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GET
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
Irregular inflected forms: getting , got , gotten
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
A return on a shot that seemed impossible to reach and would normally have resulted in a point for the opponent
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("get" is a kind of...):
return (a tennis stroke that sends the ball back to the other player)
II. (verb)
Verb forms
Present simple: I / you / we / they get ... he / she / it gets
Past simple: got
Past participle: got /gotten
-ing form: getting
Sense 1
Meaning:
Make (offspring) by reproduction
Example:
John fathered four daughters
Synonyms:
beget; bring forth; engender; father; generate; get; mother; sire
Classified under:
Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care
Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):
create; make (make or cause to be or to become)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody
Sense 2
Meaning:
Undergo (as of injuries and illnesses)
Example:
He got his arm broken in the scuffle
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care
Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):
experience; get; have; receive (go through (mental or physical states or experiences))
Verb group:
have (suffer from; be ill with)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "get"):
break down; collapse (collapse due to fatigue, an illness, or a sudden attack)
cramp (suffer from sudden painful contraction of a muscle)
break up; collapse; crack; crack up; crock up (suffer a nervous breakdown)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 3
Meaning:
Be stricken by an illness, fall victim to an illness
Example:
She took a chill
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care
Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):
Verb group:
catch (contract)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "get"):
catch (contract)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 4
Meaning:
Come to have or undergo a change of (physical features and attributes)
Example:
Well-developed breasts
Synonyms:
acquire; develop; get; grow; produce
Classified under:
Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care
Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):
change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)
Verb group:
acquire; develop; evolve (gain through experience)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "get"):
feather; fledge (grow feathers)
regrow (grow anew or continue growth after an injury or interruption)
spring (develop suddenly)
sprout; stock (put forth and grow sprouts or shoots)
stool; tiller (grow shoots in the form of stools or tillers)
leaf (produce leaves, of plants)
pod (produce pods, of plants)
teethe (grow teeth; cut the baby teeth)
pupate (develop into a pupa)
cut (have grow through the gums)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Derivation:
getting (the act of acquiring something)
Sense 5
Meaning:
Give certain properties to something
Example:
Make yourself clear
Synonyms:
get; make
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):
alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "get"):
render (cause to become)
get; have; let (cause to move; cause to be in a certain position or condition)
leave (act or be so as to become in a specified state)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s something Adjective/Noun
Somebody ----s somebody INFINITIVE
Sense 6
Meaning:
Cause to move; cause to be in a certain position or condition
Example:
He got a girl into trouble
Synonyms:
get; have; let
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):
get; make (give certain properties to something)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s somebody PP
Somebody ----s something PP
Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE
Sense 7
Meaning:
Enter or assume a certain state or condition
Example:
Get going!
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):
change state; turn (undergo a transformation or a change of position or action)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "get"):
sober; sober up (become sober after excessive alcohol consumption)
sober; sober up (become more realistic)
work (arrive at a certain condition through repeated motion)
take effect (go into effect or become effective or operative)
run (change from one state to another)
take (be seized or affected in a specified way)
break (come into being)
settle (become resolved, fixed, established, or quiet)
Sentence frames:
Something is ----ing PP
Something ----s Adjective/Noun
Somebody ----s Adjective
Somebody ----s PP
Sentence example:
John will get angry
Also:
get ahead (obtain advantages, such as points, etc.)
