get

IPA/ɡet/
KK[ɡˈɛt]IPA/ɡet/

get — verb

  • getpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • getshe / she / it
  • gotpast simple
  • getting-ing form
  • gottenpast participle

1. to buy something, or to receive money, a result, or something you want through y

1.動詞及物A1
釋義

to buy something, or to receive money, a result, or something you want through your own effort.

例句

Nora got a new bicycle for her tenth birthday from her grandparents.

get + concrete object (new bicycle)

Luca got a good price when he sold his old car last week.

get + abstract noun (good price)

同義詞
  • obtain

    more formal than 'get'; often used in writing

  • buy

    specifically for purchasing with money; narrower than 'get'

  • earn

    focuses on receiving money through work or effort

反義詞
  • lose

    to no longer have something you once had

文法句型

get + object (thing obtained)

常見錯誤

❌I get a new phone yesterday.
✅I got a new phone yesterday.
💡'get' is irregular: the past form is 'got', not 'getted'.

2. to receive something that someone gives or sends to you, including information,

2.動詞及物A1
釋義

to receive something that someone gives or sends to you, including information, a punishment, or an injury.

例句

Nadia got a long letter from her cousin in Japan this morning.

get + object (letter) from + source

Kabir got a warning from the teacher for talking during class.

同義詞
  • receive

    more formal than 'get'; common in official contexts

  • be given

    passive form; emphasises the giver's action

反義詞
  • give

    opposite action in terms of possession transfer

文法句型

get + object (thing received)

用法筆記

This sense is often used with punishments (get a fine, get detention) and injuries (get a cut, get a black eye).

常見錯誤

❌ 'I got a letter from my mother yesterday.' (correct but generic) — No mistake; be aware that 'receive' is more formal.

3. to move to a place in order to return with a person or thing that you need or wa

3.動詞及物A1
釋義

to move to a place in order to return with a person or thing that you need or want.

例句

Constanza went to get her little brother from school at three o'clock.

go + to get + person + from + place

Can you get some milk from the shop on your way home this evening?

同義詞
  • fetch

    less common in everyday speech; 'get' is more natural

  • collect

    slightly more formal; used for picking up packages or people

  • pick up

    phrasal verb with the same meaning; very common in conversation

文法句型

go/get/come + and + get + object

get + object + from + place

用法筆記

Common pattern: 'go and get' or 'come and get' (informal) means moving somewhere with the purpose of returning with someone or something. In American English, 'go get' (without 'and') is also common.

常見錯誤

❌ 'Can you go and pick up some milk?' (correct but uses 'pick up' instead of 'get') — 'get' is simpler and more direct for everyday fetching.

4. to catch someone who is trying to escape, or to take control of something by for

4.動詞及物B1
釋義

to catch someone who is trying to escape, or to take control of something by force, especially in a military or hunting context.

例句

The police got the thief after a short chase through the park.

get + person (as target caught)

Quan got a large fish during the fishing trip last weekend at the lake.

同義詞
  • catch

    the most direct synonym; used for people and animals

  • capture

    more formal than 'get'; implies taking control

  • seize

    formal; often used in military or legal contexts

反義詞
  • free

    to let someone go from captivity

  • release

    to set someone free

文法句型

get + someone/something (as target caught or captured)

用法筆記

This sense is commonly used with criminals, animals in hunting, or territory in military contexts. It is less common in everyday conversation than sense 1.

常見錯誤

❌The police get the thief yesterday.
✅The police got the thief yesterday.
💡past tense of 'get' is 'got', not 'get'.

5. to reach the place where you were going after making a trip.

5.動詞不及物A1
釋義

to reach the place where you were going after making a trip.

例句

What time did you get to the airport for your flight this morning?

get + to + place (arrival)

Nora got home late because the train was delayed by an hour.

get + home (fixed adverb, no preposition)

同義詞
  • arrive

    slightly more formal; 'arrive at' for places, 'arrive in' for cities/countries

  • reach

    transitive verb; no preposition needed (reach the station)

反義詞
  • leave

    to go away from a place

文法句型

get + to + location

get + home/there/here/back

用法筆記

Unlike 'arrive', 'get' needs 'to' before a named place (get to the station), but is used without 'to' before 'home', 'here', 'there' (get home, get here, get there).

