26 Phrasal Verbs with Get in English

Phrasal verbs can be tricky to master, but they are essential for effective communication in English. In this reference, you’ll explore the meaning and usage of some of the most common phrasal verbs with “get” to help improve your English skills.

You will learn about expressions like “Get About,” “Get Ahead,” “Get Along,” and many more. Each section highlights different phrases to expand your vocabulary.

Phrasal Verbs with GET

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Get About

To move around, travel, or go from place to place

• I love to get about and explore new cities.
• My grandparents used to get about a lot when they were younger.

To spread or circulate, especially rumors or news

• The news of the scandal quickly got about the office.
• False rumors about the celebrity’s death got about on social media.

To become known or widely recognized

• His reputation as a talented musician got about quickly.
• The company’s commitment to social responsibility got about and gained them a lot of positive attention.

Get Across

To successfully communicate a message or idea to someone, especially when they are having difficulty understanding it at first.

• I tried to get my point across to the boss, but he didn’t seem to understand.
• The teacher used a variety of examples to get the concept across to the students.

To cross a body of water or distance

• The swimmer struggled to get across the river due to the strong current.
• We need to hurry up and get across the bridge before it closes.

To be understood or accepted by someone

• It took a while for the importance of the issue to get across to the public.
• The seriousness of the situation finally got across to him when he saw the damage.

To be able to be heard or seen clearly

• The speaker used a microphone to get her voice across to the audience.
• The billboard was strategically placed to get the message across to drivers.

To become clear or understood

• The meaning of the poem finally got across to me after I read it a few times.
• The significance of the research findings got across to the scientific community after they were published.

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Get Ahead

To make progress or advance in a career or field

• He worked hard to get ahead in his company and was eventually promoted to manager.
• She took evening classes to improve her skills and get ahead in her career.

To gain an advantage over others

• Some people are willing to do anything to get ahead in life, even if it means cheating.
• Networking is a great way to get ahead and make valuable connections.

To move forward or make progress in a situation

• We need to come up with a plan to get ahead of the competition.
• By working together, we can get ahead of the project deadline.

To have more success or achieve a higher status than others

• She always wanted to get ahead of her peers and be the best in everything she did.
• His talent and hard work helped him get ahead of his competitors and become a successful athlete.

To have enough money or resources to live comfortably

• He saved money early on in his career so he could get ahead and retire comfortably.
• She inherited a large sum of money and was able to get ahead financially.

Get After

To pursue or chase after someone or something

• The dog got after the squirrel and chased it up a tree.
• The police got after the suspect and finally caught him.

To scold or reprimand someone for their behavior

• The coach got after the players for not working hard enough during practice.
• The teacher got after the students for talking during class.

To take action to accomplish a task or goal

• She needs to get after her homework if she wants to finish it on time.
• He decided to get after his fitness goals and started going to the gym regularly.

To attempt to obtain something

• She’s been trying to get after a promotion for months.
• He’s determined to get after the scholarship and has been working hard on his application.

To follow up or check on something

• The manager needs to get after the staff to ensure the project is completed on time.
• The doctor got after the patient to make sure they were following their treatment plan.

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Get Along

To have a friendly relationship with someone

• She gets along well with her coworkers and enjoys going out to lunch with them.
• The new neighbors seem nice, and I hope we can get along with them.

To make progress or succeed

• The project is getting along well, and we should be able to finish it on time.
• He’s getting along in his career and has been promoted to a higher position.

To manage or cope with a situation or problem

• She’s been getting along fine since her divorce and has adjusted to living on her own.
• The family is getting along despite their financial difficulties.

To travel or move in a particular direction

• We need to get along the highway to reach our destination.
• The hikers got along the trail and enjoyed the beautiful scenery.

To be compatible or work well together

• The different departments need to get along and collaborate to achieve the project goals.
• The new software should get along with the existing systems and programs.

Get Around

To manage to go places physically

•  After she broke her leg, she used crutches to get around the house.
• He’s getting older and doesn’t get around as easily as he used to.

