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to get

to get

4.1
To attract someone's attention or interest
  • verb
  • /ɡɛt/
  • Informal
translation icon : llamar la atención
  • Her speech was so engaging that it could easily get the audience's interest.
  • get attention
  • get someone interested

They say stuff that they think will get listeners, viewers, readers.

Examples

  • A number of the identified youngsters manifested attention-getting mechanisms in the classroom that got them into trouble.

    Academic text (1991)
  • In the meantime, the pro-reformers seemed to be getting the upper hand in the government.

    Academic text (1996)
  • It's funny to me to see people get any sort of attention.

  • So, what gets you on the field?

  • Well, for instance... who gets control of the TV if we both wanna watch something different?

  • Women in Canada argued that the media was crucial in getting their message out to the public.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Don't let those idiots get in your head.

  • But nobody appreciates an administrator who never lets anyone else get a word in.

    Academic text (2017)
  • Active learning is usually enjoyable, motivational, and effective in getting life's tasks done.

    Academic text (2008)
  • The magician knows how to get everyone's attention during the show.

Synonyms

to catch
vsto get
244 2.0

To get someone's attention or interest

is the more informal everyday expression for the same idea
to get to
vsto get
  • Informal
215 6.3

Annoy or upset someone gradually

is broader, including both attention attraction and irritation
to arrest
vsto get
30 5.1

To catch and hold someone's attention

is more informal and used in everyday speech
to get at
vsto get
  • Informal
25 7.1

To annoy someone with small repeated actions

is broader, also meaning to attract attention or interest
to get under one's skin
vsto get
  • Informal
25 7.2

To annoy someone again and again so they feel bothered

is more general, also covering short annoyances and attention

Make someone notice you or something

is broader, also covering feelings and occasional irritation

Make someone notice something quickly and feel interested

is less sudden, covering steady attention and irritation
to get one's dander up
vsto get
  • Informal
1 9.1

To make someone angry

is more general and also used for attracting attention
1 4.4

Make someone notice something

is used more broadly and not only for brief attraction
to get someone's goat
vsto get
  • Informal
8.4

To annoy someone or make them angry

is broader, including attracting interest as well as annoyance

Antonyms

15 1.4

To make someone feel tired or not interested by being dull when you speak

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 Engaging

to mesmerize
  • US
39 6.4
to captivate
19 4.2
to engage
117 3.5
to get
  • Informal
4.1
to interest
206 1.0
to bore
15 1.4

Surface Forms

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

Etymology

Get comes from old English gietan, meaning 'to reach' or 'catch', so to get someone's attention is to 'reach' them, and to get on someone's nerves is to reach their feelings in a bad way.