常見錯誤

❌I arrived to the station.
✅I got to the station.
💡'arrive' needs 'at' (arrive at), but 'get' uses 'to'.

6. to reach a particular milestone or point in a process, such as a specific age, s

6.動詞不及物B1
釋義

to reach a particular milestone or point in a process, such as a specific age, stage of ability, or time of day — used for 'getting to be a certain age', 'getting late', or 'getting to know someone'.

例句

It was getting late, so Jin turned off the television and went to bed.

be getting + adjective (progressive: gradual change)

Ayana is getting much better at speaking Chinese after six months of practice.

同義詞
  • become

    more formal than 'get'; emphasises the result rather than the process

  • reach

    focuses on arriving at a specific point or stage

文法句型

get + to + stage/age

be getting + adjective

get + to know/see/understand

用法筆記

This sense appears in two common patterns: (1) 'be getting + adjective' shows a gradual change (getting cold, getting late, getting dark); (2) 'get to + verb' shows reaching a point where something happens or becomes possible (get to know, get to see).

常見錯誤

❌She is more better at English.
✅She is getting better at English.
💡use 'get + comparative adjective' to show gradual improvement.

7. to advance or improve in a task or activity you are working on; to move closer t

7.動詞不及物B1
釋義

to advance or improve in a task or activity you are working on; to move closer to a goal.

例句

Mei has been studying very hard and is finally getting somewhere with her Japanese.

get + somewhere for making progress

The building project did not get very far because the company ran out of money.

get + far for degree of progress

同義詞
反義詞

文法句型

get + adverb (far / nowhere / somewhere / there)

get + through / past / ahead

用法筆記

Common with adverbs of progress like far, somewhere, nowhere, there, ahead. Subject is usually a person, a project, or an activity.

常見錯誤

❌I got progress in my English.
✅I got better at English.' or 'I made progress in English.
💡'get' as progress uses adverbs, not a direct object.
❌The meeting got anywhere.
✅The meeting did not get anywhere.
💡negative or question forms are much more common than affirmative statements with this sense.

8. to start suffering from a sickness or health problem, for example a cold or a he

8.動詞及物A2
釋義

to start suffering from a sickness or health problem, for example a cold or a headache.

例句

Sari got a really bad cold after walking home through the freezing rain.

get + cold — most common illness collocation

Allison got food poisoning from the seafood salad she ordered at the restaurant.

get + food poisoning for illness from food

同義詞
  • catch

    can sound slightly more formal; 'get' is more common in everyday speech

  • come down with

    phrasal verb, informal, often for milder illnesses

文法句型

get + illness (cold / flu / headache / food poisoning)

用法筆記

Frequently used with the definite article for common illnesses: get the flu, get the measles. Illnesses like cold, headache, stomach ache typically use the indefinite article: get a cold, get a headache.

常見錯誤

❌I got sick of a cold.
✅I got a cold.' or 'I got sick with a cold.
💡'get sick of' means 'become bored with', not 'become ill with'.

9. to change into a different state or condition, often little by little over time.

9.動詞不及物A2
釋義

to change into a different state or condition, often little by little over time.

例句

It is getting dark outside, so we should probably head home soon.

get + dark — gradual change in state

Gita got very nervous right before she walked on stage to give her speech.

同義詞
  • become

    more formal; used in both formal and informal contexts

  • grow

    emphasizes slow, gradual change ('grow old', 'grow dark')

  • turn

    used for colors and weather ('turn red', 'turn cold')

文法句型

get + adjective (dark / tired / cold / old / better)

用法筆記

This sense functions as a linking verb and is followed by an adjective, not a noun phrase (say 'get old', not 'get an old person'). For becoming something with a noun, use 'become' instead ('become a doctor').

