# got

/ˈɡɑt/ (US) · /ɡˈɒt/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. past of get

verb · CEFR A1

the past tense of 'get', used when you received, bought, or reached something in the past.

For teachers: the past tense and past participle of 'get', indicating past acquisition, arrival, or change of state.

- I got a beautiful watch for my birthday last year.
- After months of searching for a suitable replacement, the team finally got the approval they needed to proceed with the project.

Usage: In American English, 'gotten' is the standard past participle, while 'got' is the past tense.

Teaching tip: Remind students that 'got' is often a more natural, informal choice than 'received' or 'purchased' in spoken English.

### 2. to have

verb · CEFR A2 · Informal

used in the phrase 'have got' to say that you own or possess something right now.

For teachers: used as a perfective form to indicate present possession or relationship; typically functions as 'have got'.

- I've got two sisters and one brother.
- The apartment has got a wonderful view of the park, which was the main reason we decided to sign the lease.

Usage: Usually follows 'have' or its contraction (e.g., 'I've got').

Teaching tip: Explain that 'I've got' and 'I have' mean the same thing, but 'I've got' is much more common in British English speech.

### 3. must

verb · CEFR A2 · Informal

used in the phrase 'have got to' to show that you must do something.

For teachers: used as a semi-modal auxiliary to express necessity or obligation.

- I've got to finish this report before the meeting starts.
- We have got to address these safety concerns immediately if we want to avoid a total shutdown of the facility.

Usage: Followed by a base verb; often reduced to 'gotta' in very casual speech.

Teaching tip: In very informal American English, the 'have' is sometimes dropped entirely (e.g., 'I got to go').

### 4. to understand

verb · CEFR B1 · Informal

used to say that you understand an idea or a joke.

For teachers: used to indicate successful comprehension of a concept, instruction, or humorous point.

- I didn't understand the math problem at first, but then I suddenly got it.
- The manager explained the new filing system twice before the rest of the staff finally got the hang of it.

Usage: Often used as a short response: 'Got it.'

Teaching tip: This is very common in workplace communication to confirm that instructions were heard and understood.

## Examples

- I got a new phone yesterday.
- She got very tired after walking for three hours in the heat.
- The team got the results they were hoping for after months of rigorous testing and data analysis.

---

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.