Phrasal verbs with get
Get makes more phrasal verbs than almost any other verb. Most are about moving or changing state: you get up, get on a bus, get over a cold and get through a hard week.
Phrasal verbs with get by level
- A1–A29get up, get on, get off
- B118get on, get off, get back
- B226get up, get off, get in
- C1–C23get out, get around, get through
Each meaning has its own level, from Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries and the Cambridge Dictionary, or our estimate (~) where they give none.
A1–A2The first ones to learn 9 meanings
- get upget upA1
get out of bed after you sleep
I get up at half past six on weekdays.
- get onget on somethingA2
go onto a bus, train, plane, boat or bike
Hurry up and get on! The doors are closing.
- get offget off somethingA2
leave a bus, train, plane, boat or bike
We got off the train one stop too early.
- get backget backA2
return home or to a place where you were before
What time did you get back from the gym?
- get backget something backA2
have something returned to you after you lost it or gave it
Did you ever get that book back from Sam?
- get inget inA2
enter a car, a taxi, a building or a small space
Get in, I’ll drive you to the station.
- get outget outA2
leave a car, a room or a building
We stopped at the lights and she got out.
- get intoget into somethingA2
go inside a car, a building or a small space
We all got into the lift on the ground floor.
- get out ofget out of somethingA2
leave a car, a building, a bed or a place
Get out of the car slowly. There’s a bike coming.
B1Common, with a clear meaning 18 meanings
- get onget onB1
have a friendly relationship with someone
My brother and I get on really well now.
- get onget onB1
manage or make progress in a situation
How did you get on at the dentist?
- get offget off somethingB1
finish work and leave at the end of the day
What time do you get off work on Fridays?
- get offget off somebody or somethingB1
move away from something or stop touching someone
Get off the sofa, Max! You’re all wet.
- get backget back somethingB1
reply to someone later, often with an answer
Thanks for your email. I’ll get back to you tomorrow.
- get inget inB1
arrive home, at work, or at a station or airport
What time does your train get in?
- get outget something outB1
take something from a bag, box or cupboard
Get your passports out, please.
- get intoget into somebody or somethingB1
be accepted by a school, university or club
He worked really hard and got into medical school.
- get intoget into somethingB1
start to be interested in something and enjoy it
I got into running during the winter.
- get intoget into somethingB1
end up in a bad situation, like trouble or debt
He got into trouble for being late again.
- get overget over somethingB1
feel better after an illness
It took me two weeks to get over the flu.
- get alongget alongB1
like each other and be friendly
My cat and dog get along fine.
- get aroundget aroundB1
travel or move from place to place
It’s easy to get around Lisbon by tram.
- get togetherget togetherB1
meet other people, usually to spend time together
Let’s get together for coffee next week.
- get byget byB1
move past someone or something in a narrow space
Excuse me, could I get by, please?
- get throughget throughB1
manage to speak to someone on the phone
I called the bank, but I couldn’t get through.
- get on withget on with somebody or somethingB1
have a friendly relationship with someone
I get on with everyone in my class.
- get on withget on with somethingB1
make progress with a task
How are you getting on with the essay?
B2Second meanings and more idiomatic ones 26 meanings
- get upget upB2
stand up after sitting or lying down
Everyone got up when the bride walked in.
- get offget offB2
get only a small punishment, or none at all
He broke the law but got off with a small fine.
- get inget inB2
be accepted by a school, university, team or club
She tried out for the team and got in!
- get inget something inB2
buy food or drink so you have enough at home
We need to get some milk in before Monday.
- get outget outB2
become known, when it was meant to be secret
Somehow the news got out before the wedding.
- get overget over somethingB2
stop feeling sad or upset about something
She never really got over the breakup.
- get overget over somethingB2
be very surprised by something
I can’t get over how tall you are now!
- get alongget alongB2
manage or make progress in a situation
How are you getting along with your driving lessons?
- get aroundget around somethingB2
finally do something you have been meaning to do
I finally got around to fixing the shelf.
- get aroundget aroundB2
spread from person to person, like news
News gets around fast in a small village.
- get togetherget togetherB2
start a romantic relationship
My parents got together when they were nineteen.