To become known, especially news

This phrasal verb is sometimes used in a negative way, as in when something becomes known by a lot of people, especially when it should not be known.

• The rumor about the CEO’s resignation got around the company before the official announcement.
• The news of the celebrity’s engagement got around quickly, and soon everyone was talking about it.

Get At

To reach or access something

• The book is on the top shelf, and I can’t quite get at it.
• The files are stored in a secure location, and only authorized personnel can get at them.

To criticize or attack someone

• The boss is always getting at me for small mistakes, and it’s really affecting my morale.
• The politician is getting at his opponents in the press, and it’s becoming a heated debate.

To imply or suggest something indirectly

• I’m not sure what he’s getting at, but it seems like he’s trying to criticize my work.
• The article is difficult to understand, and I’m not sure what the author is getting at.

Get Away

To escape or leave a place

• She needed to get away from the city and went on a relaxing vacation in the countryside.
• The thief tried to get away, but the police caught him.

To take a break or go on a vacation

• He’s been working hard and needs to get away for a few days to recharge.
• We decided to get away for the weekend and go camping in the mountains.

To avoid or escape a situation or responsibility

• She was able to get away with cheating on the test because the teacher didn’t notice.
• The manager couldn’t get away from the difficult conversation with the employee.

To be successful or not be caught doing something wrong

• The company was able to get away with unethical practices for years before being exposed.
• He thought he could get away with lying, but his friends saw through it.

To move or create distance between oneself and something or someone

• He tried to get away from the angry dog and ran to safety.
• She needed to get away from the toxic relationship and start fresh.

Get Back

To return to a place

• I need to get back to work after my lunch break.
• We got back from our vacation last night.

To recover something that was lost or stolen

• He was able to get back his stolen wallet from the police.
• She needs to get back her lost phone from the restaurant.

To communicate with someone again after a period of time

• I’m going to get back in touch with my old friend from college.
• The business owner needs to get back to the client about the project proposal.

To retaliate or seek revenge

• He promised to get back at his boss for the unfair treatment.
• The team was determined to get back at their rivals for the previous defeat.

To resume a previous state or activity

• After her injury, she needs to get back into shape before returning to sports.
• He took a break from music, but now he’s ready to get back into it.

Get Behind

The phrasal verb “get behind” means to fail to make enough progress or to produce something at the right time. It can be used in various contexts, such as work, payments, or tasks. When you get behind with something, you fall behind schedule or fail to meet a deadline.

• You need to catch up on your work because you got behind with your assignments.
• She got behind with her rent payments and now owes two months’ worth of rent.
• The project is behind schedule because we got behind with the planning phase.

Get By

To manage or survive with limited resources or income

• She’s been able to get by on her part-time job, but it’s been a struggle.
• The family is getting by with the help of food banks and community programs.

To pass or succeed in a situation, especially with minimal effort

• He was able to get by the exam with just a few hours of studying.
• The team was able to get by their opponents with a last-minute goal.

To communicate or express oneself effectively in a language or situation

• She’s been studying English for a few years and is able to get by in basic conversations.
• The traveler was able to get by in the foreign country with a few key phrases and gestures.

To move past or overcome an obstacle or challenge

• She was able to get by the difficult period in her life with the help of therapy and support.
• The company was able to get by the economic downturn by cutting costs and increasing efficiency.

To temporarily or partially substitute for someone or something

• He’s been able to get by with a temporary assistant while his regular one is on vacation.
• The team was able to get by without their star player for a few games due to injury.

Get Down

To lower oneself physically to a lower position

• He got down on his knees to propose to his girlfriend.
• The cat got down from the tree after the fire department rescued it.

To write or record something

• She got down the notes from the lecture so she could study them later.
• He got down his thoughts in a journal to help process his emotions.

To feel sad or depressed

• The rainy weather always gets her down and affects her mood.

To start dancing or partying

• The DJ played a great song, and everyone got down on the dance floor.
• The friends got down to celebrating their success with drinks and music.