get along; get on (develop in a positive way)
get over (get on top of; deal with successfully)
Sense 8
Meaning:
Take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
Example:
Let's get down to work now
Synonyms:
begin; commence; get; get down; set about; set out; start; start out
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Verb group:
begin (begin to speak, understand, read, and write a language)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "get"):
recommence (begin again)
strike out (set out on a course of action)
fall (begin vigorously)
jump off (set off quickly, usually with success)
get to (arrive at the point of)
auspicate (commence in a manner calculated to bring good luck)
attack (set to work upon; turn one's energies vigorously to a task)
break in (start in a certain activity, enterprise, or role)
launch; plunge (begin with vigor)
come on (occur or become available)
embark; enter (set out on (an enterprise or subject of study))
bestir oneself; get cracking; get going; get moving; get rolling; get started; get weaving (start to be active)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE
Somebody ----s VERB-ing
Sentence example:
They get moving
Sense 9
Meaning:
Receive a specified treatment (abstract)
Example:
I got nothing but trouble for my good intentions
Synonyms:
find; get; incur; obtain; receive
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):
change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)
Verb group:
acquire; get (come into the possession of something concrete or abstract)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "get"):
take (ascertain or determine by measuring, computing or take a reading from a dial)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Sense 10
Meaning:
Grasp with the mind or develop an understanding of
Example:
I just don't get him
Synonyms:
catch; get
Classified under:
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting
Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):
understand (know and comprehend the nature or meaning of)
Verb group:
catch; get (apprehend and reproduce accurately)
get (acquire as a result of some effort or action)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Sense 11
Meaning:
Be a mystery or bewildering to
Example:
This question really stuck me
Synonyms:
amaze; baffle; beat; bewilder; dumbfound; flummox; get; gravel; mystify; nonplus; perplex; pose; puzzle; stick; stupefy; vex
Classified under:
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting
Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):
bedevil; befuddle; confound; confuse; discombobulate; fox; fuddle; throw (be confusing or perplexing to; cause to be unable to think clearly)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "get"):
mix up; stump (cause to be perplexed or confounded)
riddle (set a difficult problem or riddle)
elude; escape (be incomprehensible to; escape understanding by)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s somebody
Sense 12
Meaning:
Reach by calculation
Example:
What do you get when you add up these numbers?
Classified under:
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting
"Get" entails doing...:
calculate; cipher; compute; cypher; figure; reckon; work out (make a mathematical calculation or computation)
Verb group:
get (acquire as a result of some effort or action)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 13
Meaning:
Cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner
Example:
My wife made me buy a new sofa
Synonyms:
cause; get; have; induce; make; stimulate
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "get"):
decide (cause to decide)
persuade (cause somebody to adopt a certain position, belief, or course of action; twist somebody's arm)
bring (induce or persuade)
solicit (incite, move, or persuade to some act of lawlessness or insubordination)
encourage (spur on)
let (actively cause something to happen)
lead (cause to undertake a certain action)
inspire; instigate; prompt (serve as the inciting cause of)
suborn (induce to commit perjury or give false testimony)
compel; obligate; oblige (force somebody to do something)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE
Somebody ----s somebody INFINITIVE
Sentence example:
They get him to write the letter
Sense 14
Meaning:
Move into a desired direction of discourse
Example:
What are you driving at?
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):
intend; mean (mean or intend to express or convey)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s PP
Sense 15
Meaning:
Communicate with a place or person; establish communication with, as if by telephone
Example:
The operator couldn't get Kobe because of the earthquake
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):
communicate; intercommunicate (transmit thoughts or feelings)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Sense 16
Meaning:
Take vengeance on or get even
Example:
This time I got him
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Verbs of fighting, athletic activities
Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):
get back; get even (take revenge or even out a score)
Verb group:
pay (make a compensation for)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody PP
Sense 17
Meaning:
Succeed in catching or seizing, especially after a chase
Example:
Did you catch the thief?