常見錯誤

❌I am getting hot in this room.' (when you mean the temperature is rising) — This is actually correct!
✅I am getting hot.' is fine.
❌She got a teacher.' (meaning she became a teacher).
✅She became a teacher.
💡Use 'become + noun', not 'get + noun' for becoming something.

10. to start moving, leaving, or travelling toward a place, often used to encourage

10.動詞不及物B1
釋義

to start moving, leaving, or travelling toward a place, often used to encourage someone to hurry.

例句

We need to get going if we want to catch the last train home tonight.

get going = start moving / leave

The taxi got moving as soon as the last passenger closed the door.

get moving = start moving forward

同義詞
反義詞

文法句型

get + V-ing (going / moving)

get + prepositional phrase (to / out of / off)

用法筆記

Common in imperative or suggestion: 'Let's get going!' or 'We'd better get moving.' The gerund forms (going, moving) are fixed — you cannot substitute other verbs freely.

常見錯誤

❌Let's get go.
✅Let's get going.
💡The gerund (-ing) form is required after 'get' in this sense.
❌I got to the office.' (when meaning 'started going to the office').
✅I got going to the office.
💡The simple 'got to' means 'arrived at', which is a different sense.

11. to make something happen, especially by putting in effort, or to arrange for som

11.動詞及物B1
釋義

to make something happen, especially by putting in effort, or to arrange for something to be done by someone else.

例句

Kemi finally got her phone repaired after dropping it in the swimming pool.

get + object + past participle — arranging for a service

Ada got the washing machine working again by carefully reading the manual.

get + object + present participle — cause to start functioning

同義詞

文法句型

get + object + past participle (get it done / get the car fixed)

get + object + present participle (get the car running)

get + object + to-infinitive

用法筆記

The past participle pattern 'get something done' often implies that someone else does the work for you ('get the car fixed' = have a mechanic fix it). Use the infinitive pattern 'get someone to do something' (sense 12) for persuading a person.

常見錯誤

❌I got fix my car.
✅I got my car fixed.
💡The past participle is needed, not the bare infinitive.
❌I got him fixed my bike.
✅I got him to fix my bike.
💡With a person, use 'get + person + to-infinitive'.

12. to make a person do a particular thing by encouraging, influencing, or pressurin

12.動詞及物B1
釋義

to make a person do a particular thing by encouraging, influencing, or pressuring them.

例句

Mei got her little brother to clean his room by promising him ice cream afterward.

get + person + to-infinitive — persuasion through incentive

The substitute teacher could not get the students to pay attention during math class.

同義詞
  • persuade

    more formal; implies argument or reasoning

  • convince

    focuses on changing someone's mind rather than compelling action

  • talk into

    phrasal verb, similar informality

反義詞

文法句型

get + person + to-infinitive (get him to help / get them to agree)

用法筆記

Commonly used when the persuasion required some effort or a specific strategy (a promise, a trick, a favor). For simple requests without resistance, 'ask' is more natural.

常見錯誤

❌I got him helping me.
✅I got him to help me.
💡Use the to-infinitive, not the gerund, after the object.
❌I got that he helps me.
✅I got him to help me.
💡The direct object must be the person, not a that-clause.

13. used with an object and a past participle to describe something that happens to

13.動詞及物B1
釋義

used with an object and a past participle to describe something that happens to someone or something without being planned or wanted — for example, getting your phone stolen on the train, or getting a window broken by a storm.

例句

Jin got his phone stolen while he was waiting for the subway.

get + object + past participle (stolen)

Trang got her luggage damaged during the flight from Hanoi to Taipei.

get + object + past participle (damaged)

文法句型

get + object + past participle

用法筆記

The object must be something the subject owns or is responsible for. This pattern often describes accidents or unwanted events.

常見錯誤

❌I got stolen my wallet.
✅I got my wallet stolen.
💡the past participle goes after the object, not before it.

14. used with a past participle instead of 'be' to form a passive structure, especia

14.動詞不及物B1
釋義

used with a past participle instead of 'be' to form a passive structure, especially when describing something that happens to someone rather than something they choose — for example, getting promoted at work, or getting invited to a party.