To focus on a task or project

• She needs to get down to work and finish her report before the deadline.
• He got down to studying for his exams and made a study schedule.

Get In

To enter a place

• She got in the car and drove to work.
• The fans were excited to get in the stadium for the big game.

To arrive or come to a place

• The train got in late, and he missed his connecting flight.
• The package got in earlier than expected and was delivered to the recipient.

To be included or become involved in something

• He was able to get in on the deal and make a profit.
• The new employee was excited to get in on the company’s latest project.

To make contact or communicate with someone

• She needs to get in touch with her doctor to schedule an appointment.
• The customer was able to get in contact with the company’s customer service department.

To fit or be able to be placed in a space or container

• The furniture was too big to get in the doorway and had to be disassembled.
• The groceries were able to get in the trunk of the car with some rearranging.

Get Into

To become interested or involved in something

• She got into photography after taking a class in college.
• He’s been getting into meditation as a way to manage stress.

To put on clothing or accessories

• She got into her pajamas and went to bed early.
• He got into his suit and tie for the job interview.

To enter a vehicle or enclosed space

• They got into the car and drove to the beach.
• The passengers got into the airplane and prepared for takeoff.

To start or begin a habit or routine

• She needs to get into the habit of exercising regularly.
• He’s been trying to get into the routine of waking up earlier.

To understand or comprehend something

• The students are struggling to get into the complex math concept.
• He needs to get into the details of the project to fully understand it.

To become involved in a negative or troublesome situation

• He got into trouble with the law and had to go to court.
• She regrets getting into a toxic relationship with her ex-boyfriend.

Get On

To board a mode of transportation

• She got on the train and found a seat in the back.
• The passengers got on the bus and paid their fares.

To make progress or move forward

• He’s been getting on well in his new job and has received positive feedback.
• The project is getting on slowly due to technical difficulties.

To have a good relationship with someone

• She and her sister get on well and enjoy spending time together.
• He doesn’t get on with his boss and is considering quitting his job.

To continue doing something, especially after a delay or interruption

• She needs to get on with her work and finish the report before the deadline.
• The team got on with the game after a brief delay due to weather conditions.

To be suitable or appropriate for a situation

• The dress doesn’t get on with the formal dress code for the event.
• The new employee doesn’t get on with the company culture and is struggling to fit in.

Get Over With

The phrasal verb “get over with” means to finish or complete something unpleasant or difficult as quickly as possible. This phrasal verb is often used when you want to avoid procrastinating or delaying a task that you don’t want to do.

• You have a difficult exam tomorrow. You just want to get it over with so you can relax.
• You have to give a presentation at work that you’re nervous about. You just want to get it over with so you can move on to other tasks.

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Get Up

To rise from a lying or sitting position

• You need to get up and exercise every morning if you want to stay healthy.
• I always get up early on weekends to go for a run before it gets too hot.

To organize or prepare oneself for a task or event

• The coach told the team to get up and start warming up before the game.
• She got up the courage to ask her boss for a raise.

To provoke a reaction or response from someone

• The loud noise from the fireworks got the dog up and barking.
• She tried to get up a reaction from her friend by teasing her about her crush.

Get Off

To leave a mode of transportation

• She got off the bus at the next stop and walked the rest of the way.
• The passengers got off the plane and headed to the baggage claim area.

To escape punishment or avoid a negative consequence

• He was able to get off with just a warning from the police officer.
• The company was able to get off without any major financial penalties for their unethical practices.

To remove something from oneself or someone else

• She needs to get off the makeup before going to bed.
• The doctor needs to get off the bandage to examine the wound.

Get Out

To leave a place: When you want to leave a place, you can use “get out” to express your intention.

• You need to get out of the house before your parents arrive.
• I’ll get out of the office early today to catch the train.

To remove something: If you want to remove something from a place, you can use “get out” to express your action.

• You need to get the stain out of your shirt before the interview.
• I’ll get the trash out of the kitchen before dinner.

To express disbelief or surprise: When you want to express disbelief or surprise, you can use “get out” to show your reaction.

