# getting

/ˈɡɛtɪŋ/ (US) · /ɡˈɛtɪŋ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. obtaining or receiving

verb · CEFR A1

the act of receiving, buying, or obtaining something.

For teachers: the present participle of 'get' in the sense of acquiring, receiving, or purchasing something.

- I am getting a new phone for my birthday next week.
- The company is currently getting a lot of negative feedback regarding their recent change in privacy policy.

Usage: Often used in continuous tenses to describe a process of acquisition.

### 2. becoming

verb · CEFR A1

changing into a new state or feeling.

For teachers: the present participle of 'get' used as a linking verb to describe a transition or change in state.

- It is getting dark outside, so we should head home.
- The situation is getting increasingly complicated as more stakeholders voice their concerns about the budget.

Usage: Followed by an adjective to show a gradual change.

### 3. arriving or moving

verb · CEFR A2

moving toward or arriving at a place.

For teachers: the present participle of 'get' indicating movement toward a destination or reaching a specific location.

- We are finally getting to the hotel after a long flight.
- Getting to the remote village requires a four-wheel-drive vehicle and several hours of careful navigation through the mountains.

### 4. understanding

verb · CEFR B1 · Informal

starting to understand a joke, a concept, or a person.

For teachers: the present participle of 'get' used informally to describe the process of comprehending or grasping a concept.

- I think I am finally getting the hang of this new software.
- After several explanations, the students were finally getting the point of the complex mathematical theorem.

### 5. the act of obtaining

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the act of getting or collecting something.

For teachers: the act of obtaining or acquiring; used as a gerund or verbal noun.

- The getting of wisdom is a lifelong process.
- The aggressive getting of market share became the firm's primary objective during the fiscal year.

Usage: Often appears in the structure 'the getting of [noun]'.

## Examples

- I am getting a new phone tomorrow.
- The weather is getting much colder as we move into the winter months.
- By getting the necessary permits early, the construction crew avoided the bureaucratic delays that often plague large-scale urban development projects.

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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.