例句

Hugo got promoted to manager after only two years at the company.

get + past participle (promoted) for passive meaning

Salma got invited to her cousin's wedding in Brazil last October.

get + past participle (invited)

文法句型

get + past participle

用法筆記

More common in spoken English than written. 'Get' passive often implies the subject was affected by the action, whereas 'be' passive is more neutral.

常見錯誤

❌I got born in 1995.
✅I was born in 1995.
💡'get' passive is not used for permanent states or facts, only for actions or events.

15. to go from one spot to another, often by climbing, stepping, or squeezing your b

15.動詞不及物A2
釋義

to go from one spot to another, often by climbing, stepping, or squeezing your body into a new place or through a gap — for example, getting down from a ladder, getting out of a chair, or getting under a fence.

例句

Can you get down from that ladder before you fall?

get + preposition (down from)

The cat got onto the kitchen roof through an open window.

get + preposition (onto)

同義詞
  • move

    more neutral; 'get' often implies effort or a destination

文法句型

get + preposition/adverb of place

用法筆記

Often followed by a preposition like 'into', 'out of', 'onto', 'off', 'down from', or 'up to'. When used in the imperative ('Get out!'), it can express strong emotion.

16. to travel somewhere using a bus, train, plane, taxi, or other form of transport

16.動詞及物A2
釋義

to travel somewhere using a bus, train, plane, taxi, or other form of transport — for example, getting the train to work, or getting a taxi home from the airport.

例句

Every morning Maja gets the number 79 bus from her village to school.

get + vehicle + from + place + to + place

We got the first train from Berlin to Warsaw to save money on a hotel.

同義詞
  • take

    interchangeable in most contexts; 'take' is slightly more formal

  • catch

    especially for trains, buses, and planes

文法句型

get + a/the + bus/train/plane/taxi/boat

用法筆記

Used for public or hired transport (bus, train, plane, taxi, ferry). For driving your own car, use 'drive' or 'take the car' instead.

常見錯誤

❌I got the car to work.
✅I drove to work.
💡'get a car' means catching/boarding a vehicle, not driving your own.

17. to answer a ringing telephone or go to a door when someone knocks or rings the b

17.動詞及物A2
釋義

to answer a ringing telephone or go to a door when someone knocks or rings the bell — for example, asking someone to get the phone while your hands are busy, or getting the door when a delivery arrives.

例句

Can someone get the phone? My hands are covered in flour.

get + the phone

Kasia got the door and found a delivery man holding a huge box of books.

get + the door

同義詞
  • answer

    more formal; 'get' is more conversational

文法句型

get + the phone

get + the door

用法筆記

Almost always used with 'the phone' or 'the door' as the object. 'Get the phone' is more common in British English than American English, which prefers 'answer the phone'.

18. to be given the opportunity or permission to do something you find nice or excit

18.動詞不及物B1
釋義

to be given the opportunity or permission to do something you find nice or exciting — for example, getting to travel abroad for work, or getting to meet a famous person.

例句

Manuela got to visit the National Palace Museum during her trip to Taipei.

get + to-infinitive (opportunity)

The children got to stay up late and watch fireworks on New Year's Eve.

同義詞

文法句型

get + to-infinitive

用法筆記

This sense is always followed by 'to' plus a verb. It emphasises that the opportunity is positive or desirable. For negative situations, use 'have to' instead.

常見錯誤

❌I got to go to the dentist yesterday.
✅I had to go to the dentist yesterday.
💡'get to' expresses a welcome opportunity, not an obligation.