Synonyms:
capture; catch; get
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):
clutch; prehend; seize (take hold of; grab)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "get"):
recapture; retake (capture again)
lasso; rope (catch with a lasso)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Sense 18
Meaning:
Reach with a blow or hit in a particular spot
Example:
The punch caught him in the stomach
Synonyms:
catch; get
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):
hit (deal a blow to, either with the hand or with an instrument)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Sense 19
Meaning:
Go or come after and bring or take back
Example:
The dog fetched the hat
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):
channel; channelise; channelize; transfer; transmit; transport (send from one person or place to another)
"Get" entails doing...:
come; come up (move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody)
Verb group:
bring; convey; take (take something or somebody with oneself somewhere)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "get"):
retrieve (run after, pick up, and bring to the master)
retrieve (go for and bring back)
deliver (bring to a destination, make a delivery)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP
Sense 20
Meaning:
Attract and fix
Example:
Catch the attention of the waiter
Synonyms:
arrest; catch; get
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):
attract; draw; draw in; pull; pull in (direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Sense 21
Meaning:
Overcome or destroy
Example:
the cat got the goldfish
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):
destroy; ruin (destroy completely; damage irreparably)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Sense 22
Meaning:
Earn or achieve a base by being walked by the pitcher
Example:
He drew a base on balls
Synonyms:
draw; get
Classified under:
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing
Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):
effect; effectuate; set up (produce)
Domain category:
ball; baseball; baseball game (a ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players; teams take turns at bat trying to score runs)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 23
Meaning:
Apprehend and reproduce accurately
Example:
She got the mood just right in her photographs
Synonyms:
catch; get
Classified under:
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing
Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):
reproduce (recreate a sound, image, idea, mood, atmosphere, etc.)
Verb group:
catch; get (grasp with the mind or develop an understanding of)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Sense 24
Meaning:
Evoke an emotional response
Example:
Brahms's 'Requiem' gets me every time
Classified under:
Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):
stir; touch (affect emotionally)
Verb group:
get; get under one's skin (irritate)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Sentence example:
The bad news will get him
Sense 25
Meaning:
Irritate
Example:
His lying really gets me
Synonyms:
get; get under one's skin
Classified under:
Verbs of feeling
Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):
annoy; bother; chafe; devil; get at; get to; gravel; irritate; nark; nettle; rag; rile; vex (cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations)
Verb group:
get (evoke an emotional response)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s to somebody
Sense 26
Meaning:
Reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
Example:
She didn't get to Chicago until after midnight
Synonyms:
arrive; come; get
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Verb group:
get (reach and board)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "get"):
land; set down (reach or come to rest)
drive in (arrive by motorcar)
bring down; land; put down (cause to come to the ground)
land; set ashore; shore (arrive on shore)
roll up (arrive in a vehicle:)
come; come in (be received)
attain; hit; reach (reach a point in time, or a certain state or level)
flood in (arrive in great numbers)
draw in; get in; move in; pull in (of trains; move into (a station))
plump in (arrive suddenly and unannounced)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s PP
Sense 27
Meaning:
Reach and board
Example:
She got the bus just as it was leaving
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):
catch (reach in time)
Verb group:
arrive; come; get (reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 28
Meaning:
Leave immediately; used usually in the imperative form
Example:
Scram!
Synonyms:
bugger off; buzz off; fuck off; get; scram
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):
go away; go forth; leave (go away from a place)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Sense 29
Meaning:
Go through (mental or physical states or experiences)
Example:
have a feeling
Synonyms:
experience; get; have; receive
Classified under:
Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling
Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):
undergo (pass through)
"Get" entails doing...:
comprehend; perceive (to become aware of through the senses)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "get"):
get; have; suffer; sustain (undergo (as of injuries and illnesses))
take (experience or feel or submit to)
horripilate (have one's hair stand on end and get goosebumps)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Sense 30
Meaning:
Receive as a retribution or punishment
Example:
He got 5 years in prison
Synonyms:
get; receive
Classified under:
Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling
Verb group:
catch; get (suffer from the receipt of)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 31
Meaning:
Suffer from the receipt of
Example:
She will catch hell for this behavior!