• Get out! You won the lottery?
• You got an A on the exam? Get out of here!

To escape or avoid something: If you want to escape or avoid something, you can use “get out” to express your intention.

• You need to get out of this bad relationship.
• I’ll get out of this boring meeting by pretending to have an emergency call.

Get Over

To recover from an illness, injury, or emotional pain

• She was able to get over her flu after a few days of rest and medication.
• He’s been struggling to get over the loss of his beloved pet.

To overcome an obstacle or challenge

• The team was able to get over their initial difficulties and win the game.
• She needs to get over her fear of public speaking to advance in her career.

To move past or forget about something

• He needs to get over his ex-girlfriend and start dating again.
• She’s been trying to get over her disappointment about not getting the job.

To climb or move to the other side of something

• The hiker needs to get over the mountain to reach the campsite.
• The workers were able to get over the fence and access the construction site.

Get Rid Of

The phrasal verb “get rid of” means to eliminate or remove something or someone. It is often used to refer to getting rid of unwanted things or people.

• You should get rid of that old couch in your living room and buy a new one.
• He got rid of all his old clothes that didn’t fit anymore.

Get Stuck

When you get stuck, it means you are unable to move or progress from a certain situation or place. This phrasal verb is often used to describe a difficult or challenging situation that you cannot get out of easily.

• I got stuck in a difficult math problem and couldn’t solve it on my own.
• She got stuck in a rut and couldn’t find a way to break out of her routine.

Get Taken In

To “get taken in” means to be deceived or tricked by someone or something. It implies that you have been convinced to believe something that is not true or that you have been misled. This phrasal verb is often used to describe situations where someone has been scammed or conned.

• Don’t believe everything you read on the internet. You could easily get taken in by fake news or scams.
• She got taken in by a man who claimed to be a prince from a far-off land. He convinced her to give him all her money before disappearing.

Get Through

To finish or complete a task or activity

• She needs to get through her homework before going to bed.
• He’s been trying to get through his to-do list all day.

To successfully communicate or connect with someone

• The teacher needs to get through to the student who’s been struggling in class.
• He was finally able to get through to the customer service representative after being on hold for an hour.

To survive or endure a difficult or challenging situation

• The family needs to get through the financial hardship and find a way to make ends meet.
• She’s been trying to get through the grief of losing her loved one.

To consume or use up a supply of something

• They need to get through the remaining food before going grocery shopping again.
• He’s been trying to get through the pile of paperwork on his desk.

To pass or succeed in a test or examination

• She needs to get through the final exam to graduate from college.
• He’s been studying hard to get through the licensing exam for his profession.

To be connected or reach a destination by phone or electronic device

• The call couldn’t get through due to poor signal reception.
• She was able to get through to her friend’s phone and make plans for the weekend.

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Get To

To arrive at a destination

• She needs to get to the airport early to catch her flight.
• The delivery truck needs to get to the warehouse before the end of the day.

To start or begin doing something

• He needs to get to work on his project before the deadline.
• She’s been trying to get to cleaning the house all day.

To affect or bother someone emotionally

• The news of the tragedy really got to her and she needed to take a break.
• The criticism from her boss got to her and affected her confidence.

To cause someone to take action or make a decision

• The urgency of the situation finally got to him and he made a move.
• The persistent requests from his friends got to him and he agreed to join them.

To understand or comprehend something

• The concept was difficult to get to at first, but with practice, it became clearer.
• She needs to get to the bottom of the issue to fully understand it.

Get With

To understand or comprehend something

• She needs to get with the program and start following the new guidelines.
• He was having trouble getting with the concept, but the teacher explained it in a different way.

To cooperate or work together with someone

• The two companies need to get with each other to finalize the merger deal.
• The teammates need to get with each other to come up with a plan for the game.

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Isabella Claire

Isabella Claire is a dedicated ESL teacher who has been with 7ESL since 2017. With years of classroom and online teaching experience, Isabella now serves as the Content Leader at 7ESL, overseeing lesson quality and ensuring engaging, accurate resources for English learners worldwide.

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