19. to understand what someone is saying, what is happening, or what something means

19.動詞及物B1
釋義

to understand what someone is saying, what is happening, or what something means — used especially in informal speech when the listener has just figured something out

例句

Elena didn't get the joke until Meera explained it twice.

get + [noun] meaning 'understand'

I don't get why the bus driver took a different route this morning.

get + wh-clause for 'understand why'

同義詞
  • understand

    more formal and general purpose

  • grasp

    implies fully understanding something that is complex or abstract

  • catch

    mainly used for hearing what someone said, e.g. 'I didn't catch your name'

反義詞
  • miss

    fails to hear or understand, e.g. 'I missed what you said'

文法句型

get + noun

get + wh-clause

get + it

用法筆記

Very common in informal questions ('Do you get it?') and negatives ('I don't get it'). More formal alternatives are 'understand' and 'comprehend'.

常見錯誤

❌I can't understand the joke, please explain.
✅I don't get the joke, could you explain?
💡'get' is the natural informal choice for everyday conversation about understanding.

20. to prepare or cook a meal, especially a simple or everyday one

20.動詞及物A2
釋義

to prepare or cook a meal, especially a simple or everyday one

例句

Paloma is getting dinner ready while Henrik sets the table.

get + [meal] + ready

Asher gets breakfast for the children every morning before school.

get + [meal] + for [someone]

同義詞
  • prepare

    more formal; covers planning and arranging, not just cooking

  • make

    similar informality, e.g. 'make breakfast'

  • cook

    specifically involves heating food

文法句型

get + noun (a meal)

get + noun + ready

get + someone + noun (meal)

用法筆記

Used informally in place of 'prepare' or 'cook'. Often appears in the pattern 'get + [meal] + ready' to describe ongoing preparation.

常見錯誤

❌I will prepare breakfast for everyone.' (too formal for everyday talk).
✅I'll get breakfast for everyone.
💡'get' is the natural choice when speaking casually.

21. to cover the cost of a purchase for yourself or for another person, especially i

21.動詞及物B1
釋義

to cover the cost of a purchase for yourself or for another person, especially in a social setting such as a restaurant or event

例句

Let me get the bill — it's my turn to treat everyone.

get the bill meaning 'pay for the meal'

Anong said she would get the tickets for tonight's concert.

get the tickets meaning 'pay for the tickets'

同義詞
  • pay for

    more neutral and general

  • treat

    specifically means paying for someone else as a gift

  • cover

    informal, e.g. 'I'll cover the bill'

文法句型

get + noun (bill/drinks/tickets)

I'll get this

get + someone + noun

用法筆記

Very common in restaurants and social situations. The fixed phrase 'I'll get this/that' means the speaker will pay. 'Get' implies the person willingly takes responsibility for the payment.

常見錯誤

❌I will pay the drinks' (grammatically incorrect — should be 'pay for').
✅I'll get the drinks.
💡'get' naturally means 'pay for' in informal contexts.

22. to confuse someone so much that they cannot explain, understand, or make sense o

22.動詞及物B2
釋義

to confuse someone so much that they cannot explain, understand, or make sense of something

例句

The professor's explanation of quantum physics completely got the class — nobody could follow it.

got + [person] meaning 'confused [person]'

The last question on the math test really got Brandon — he left it blank.

got + [person] meaning 'confused [person]'

同義詞
  • confuse

    more formal and the standard neutral term

  • puzzle

    suggests gentle confusion, often about a mystery or problem

  • baffle

    stronger, suggesting complete inability to understand

反義詞
  • clarify

    makes something clear or understandable

文法句型

get + person

what gets me

it gets me when/how

用法筆記

Always informal. The expression 'what gets me is...' is a fixed phrase for introducing the thing that causes confusion. This sense focuses on mental confusion, not annoyance (see sense 24).

常見錯誤

❌This problem confuses me' (correct but formal for casual talk).
✅This problem gets me.
💡'get' is the natural informal equivalent of 'confuse'.

23. a fixed informal expression used when you are unable to give the information som

23.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

a fixed informal expression used when you are unable to give the information someone has just asked for — the phrase 'you've got me there' or its shorter form 'you got me' means 'I don't know'

例句

A: 'What is the capital of Ecuador?' B: 'You've got me there — I have no idea.'

You've got me there — fixed phrase for 'I don't know'

'How much does a new car cost these days?' 'You got me — I have not bought one in years.'