- get togetherget somebody or something togetherB2
collect people or things in one place
Can you get the team together for a quick meeting?
- get byget byB2
manage to live or do something with just enough money, skill or help
We get by on one salary.
- get throughget through somethingB2
pass an exam or reach the next stage of a competition
Did you get through your driving test?
- get awayget awayB2
escape from a person or a place
The thief got away on a scooter.
- get awayget awayB2
go somewhere for a holiday, usually to rest
We’re hoping to get away for a few days in May.
- get awayget awayB2
manage to leave a place, often later than you wanted
I couldn’t get away from the office until eight.
- get away withget away with somethingB2
do something wrong and not be punished for it
He cheated on the test and got away with it.
- get away withget away with somethingB2
do something in an easier way and still have no problem
You can get away with trainers at that restaurant.
- get away withget away with somethingB2
steal something and escape with it
The thieves got away with two paintings.
- get aheadget aheadB2
be successful in your job or in life
You need good English to get ahead in tourism.
- get aheadget aheadB2
move in front of others, or do work earlier than planned
Let’s leave at six to get ahead of the traffic.
- get on withget on with somethingB2
start or continue doing something, especially work, after a pause
Stop chatting and get on with your work.
- get out ofget out of somethingB2
avoid doing something you should do, often with an excuse
He always gets out of washing the dishes.
- get out ofget something out ofB2
receive something good from an activity or experience
I got a lot out of that course.
- get down toget down to somethingB2
start doing something seriously and with full attention
Right, everyone. Let’s get down to business.
C1–C2Less common and more formal 3 meanings
- get outget outC1
leave home to go to different places and meet people
You should get out more and meet people.
- get aroundget around somethingC1
find a way to avoid a problem or a rule
We got around the problem by working from home.
- get throughget through somebody or somethingC1
come to the end of a hard time or a difficult experience
I don’t know how I got through that week.
Café orders
New friends
At the airport
Slova
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Phrasal verbs with get that people mix up
Close in meaning, but not the same.
get on: go onto a bus, train, plane, boat or bike.
get along: the same friendly meaning, more common in US English.
get on: go onto a bus, train, plane, boat or bike.
get in: used for cars and taxis, not buses or trains.
get off: leave a bus, train, plane, boat or bike.
get out: leave a car, room or building.
get in: enter a car, a taxi, a building or a small space.
get into: the same idea, used when you name the place or school.
get by or get through?
get by: manage to live or do something with just enough money, skill or help.
get through: reach the end of a hard time or task.
get away with or get off?
get away with: do something wrong and not be punished for it.
get off: get only a small punishment, often from a court.
Phrasal verbs with get: exercise with answers
Eight questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.
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1My grandma _____ with a walking stick now.
Get around: travel or move from place to place. More on get around
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2We don’t _____ much since the baby came.
Get out: leave home to go to different places and meet people. More on get out
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3You can’t get _____ it now. You promised! (avoid doing something you should do, often with an excuse)
Get out of: avoid doing something you should do, often with an excuse. More on get out of
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4Which is correct? (start to be interested in something and enjoy it)
Get into is not separable here: the object goes after it. More on get into
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5Do your kids _____ with each other?
Get along: like each other and be friendly. More on get along
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6There’s no bread. I’ll get some in later. What does it mean here?
Get in: buy food or drink so you have enough at home. More on get in
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7I can’t get _____ work when it’s this noisy. (start doing something seriously and with full attention)
Get down to: start doing something seriously and with full attention. More on get down to
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8I _____ at six, so let’s meet at seven.
Get off: finish work and leave at the end of the day. More on get off
Phrasal verbs with get: FAQ
How many phrasal verbs with get are there?
Dictionaries list many more, but these 19 are the ones learners meet most, with 56 meanings between them. Each has its own page with examples, common mistakes and a short quiz.
What are the most common phrasal verbs with get?
Start with the A1 and A2 ones: get up, get on, get off, get back, get in, get out. Then the B1 ones, which are common in everyday conversation.
Which phrasal verbs with get are separable?
5 of them have at least one separable meaning, where the object can go in the middle: get back, get in, get out, get together, get out of. With a pronoun like it or them, the object must go in the middle.