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to get the word out

to get the word out

31 3.2
Tell many people about something so they know
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : dar a conocer
  • She used social media to get the word out about the upcoming charity fundraiser.

It's worth trying to get the word out.

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Examples

  • Invite people to come several weeks beforehand, making sure to get the word out in as many ways as possible.

    Academic text (2004)
  • The primaries are coming up and I want you to get the word out about voting.

  • I love your work and I love getting the word out about the journey home because we need it.

  • Well, how do we get the word out to our people?

  • Best ideas I have right now for getting the word out about you ...

    Blog text (12)
  • "I love the movie, and I want to get the word out as much as possible."

    Blog text (2)
  • And we can still all get the word out to our military.

    Blog text (5)
  • Page it Forward is using social media tools to get the word out.

    Blog text (16)
  • That little moment where you click subscribe really helps us get the word out there about what we're doing.

  • I just think we need to get the word out to potential backers.

    Blog text (15)

Synonyms

to announce
vsto get the word out
1.5

To tell people officially about something, often in public

is broader, including informal and wide-reaching methods of informing
to put out
vsto get the word out
255 3.6

Publish something like a book or magazine for people to buy

focuses on the general goal of informing many rather than production tasks
to promote
vsto get the word out
252 3.5

Tell people about a product to increase sales

is about informing broadly without the commercial aim to boost sales
to circulate
vsto get the word out
103 3.9

To spread information or documents among people

aims for broad public knowledge rather than limited sharing networks
to publicize
vsto get the word out
94 4.0

Make something known to many people using news or social media

is more general, covering any way of informing many people
to broadcast
vsto get the word out
81 3.0

To make news or information known to many people

is the general goal of informing many rather than the specific channels used
to spread the word
vsto get the word out
68 3.1

Tell many people about something so they know

is the broader act of making information known to many people
to hype
vsto get the word out
53 4.4

To promote something with exaggerated, flashy advertising to get attention

uses straightforward informing without exaggeration or intense promotion
to disseminate
vsto get the word out
48 6.8

To spread information or ideas widely so many people know them

focuses on making something widely known rather than just the distribution process
to advertise
vsto get the word out
47 2.6

Tell many people about something so they know it exists

aims simply to inform a wide audience without commercial focus
to raise awareness
vsto get the word out
37 3.5

To help more people know about a problem or cause

covers informing many things, not only building concern or knowledge about issues
to propagate
vsto get the word out
23 5.9

Spread ideas, news, or feelings to many people

targets fast, wide informing rather than gradual cultural or ideological spread
to popularize
vsto get the word out
  • US
21 4.2

To make an idea, activity, or subject known and liked by many people

focuses on awareness only, not on simplifying or making it popular
to bring out
vsto get the word out
8 3.7

Make secret information known to the public

covers informing many people generally, not only revealing hidden facts
to evangelize
vsto get the word out
  • Jargon
3 7.4

Actively promote a product or idea to get people to use it

is the neutral act of informing many, not trying to convert them
to make a big announcement
vsto get the word out
2 3.4

To tell important news to many people in public

is any act of informing many, not only formal or emphasized declarations
to advertize
vsto get the word out
  • US
3.2

To tell many people about something so they know it

is focused on informing many people without necessarily selling or promoting
to mediatize
vsto get the word out
  • Literature
7.9

To make something well known by giving it a lot of media attention

is the simple act of informing many without relying on media shaping

Antonyms

282 3.7

To hide something so others cannot see or find it

To not tell anyone private information

How Widely

broadcast
  • Literature
484 2.9
to publicize
94 4.0
to get the word out
31 3.2
to tell
1.0
mention
220 2.5

Surface Forms

get the word out infinitive
getting the word out present participle
gets the word out third person singular
got the word out past participle

Morphology

get + the + word + out

The meaning 'to inform a large number of people' is directly derivable from combining 'get' (cause/bring about), 'word' (a piece of information) and 'out' (to the outside); the phrase literally means cause the information to go out. This follows a standard English causative + particle composition (and has clear cross-linguistic parallels like 'spread the word'), so a B1 learner who knows the constituents should be able to infer the meaning.

Etymology

Get the word out gives the picture of sending a message away from you: you get the word out by telling many people or putting up signs so the news spreads. That's why it means 'to inform a large number of people'.