# get

/ˈɡɛt/ (US) · /ɡˈɛt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/get
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to receive or obtain

verb · CEFR A1

to receive, buy, or find something.

For teachers: to come into possession of; to receive, acquire, or purchase.

- I need to get some milk from the shop on my way home.
- The researchers managed to get the necessary funding after presenting their preliminary findings to the board.

### 2. to become

verb · CEFR A1

to change into a new state or feeling.

For teachers: to change state or condition; functions as a copular verb often followed by an adjective.

- It gets very dark here in the winter after four o'clock.
- As the negotiations dragged on into the night, the participants began to get restless and impatient.

### 3. to arrive

verb · CEFR A1

to reach a place.

For teachers: to reach a destination or move into a specific position.

- What time do you usually get to work in the morning?
- We didn't get to the hotel until midnight because the train was delayed by heavy snow.

### 4. to understand

verb · CEFR B1 · Informal

to understand an idea or a joke.

For teachers: to comprehend or grasp a meaning, often used in informal speech.

- I don't get the joke — can you explain it to me?
- The lecture was quite technical, and I suspect half the students didn't get the core concept.

### 5. to catch or travel by

verb · CEFR A2

to use a bus, train, or taxi.

For teachers: to catch or travel by a specific form of public transport.

- She has to get the bus at eight to be on time.
- If we hurry, we might still get the last train back to the city.

### 6. to fetch

verb · CEFR A2

to go and bring something back.

For teachers: to go to a place and return with someone or something.

- Wait here while I go and get my coat from the car.
- The host went to get more chairs so that everyone could sit down for the presentation.

### 7. passive auxiliary

verb · CEFR B1 · Informal

used with another word to show something happened to someone, often by accident.

For teachers: used as an auxiliary verb with a past participle to form the passive voice, typically for unexpected or accidental events.

- He got stopped by the police for driving too fast.
- Several windows got broken during the storm, but fortunately, no one was injured by the flying glass.

Usage: Always followed by a past participle (e.g., 'get married', 'get hurt').

### 8. to catch a disease

verb · CEFR A2

to become ill with a cold or virus.

For teachers: to contract an illness or infection.

- I think I'm getting a cold because my throat is sore.
- Medical experts are concerned that more people will get the virus if vaccination rates do not improve.

### 9. sports return

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a very difficult save or return of a ball in a game.

For teachers: a successful return of a ball that appeared impossible to reach.

- The crowd cheered after his incredible get at the edge of the court.
- Her defensive play was characterized by a series of remarkable gets that frustrated her opponent throughout the final set.

### 10. insult

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Dialect · Informal

a rude word for a person you do not like.

For teachers: a regional variant of 'git', used as a mild to moderate insult for a contemptible person.

- He's a miserable old get who never says hello.
- The local youths were shouting at the man, calling him a 'clumsy get' after he tripped over the curb.

## Examples

- I need to get some milk from the shop.
- She managed to get a promotion after working hard on the latest project for six months.

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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.