Synonyms:
catch; get
Classified under:
Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling
Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):
ache; hurt; suffer (feel physical pain)
Verb group:
catch (be struck or affected by)
get; receive (receive as a retribution or punishment)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 32
Meaning:
Perceive by hearing
Example:
She didn't get his name when they met the first time
Synonyms:
catch; get
Classified under:
Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling
Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):
hear (perceive (sound) via the auditory sense)
Verb group:
catch; overhear; take in (hear, usually without the knowledge of the speakers)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 33
Meaning:
Purchase
Example:
What did you get at the toy store?
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):
buy; purchase (obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction)
Domain category:
commerce; commercialism; mercantilism (transactions (sales and purchases) having the objective of supplying commodities (goods and services))
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Derivation:
getting (the act of acquiring something)
Sense 34
Meaning:
Come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
Example:
Get permission to take a few days off from work
Synonyms:
acquire; get
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Verb group:
find; get; incur; obtain; receive (receive a specified treatment (abstract))
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "get"):
isolate (obtain in pure form)
get back; win back (recover something or somebody that appeared to be lost)
express; extract; press out (obtain from a substance, as by mechanical action)
capture; catch (capture as if by hunting, snaring, or trapping)
come by; come into (obtain, especially accidentally)
buy; purchase (obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction)
charter; engage; hire; lease; rent; take (engage for service under a term of contract)
have; receive (get something; come into possession of)
turn (get by buying and selling)
buy (acquire by trade or sacrifice or exchange)
find (obtain through effort or management)
glom (seize upon or latch onto something)
come upon; enter upon; luck into (take possession of)
come up; find; get hold; line up (get something or somebody for a specific purpose)
accept; have; take (receive willingly something given or offered)
obtain (come into possession of)
find; recover; regain; retrieve (get or find back; recover the use of)
catch (get or regain something necessary, usually quickly or briefly)
recoup; recover; recuperate (regain or make up for)
reclaim; repossess (claim back)
find; regain (come upon after searching; find the location of something that was missed or lost)
acquire; gain; win (win something through one's efforts)
bring in; clear; earn; gain; make; pull in; realise; realize; take in (earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages)
earn; garner; win (acquire or deserve by one's efforts or actions)
benefit; gain; profit (derive a benefit from)
partake; partake in; share (have, give, or receive a share of)
preempt (acquire for oneself before others can do so)
preempt (gain possession of by prior right or opportunity, especially so as to obtain the right to buy (land))
call for; collect; gather up; pick up (gather or collect)
inherit (obtain from someone after their death)
borrow (get temporarily)
pick up (get in addition, as an increase)
get (acquire as a result of some effort or action)
poll (get the votes of)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s something from somebody
Sentence example:
The children get the ball
Derivation:
getting (the act of acquiring something)
Sense 35
Meaning:
Achieve a point or goal
Example:
She made 29 points that day
Synonyms:
get; have; make
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):
hit; rack up; score; tally (gain points in a game)
Verb group:
make (act in a certain way so as to acquire)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Sense 36
Meaning:
Acquire as a result of some effort or action
Example:
Where did she get these news?
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Hypernyms (to "get" is one way to...):
acquire; get (come into the possession of something concrete or abstract)
Verb group:
catch; get (grasp with the mind or develop an understanding of)
get (reach by calculation)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Context examples:
The bigger it gets, the more stupid I get.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
The gun was on the way to his shoulder, but it never got there.
(White Fang, by Jack London)
It was noticed that the man was getting fat.
(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)
“I always get along with the officers,” he remarked to me in a confidential tone.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
I desire you to spare no expense and no pains to get at the truth.
(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
“Have you got it?” he cried. “Have you got it?” And so lively was his impatience that he even laid his hand upon my arm and sought to shake me.
(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)
A voice replied, telling him to keep out of the moonlight or he would get some lead in him, and at the same time a bullet whistled close by his arm.
(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)
“You’ll get pepper if you don’t.”
(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
I have never seen a man get off his horse as quick as did that stranger Englishman.
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
It is used in patients whose disease has not gotten better during or after treatment with other anticancer drugs.
(ABX-EGF, NCI Dictionary)
