getting Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the act of acquiring something
    acquiring.
    • I envied his talent for acquiring
    • he's much more interested in the getting than in the giving
  2. verb come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
    acquire; get.
    • She got a lot of paintings from her uncle
    • They acquired a new pet
    • Get your results the next day
    • Get permission to take a few days off from work
  3. verb enter or assume a certain state or condition
    go; become; get.
    • He became annoyed when he heard the bad news
    • It must be getting more serious
    • her face went red with anger
    • She went into ecstasy
    • Get going!
  4. verb cause to move; cause to be in a certain position or condition
    let; have; get.
    • He got his squad on the ball
    • This let me in for a big surprise
    • He got a girl into trouble
  5. verb receive a specified treatment (abstract)
    receive; incur; obtain; find; get.
    • These aspects of civilization do not find expression or receive an interpretation
    • His movie received a good review
    • I got nothing but trouble for my good intentions
  6. verb reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
    arrive; come; get.
    • She arrived home at 7 o'clock
    • She didn't get to Chicago until after midnight
  7. verb go or come after and bring or take back
    bring; fetch; convey; get.
    • Get me those books over there, please
    • Could you bring the wine?
    • The dog fetched the hat
  8. verb go through (mental or physical states or experiences)
    receive; have; experience; get.
    • get an idea
    • experience vertigo
    • get nauseous
    • receive injuries
    • have a feeling
  9. verb take vengeance on or get even
    fix; get; pay back; pay off.
    • We'll get them!
    • That'll fix him good!
    • This time I got him
  10. verb achieve a point or goal
    make; have; get.
    • Nicklaus had a 70
    • The Brazilian team got 4 goals
    • She made 29 points that day
  11. verb cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner
    get; make; induce; have; cause; stimulate.
    • The ads induced me to buy a VCR
    • My children finally got me to buy a computer
    • My wife made me buy a new sofa
  12. verb succeed in catching or seizing, especially after a chase
    catch; capture; get.
    • We finally got the suspect
    • Did you catch the thief?
  13. verb come to have or undergo a change of (physical features and attributes)
    acquire; produce; develop; grow; get.
    • He grew a beard
    • The patient developed abdominal pains
    • I got funny spots all over my body
    • Well-developed breasts
  14. verb be stricken by an illness, fall victim to an illness
    take; contract; get.
    • He got AIDS
    • She came down with pneumonia
    • She took a chill
  15. verb communicate with a place or person; establish communication with, as if by telephone
    get.
    • Bill called this number and he got Mary
    • The operator couldn't get Kobe because of the earthquake
  16. verb give certain properties to something
    make; get.
    • get someone mad
    • She made us look silly
    • He made a fool of himself at the meeting
    • Don't make this into a big deal
    • This invention will make you a millionaire
    • Make yourself clear
  17. verb move into a desired direction of discourse
    aim; drive; get.
    • What are you driving at?
  18. verb grasp with the mind or develop an understanding of
    catch; get.
    • did you catch that allusion?
    • We caught something of his theory in the lecture
    • don't catch your meaning
    • did you get it?
    • She didn't get the joke
    • I just don't get him
  19. verb attract and fix
    catch; arrest; get.
    • His look caught her
    • She caught his eye
    • Catch the attention of the waiter
  20. verb reach with a blow or hit in a particular spot
    catch; get.
    • the rock caught her in the back of the head
    • The blow got him in the back
    • The punch caught him in the stomach
  21. verb reach by calculation
    get.
    • What do you get when you add up these numbers?
  22. verb acquire as a result of some effort or action
    get.
    • You cannot get water out of a stone
    • Where did she get these news?
  23. verb purchase
    get.
    • What did you get at the toy store?
  24. verb perceive by hearing
    catch; get.
    • I didn't catch your name
    • She didn't get his name when they met the first time
  25. verb suffer from the receipt of
    catch; get.
    • She will catch hell for this behavior!
  26. verb receive as a retribution or punishment
    receive; get.
    • He got 5 years in prison
  27. verb leave immediately; used usually in the imperative form
    bugger off; get; fuck off; buzz off; scram.
    • Scram!
  28. verb reach and board
    get.
    • She got the bus just as it was leaving
  29. verb irritate
    get under one's skin; get.
    • Her childish behavior really get to me
    • His lying really gets me
  30. verb evoke an emotional response
    get.
    • Brahms's `Requiem' gets me every time
  31. verb apprehend and reproduce accurately
    catch; get.
    • She really caught the spirit of the place in her drawings
    • She got the mood just right in her photographs
  32. verb earn or achieve a base by being walked by the pitcher
    draw; get.
    • He drew a base on balls
  33. verb overcome or destroy
    get.
    • The ice storm got my hibiscus
    • the cat got the goldfish
  34. verb be a mystery or bewildering to
    mystify; perplex; bewilder; get; beat; puzzle; pose; amaze; vex; baffle; flummox; stick; stupefy; gravel; nonplus; dumbfound.
    • This beats me!
    • Got me--I don't know the answer!
    • a vexing problem
    • This question really stuck me
  35. verb take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
    begin; get; start out; set about; start; set out; get down; commence.
    • We began working at dawn
    • Who will start?
    • Get working as soon as the sun rises!
    • The first tourists began to arrive in Cambodia
    • He began early in the day
    • Let's get down to work now
  36. verb undergo (as of injuries and illnesses)
    suffer; sustain; have; get.
    • She suffered a fracture in the accident
    • He had an insulin shock after eating three candy bars
    • She got a bruise on her leg
    • He got his arm broken in the scuffle
  37. verb make children
    engender; sire; get; father; mother; bring forth; beget; generate.
    • Abraham begot Isaac
    • Men often father children but don't recognize them

WordNet


Get"ting noun
Definitions
  1. The act of obtaining or acquiring; acquisition.
    With all thy getting, get understanding. Prov. iv. 7.
  2. That which is got or obtained; gain; profit.

Webster 1913