get on

British  

verb

1. Also (when preposition): get onto.  to board or cause or help to board (a bus, train, etc)

2. (tr) to dress in (clothes as specified)

3. (intr) to grow late or (of time) to elapse

   it's getting on and I must go

4. (intr) (of a person) to grow old

5. to approach (a time, age, amount, etc)

   she is getting on for seventy

6. (intr) to make progress, manage, or fare

   how did you get on in your exam?

7. to establish a friendly relationship

   he gets on well with other people

8. to continue to do

   get on with your homework!

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interjection

1. I don't believe you!

get on Idioms  

1. Also, get upon . Climb on, mount. For example, They say one should get back on a horse as soon as one's fallen off . [Early 1600s]

2. See get along , def. 1.

3. See get along , def. 2.

4. See get along , def. 4. Also see along in years .

5. , etc. Prosper or succeed, as in Her inheritance has helped her get on in society , or Dad asked if Bill was getting on in the company . [Early 1800s]

6. get on with it . Move ahead, pursue one's work. For example, We've spent enough time talking about it; now let's get on with it . [Early 1800s]

7. get on for . Advance toward an age, amount, time, and so on. For example, It's getting on for noon, so we'd better eat lunch . This usage is often put in the participial form, getting on for . [Mid-1800]

8. See turn on , def. 3. Also see the subsequent entries beginning with get on .

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

get on

Paze wants to convince this older group to get on the bandwagon, and it recently ramped up the effort with ads and promotions targeting this demographic.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

But I mean, anything to get on base, whether it’s a single, homer, walk, whatever it is, just try to keep going with it.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026

In response to this, Thune told reporters that “maybe she or somebody else ought to get on the phone and get the votes.”

From Slate ● Jul. 25, 2026

"It is a really good way to get on there, get on a relay and get a medal and that is really important for development so the younger guys and girls can progress."

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

If I’d known that, I would have made just one big raft after all, because Selkie sometimes slipped down the middle and I had to hold the rafts together for her to get on again.

From "Nim’s Island" by Wendy Orr

Related Words

• do
• get along