# get to know sb

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/get-to-know-sb
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to spend time with someone so that you gradually learn more about them and become familiar with their personality.

For teachers: to undergo a process of increasing familiarity with a person through social interaction and shared time.

## Examples

- I want to get to know my new neighbors better.
- It takes a long time to really get to know someone's true character.
- The orientation week is designed specifically for students to get to know one another before the academic pressure begins.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I knew him at the party last night." but "I got to know him at the party last night." — 'Know' describes a state, while 'get to know' describes the process of becoming familiar.

## Usage notes

- the object 'sb' (somebody) usually refers to a person, but can also refer to a place or a topic.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'know' (the state of already having information) vs 'get to know' (the process of acquiring that information).

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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.