# get over sth/sb

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/get-over-sth-sb
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to feel better after a bad experience, such as an illness or the end of a relationship.

For teachers: to recover from an ailment, emotional distress, or a significant setback; to reach a state where a past event no longer negatively impacts one's current well-being.

## Examples

- It took him a long time to get over the flu.
- She is still trying to get over her ex-boyfriend after their difficult breakup last summer.
- The company struggled to get over the reputational damage caused by the scandal, despite launching an extensive public relations campaign.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I finally got over from my cold." but "I finally got over my cold." — the verb is transitive and takes the object directly after the particle 'over' without an extra preposition like 'from'.

## Usage notes

- the object is usually a negative event, a sickness, or a person from a past relationship.
- Teaching tip: distinguish from 'recover' (more formal/medical) and 'move on' (focuses on the future rather than the healing process); 'get over' is the standard conversational choice for emotional recovery.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.