; pull in; realise; realize; take in (earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages)

earn; garner; win (acquire or deserve by one's efforts or actions)

benefit; gain; profit (derive a benefit from)

partake; partake in; share (have, give, or receive a share of)

preempt (acquire for oneself before others can do so)

preempt (gain possession of by prior right or opportunity, especially so as to obtain the right to buy (land))

call for; collect; gather up; pick up (gather or collect)

inherit (obtain from someone after their death)

borrow (get temporarily)

pick up (get in addition, as an increase)

get (acquire as a result of some effort or action)

poll (get the votes of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s something from somebody

Sentence example:

The children get the ball

Derivation:

getting (the act of acquiring something)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Enter or assume a certain state or condition

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

become; get; go

Context example:

Get going!

Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):

change state; turn (undergo a transformation or a change of position or action)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "get"):

sober; sober up (become sober after excessive alcohol consumption)

sober; sober up (become more realistic)

work (arrive at a certain condition through repeated motion)

take effect (go into effect or become effective or operative)

run (change from one state to another)

take (be seized or affected in a specified way)

break (come into being)

settle (become resolved, fixed, established, or quiet)

Sentence frames:

Something is ----ing PP
Something ----s Adjective/Noun
Somebody ----s Adjective
Somebody ----s PP

Sentence example:

John will get angry

Also:

get ahead (obtain advantages, such as points, etc.)

get along; get on (develop in a positive way)

get over (get on top of; deal with successfully)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Cause to move; cause to be in a certain position or condition

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

get; have; let

Context example:

He got a girl into trouble

Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):

get; make (give certain properties to something)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody PP
Somebody ----s something PP
Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE

Sense 4

Meaning:

Receive a specified treatment (abstract)

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

find; get; incur; obtain; receive

Context example:

I got nothing but trouble for my good intentions

Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):

change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)

Verb group:

acquire; get (come into the possession of something concrete or abstract)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "get"):

take (ascertain or determine by measuring, computing or take a reading from a dial)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 5

Meaning:

Reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

arrive; come; get

Context example:

She didn't get to Chicago until after midnight

Verb group:

get (reach and board)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "get"):

land; set down (reach or come to rest)

drive in (arrive by motorcar)

bring down; land; put down (cause to come to the ground)

land; set ashore; shore (arrive on shore)

roll up (arrive in a vehicle:)

come; come in (be received)

attain; hit; reach (reach a point in time, or a certain state or level)

flood in (arrive in great numbers)

draw in; get in; move in; pull in (of trains; move into (a station))

plump in (arrive suddenly and unannounced)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s PP

Sense 6

Meaning:

Go or come after and bring or take back

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

bring; convey; fetch; get

Context example:

The dog fetched the hat

Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):

channel; channelise; channelize; transfer; transmit; transport (send from one person or place to another)

"Get" entails doing...:

come; come up (move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody)

Verb group:

bring; convey; take (take something or somebody with oneself somewhere)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "get"):

retrieve (run after, pick up, and bring to the master)

retrieve (go for and bring back)

deliver (bring to a destination, make a delivery)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Sense 7

Meaning:

Go through (mental or physical states or experiences)

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

experience; get; have; receive

Context example:

have a feeling

Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):

undergo (pass through)

"Get" entails doing...:

comprehend; perceive (to become aware of through the senses)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "get"):

get; have; suffer; sustain (undergo (as of injuries and illnesses))

take (experience or feel or submit to)

horripilate (have one's hair stand on end and get goosebumps)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 8

Meaning:

Take vengeance on or get even

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Synonyms:

fix; get; pay back; pay off

Context example:

This time I got him

Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):

get back; get even (take revenge or even out a score)

Verb group:

pay (make a compensation for)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody PP

Sense 9

Meaning:

Achieve a point or goal

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Synonyms:

get; have; make

Context example:

She made 29 points that day

Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):

hit; rack up; score; tally (gain points in a game)

Verb group:

make (act in a certain way so as to acquire)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 10

Meaning:

Cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

cause; get; have; induce; make; stimulate

Context example:

My wife made me buy a new sofa

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "get"):

decide (cause to decide)

persuade (cause somebody to adopt a certain position, belief, or course of action; twist somebody's arm)

bring (induce or persuade)

solicit (incite, move, or persuade to some act of lawlessness or insubordination)

encourage (spur on)

let (actively cause something to happen)

lead (cause to undertake a certain action)

inspire; instigate; prompt (serve as the inciting cause of)

suborn (induce to commit perjury or give false testimony)

compel; obligate; oblige (force somebody to do something)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE
Somebody ----s somebody INFINITIVE

Sentence example:

They get him to write the letter

Sense 11

Meaning:

Succeed in catching or seizing, especially after a chase

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

capture; catch; get

Context example:

Did you catch the thief?

Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):

clutch; prehend; seize (take hold of; grab)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "get"):

recapture; retake (capture again)

lasso; rope (catch with a lasso)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 12

Meaning:

Come to have or undergo a change of (physical features and attributes)

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

acquire; develop; get; grow; produce

Context example:

Well-developed breasts

Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):

change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)

Verb group:

acquire; develop; evolve (gain through experience)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "get"):

feather; fledge (grow feathers)

regrow (grow anew or continue growth after an injury or interruption)

spring (develop suddenly)

sprout; stock (put forth and grow sprouts or shoots)

stool; tiller (grow shoots in the form of stools or tillers)

leaf (produce leaves, of plants)

pod (produce pods, of plants)

teethe (grow teeth; cut the baby teeth)

pupate (develop into a pupa)

get up; work up (develop)

cut (have grow through the gums)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

getting (the act of acquiring something)

Sense 13

Meaning:

Be stricken by an illness, fall victim to an illness

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

contract; get; take

Context example:

She took a chill

Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):

come down; sicken (get sick)

Verb group:

catch (contract)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "get"):

catch (contract)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 14

Meaning:

Communicate with a place or person; establish communication with, as if by telephone

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Context example:

The operator couldn't get Kobe because of the earthquake

Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):

communicate; intercommunicate (transmit thoughts or feelings)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 15

Meaning:

Give certain properties to something

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

get; make

Context example:

Make yourself clear

Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "get"):

render (cause to become)

get; have; let (cause to move; cause to be in a certain position or condition)

leave (act or be so as to become in a specified state)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s something Adjective/Noun
Somebody ----s somebody INFINITIVE

Sense 16

Meaning:

Move into a desired direction of discourse

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

aim; drive; get

Context example:

What are you driving at?

Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):

intend; mean (mean or intend to express or convey)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Sense 17

Meaning:

Grasp with the mind or develop an understanding of

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

catch; get

Context example:

I just don't get him

Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):

understand (know and comprehend the nature or meaning of)

Verb group:

catch; get (apprehend and reproduce accurately)

get (acquire as a result of some effort or action)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 18

Meaning:

Attract and fix

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

arrest; catch; get

Context example:

Catch the attention of the waiter

Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):

attract; draw; draw in; pull; pull in (direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 19

Meaning:

Reach with a blow or hit in a particular spot

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

catch; get

Context example:

The punch caught him in the stomach

Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):

hit (deal a blow to, either with the hand or with an instrument)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 20

Meaning:

Reach by calculation

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Context example:

What do you get when you add up these numbers?

"Get" entails doing...:

calculate; cipher; compute; cypher; figure; reckon; work out (make a mathematical calculation or computation)

Verb group:

get (acquire as a result of some effort or action)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 21

Meaning:

Acquire as a result of some effort or action

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Context example:

Where did she get these news?

Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):

acquire; get (come into the possession of something concrete or abstract)

Verb group:

catch; get (grasp with the mind or develop an understanding of)

get (reach by calculation)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 22

Meaning:

Purchase

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Context example:

What did you get at the toy store?

Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):

buy; purchase (obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction)

Domain category:

commerce; commercialism; mercantilism (transactions (sales and purchases) having the objective of supplying commodities (goods and services))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

getting (the act of acquiring something)

Sense 23

Meaning:

Perceive by hearing

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

catch; get

Context example:

She didn't get his name when they met the first time

Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):

hear (perceive (sound) via the auditory sense)

Verb group:

catch; overhear; take in (hear, usually without the knowledge of the speakers)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 24

Meaning:

Suffer from the receipt of

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

catch; get

Context example:

She will catch hell for this behavior!

Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):

ache; hurt; suffer (feel physical pain)

Verb group:

catch (be struck or affected by)

get; receive (receive as a retribution or punishment)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 25

Meaning:

Receive as a retribution or punishment

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

get; receive

Context example:

He got 5 years in prison

Verb group:

catch; get (suffer from the receipt of)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 26

Meaning:

Leave immediately; used usually in the imperative form

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

bugger off; buzz off; fuck off; get; scram

Context example:

Scram!

Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):

go away; go forth; leave (go away from a place)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Sense 27

Meaning:

Reach and board

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Context example:

She got the bus just as it was leaving

Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):

catch (reach in time)

Verb group:

arrive; come; get (reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 28

Meaning:

Irritate

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

get; get under one's skin

Context example:

His lying really gets me

Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):

annoy; bother; chafe; devil; get at; get to; gravel; irritate; nark; nettle; rag; rile; vex (cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations)

Verb group:

get (evoke an emotional response)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s to somebody

Sense 29

Meaning:

Evoke an emotional response

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Context example:

Brahms's 'Requiem' gets me every time

Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):

stir; touch (affect emotionally)

Verb group:

get; get under one's skin (irritate)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sentence example:

The bad news will get him

Sense 30

Meaning:

Apprehend and reproduce accurately

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

catch; get

Context example:

She got the mood just right in her photographs

Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):

reproduce (recreate a sound, image, idea, mood, atmosphere, etc.)

Verb group:

catch; get (grasp with the mind or develop an understanding of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 31

Meaning:

Earn or achieve a base by being walked by the pitcher

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

draw; get

Context example:

He drew a base on balls

Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):

effect; effectuate; set up (produce)

Domain category:

ball; baseball; baseball game (a ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players; teams take turns at bat trying to score runs)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 32

Meaning:

Overcome or destroy

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

the cat got the goldfish

Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):

destroy; ruin (destroy completely; damage irreparably)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 33

Meaning:

Be a mystery or bewildering to

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

amaze; baffle; beat; bewilder; dumbfound; flummox; get; gravel; mystify; nonplus; perplex; pose; puzzle; stick; stupefy; vex

Context example:

This question really stuck me

Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):

bedevil; befuddle; confound; confuse; discombobulate; fox; fuddle; throw (be confusing or perplexing to; cause to be unable to think clearly)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "get"):

mix up; stump (cause to be perplexed or confounded)

riddle (set a difficult problem or riddle)

elude; escape (be incomprehensible to; escape understanding by)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s somebody

Sense 34

Meaning:

Take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

begin; commence; get; get down; set about; set out; start; start out

Context example:

Let's get down to work now

Verb group:

begin (begin to speak, understand, read, and write a language)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "get"):

recommence (begin again)

strike out (set out on a course of action)

fall (begin vigorously)

jump off (set off quickly, usually with success)

get to (arrive at the point of)

auspicate (commence in a manner calculated to bring good luck)

attack (set to work upon; turn one's energies vigorously to a task)

break in (start in a certain activity, enterprise, or role)

launch; plunge (begin with vigor)

come on (occur or become available)

embark; enter (set out on (an enterprise or subject of study))

bestir oneself; get cracking; get going; get moving; get rolling; get started; get weaving (start to be active)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE
Somebody ----s VERB-ing

Sentence example:

They get moving

Sense 35

Meaning:

Undergo (as of injuries and illnesses)

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

get; have; suffer; sustain

Context example:

He got his arm broken in the scuffle

Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):

experience; get; have; receive (go through (mental or physical states or experiences))

Verb group:

have (suffer from; be ill with)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "get"):

break down; collapse (collapse due to fatigue, an illness, or a sudden attack)

cramp (suffer from sudden painful contraction of a muscle)

break up; collapse; crack; crack up; crock up (suffer a nervous breakdown)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 36

Meaning:

Make (offspring) by reproduction

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

beget; bring forth; engender; father; generate; get; mother; sire

Context example:

John fathered four daughters

Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):

create; make (make or cause to be or to become)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

 Context examples 

Well, sir, you certainly got equal with me on that.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

We have every hope of clearing the matter up, but we find a little difficulty in getting anything to work upon.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely upon an income of about £ 60.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Staying home won’t get you anywhere—go out and celebrate life!

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Toto jumped out of Dorothy's arms and hid under the bed, and the girl started to get him.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

I removed from the Old Jewry to Fetter Lane, and from thence to Wapping, hoping to get business among the sailors; but it would not turn to account.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

There was a brief pause in the conversation they were trying to get started.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

But I hope you will get over it, and live to see many young men of four thousand a year come into the neighbourhood.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Once, during a brief halt, when he got tangled in the traces and delayed the start, both Dave and Sol-leks flew at him and administered a sound trouncing.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

Buda-Pesth seems a wonderful place, from the glimpse which I got of it from the train and the little I could walk through the streets.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)