You got me — shorter variant of 'you've got me there'

同義詞

文法句型

you've got me there

you got me

got me on that one

用法筆記

A fixed informal expression. The full form is 'You've got me there', but 'You got me' is common in American English. Only used when the speaker genuinely doesn't know — not for refusing to answer. The subject is always 'you'.

常見錯誤

❌You caught me there' (mixing idioms).
✅You've got me there.
💡this is the correct fixed expression for admitting you don't know.

24. to annoy, irritate, or bother someone, especially as a result of a repeated acti

24.動詞及物B2
釋義

to annoy, irritate, or bother someone, especially as a result of a repeated action or a particular habit

例句

What gets me about Leo is that he never apologizes when he is late.

what gets [someone] about... — fixed expression for annoyance

It really gets Henrik when people talk loudly on the phone in a quiet café.

it gets [someone] when... — introducing the annoying situation

同義詞
  • annoy

    more formal and direct

  • irritate

    stronger, often suggesting physical discomfort

  • bother

    similar intensity, slightly more polite

反義詞
  • please

    makes someone feel happy or satisfied

文法句型

get + person

what gets me

it gets me when

用法筆記

Informal. This sense expresses irritation or frustration caused by a repeated action or habit, not mental confusion. The fixed phrase 'what gets me is...' introduces the source of annoyance.

常見錯誤

❌The noise irritates me' (correct but somewhat formal for casual complaints).
✅The noise gets me.
💡'get' is the natural informal choice when expressing annoyance.

25. to make someone experience a very strong feeling, especially sadness, often to t

25.動詞及物B2
釋義

to make someone experience a very strong feeling, especially sadness, often to the point of tears

例句

The ending of that movie always gets me, even after watching it ten times.

get + person (emotional impact)

What really gets Shanti is seeing people abandon their pets on the street.

what gets + person + is ...

同義詞
  • move

    more formal, less intense than 'get'

  • affect

    broader; can be emotional or physical

  • touch

    gentler, implies warmth rather than sadness

文法句型

get + object

get + person

用法筆記

Common in informal conversation. Often used with 'what' as the subject ('What gets me is...'). The object is usually a person or group of people.

常見錯誤

❌The movie got me to cry
✅The movie got me
💡'get' in this sense already includes the emotional result; you do not need to add 'to cry'.

26. to strike a person, typically through a bullet, a thrown item, or physical impac

26.動詞及物B2
釋義

to strike a person, typically through a bullet, a thrown item, or physical impact

例句

The stone got Andrés right on the back of his head.

get + person + on + body part

A stray bullet got the soldier in his left shoulder during the attack.

同義詞
  • hit

    more direct, neutral; 'get' adds a sense of unexpected impact

  • strike

    more formal

  • catch

    often used for thrown objects hitting someone

文法句型

get + person + in/on + body part

get + person + with + object

用法筆記

Almost always followed by a phrase specifying where the hit landed — 'on the [body part]' or 'in the [body part]'. 'In' suggests a deeper wound (bullet); 'on' suggests surface contact.

常見錯誤

❌The stone got him
✅The stone got him on the knee
💡this sense usually needs a body part to sound natural.

27. to finally defeat, overcome, or destroy someone or something, especially after a

27.動詞及物C1
釋義

to finally defeat, overcome, or destroy someone or something, especially after a long period of trying or suffering

例句

The harsh winter finally got the old tree in the backyard.

final defeat by a natural force

Quan's opponents thought they had won, but his determination got them in the end.

同義詞
  • defeat

    more neutral and direct; lacks the sense of a long struggle

  • overcome

    more formal; subject is usually the winner

  • finish

    stronger, implies complete destruction

反義詞
  • survive

    opposite outcome — the thing that 'gets' you is what you do not survive

文法句型

get + person/thing

用法筆記

Often used for natural forces, illnesses, or persistent problems that eventually win. The tone is usually matter-of-fact rather than triumphant — it describes something that finally succeeds after a struggle.

get — noun