# get through

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/get-through
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to finish a difficult task or period of time; also, to successfully contact someone by phone.

For teachers: to endure or complete a challenging experience; alternatively, to establish a telephonic connection with a recipient.

## Examples

- I need to get through this pile of work before five.
- It was a very difficult year, but she managed to get through it with the help of her family.
- Despite the poor signal in the remote valley, he finally managed to get through to the emergency services after several attempts.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I got through of the exam." but "I got through the exam." — the verb is followed directly by the object without the preposition 'of'.

## Usage notes

- often used with 'to' when referring to communication or 'with' when finishing a task.
- Teaching tip: this verb is polysemous; use the 'finishing a task' sense to practice time management vocabulary and the 'phone' sense for functional language lessons.

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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.