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to get

to get

1.4
To understand what someone says or an idea
  • verb
  • /ɡɛt/
translation icon : entender
  • Now, if we argue this thing out right, we can get somewhere.
  • get the idea
  • get it right
  • get it wrong

Like you just can't really get that with stocks.

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Examples

  • Yeah, so, the plan is to get you back in the studio...

  • And as for her brother... I get the general idea.

  • When did she get that this was not OK?

  • Would you say we're getting close to an understanding?

  • I just don't get that one bit at all.

  • I remember one time I said, I don't get it, why do you like that?

    Academic text (2015)
  • Mr. Smith responds, "Today you will get a chance to make some of your ideas happen."

    Academic text (2011)
  • There may be one adult 'guru' who 'gets it', but most adults are uninformed.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Future research could study students in cataloging courses to get a deeper understanding of learning cataloging.

    Academic text (2015)
  • I just don't get that one bit at all.

Synonyms

to understand
vsto get
1.0

To know the meaning of something

is broader, including quick hearing or puzzled, partial comprehension
to get it
vsto get
  • Informal
877 1.1

To understand something after someone explains it

is broader, applying to immediate or gradual understanding alike
to catch
vsto get
474 2.1

To notice something quickly with the senses or mind

includes such brief perception but also slower, fuller understanding
to grasp
vsto get
146 4.1

To understand something difficult clearly

is less about full mastery and more about any level of comprehension
to comprehend
vsto get
137 2.7

To understand the meaning of something

is wider, also covering brief catches or moments of confusion
to get the point
vsto get
  • Informal
51 2.7

To understand the main idea of what someone says or does

is broader, covering detailed or small momentary comprehension as well
to get the picture
vsto get
  • Informal
37 3.2

To understand what someone is saying or what is happening

is more general and also applies to catching single points or words
to get a clue
vsto get
  • Informal
25 7.8

Start to understand what is happening or what to do

is more general, also meaning full understanding from the start
to catch that
vsto get
  • Informal
11 3.0

Hear and understand what someone says when it is hard to hear

covers both hearing comprehension and nonverbal or puzzled perceptions
to apprehend
vsto get
  • Formal
9 4.3

To understand the meaning of something

is more general, also used for casual hearing and partial understanding
to get wise
vsto get
7 7.0

To understand someone tricked you and become more careful

is less specific about timing or prior deception in the understanding process
to get the drift
vsto get
  • Informal
4 4.5

To understand the main idea without knowing every detail

is wider, covering both general impressions and exact understanding
to getcha
vsto get
  • Informal
1 9.5

To understand what someone says

is more general and not limited to casual speech
to get onto
vsto get
  • Informal
1 5.1

Start to understand something after finding it confusing

is broader, including immediate comprehension and gradual realization

Antonyms

To think something is true when it is not

Idioms

from the get-go
  • Informal
52 6.6

Right from the very start

to get a life
  • Offensive
36 8.7

Tell someone to do something more interesting with their time

32 4.6

To organize yourself and behave better to reach a goal

25 7.2

To annoy someone again and again so they feel bothered

24 9.9

To put your life in order and take care of your tasks

to get the memo
  • Informal
14 7.1

To learn about a rule others already know and follow it

To receive punishment or bad results for doing wrong

10 8.3

Tell people who kiss or cuddle in public to do it privately

10 8.6

Warn someone not to mention a topic because they talk a lot and get upset

9 6.0

Talk about something worrying you so you feel better

8 8.1

Find a chance to say something when others keep talking

7 9.2

Leave a place quickly to avoid trouble or danger

To calm your mind and think clearly

6 8.6

Enjoy yourself by dancing with a lot of energy

To speak directly about the main idea without extra details

6 5.0

To try again after a failure, especially when you feel afraid

To decide what is most important to do

Stop acting as if you are better than others

To become too upset about a small problem

4 7.7

To make the first real progress in work or a relationship

To annoy someone a lot by small things another person does

4 7.5

To misunderstand each other because of poor communication

3 4.9

Start doing something to gain some experience

Start talking about the most important details

To start something after getting everything ready

Agree with others to avoid conflict

Lose badly in a fight, game, or contest

2 4.8

Lose your job because your employer fires you

End up with what you wanted, often in a way you do not like

To start dealing with the most important details

2 9.9

Start working quickly and with more energy

to get religion
  • Informal
2 8.6

To become very serious about something after not caring

To become upset or worried about small things

To become very upset about a small problem

all get out
  • Informal
1 9.9

A very large amount or degree that people use to show emphasis

as all get-out
  • Informal
1 9.9

A very informal phrase people use to mean extremely

To feel too proud of your own work or ideas and ignore other people's advice

To make someone understand or accept something after many tries

1 9.7

To start working hard without delay

1 9.1

To make someone angry

To feel more energetic and creative and ready to work or think

To become upset or worried about something not important

1 8.9

To lose a job suddenly because of a mistake or problem

Start a new activity very successfully and make quick progress

To have bad results after taking a risk

To annoy someone or make them feel defensive

1 9.9

Tell someone in a rude way to decide now or stop wasting time

where to get off
  • Offensive
1 9.9

Angrily tell someone to mind their own business

Exactly as they appear, with nothing hidden

Tell someone to stop worrying about a problem and move on

Very unwilling to change their mind

9.9

Looks very expensive to impress people

Phrasal Verbs

2.8

Start to do or feel something

1.0

Leave a place or situation

2.4

Reach a goal, place, or state after effort

1.0

Take something out of a container like a box or cupboard

3.0

Leave a place quickly or suddenly

1.6

Have again something you had before it was lost or taken

1.0

To officially become someone's husband or wife

1.6

To remove or throw away something you do not want

1.0

To go inside a place or vehicle

1.0

To leave your bed after sleeping

to get it
  • Informal
877 1.1

To understand something after someone explains it

786 4.1

To avoid being punished for something you did wrong

769 3.1

Become involved in something, often without meaning to

752 2.6

To reply to someone later with information

695 1.0

To stand up from sitting or lying down

To escape punishment for doing something wrong

to get together
  • Informal
644 2.0

To meet with other people for a social event or to do something together

573 1.0

To become healthier, more skilled, or more successful

529 1.9

Have a friendly relationship with someone

514 2.4

Begin to feel comfortable with something that once felt strange

481 1.8

To begin doing something, for example a task or meeting

468 1.0

Board a train, bus, or plane

to get out
  • Informal
462 3.8

Avoid doing a task or taking blame you should accept

434 3.8

Say something with difficulty because you feel nervous or upset

422 2.3

To start doing something or to leave

412 3.5

Become known to many people, even when it was secret

390 2.5

To become more serious, often about health or a situation

378 1.0

Become ill and have signs like fever or cough

374 3.2

To go away from work or home to rest and relax

361 3.5

To climb down from a horse or similar animal

340 2.8

Recover from an illness, disappointment, or other difficulty

332 2.8

To reach a place or goal after overcoming problems

319 2.0

Move into or enter a place

297 2.7

To be accepted to a college or university after you apply

289 2.7

Be accepted by a school or university

279 3.2

Make progress with a project

270 3.0

Manage to move beyond a problem or a bad feeling

Start doing your job again after a break

253 1.0

To put on clothes

To finish an unpleasant task quickly so you do not worry about it

246 2.1

To finish work at the end of your shift

Escape blame or punishment for doing something wrong

to get to work
  • Informal
231 2.0

To start doing your job, often after a delay

221 1.0

To make someone leave their bed or stand up

to get to
  • Informal
215 6.3

Annoy or upset someone gradually

213 1.6

To leave a vehicle, for example a bus, or stop annoying someone

To stop or slow something from happening

Face blame or punishment for something you did wrong

Have problems because of what you do

194 4.1

To reach or take something in a place that is hard to reach

190 2.1

To do something correctly so it works as intended

180 2.2

To be unable to move or continue because something blocks you

179 4.4

To start doing work or a task seriously

170 6.0

To avoid punishment for a crime or charge

170 2.5

To leave a vehicle or animal by stepping down

168 2.3

Continue doing something, especially after an interruption

165 3.0

To escape from people who are holding you, often by force

155 2.3

Contact someone after not talking for a while

155 2.6

To reach someone by phone or message

147 2.8

Begin to like and learn about something

Find the real reason for a problem by checking carefully

136 2.0

Have a friendly relationship with someone

134 2.8

To finish a task you need to do

128 3.3

To finish a difficult or long task

126 3.1

Talk about the most important part without extra details

to get it on
  • Offensive
125 9.3

To have sex with someone

121 3.1

Manage to live with little money or help

119 2.0

Have a friendly relationship with someone

to get together
  • Informal
118 2.8

To bring people together for a meeting or activity

115 4.2

Avoid doing something difficult or needed by finding a clever way

to get it
  • Informal
113 8.2

To be punished or scolded for something you did

112 9.3

Feel very happy and different after taking drugs or alcohol

112 1.0

To feel very eager and happy about something

Compounds

get-go
  • Informal
61 6.9

The very start of an activity or project

get-together
  • Informal
46 1.9

A small informal meeting for people to talk and spend time together

11 5.6

A chance to avoid punishment or trouble

get-up
  • Informal
10 5.6

A set of clothes worn to attract attention or to hide who you are

A card sent to someone who is ill to wish them a quick recovery

get-up-and-go
  • Informal
4 6.1

A feeling of energy and enthusiasm to start and do things

A dishonest plan that promises to make you rich quickly with little work

How Well

to grasp
146 4.1
to comprehend
137 2.7
to understand
1.0
to get
1.4
to catch
474 2.1

Surface Forms

get infinitive
getting present participle
gets third person singular
got past
got past participle

Etymology

Get comes from the old English gietan, meaning 'to reach' or 'catch', so to get an idea is like 'catching' it in your mind and understanding it.