get about
Britishverb
-
to move around, as when recovering from an illness
-
to be socially active
-
(of news, rumour, etc) to become known; spread
-
Also get around . Move around, be active, especially after an illness. For example, At 85 Jean still gets around very well , or Arthritis makes it hard for him to get about . [Mid-1800s]
-
Become known, circulate, as in The news of her engagement got about very quickly . [Early 1800s] Also see get around , def. 4.
-
Be socially active, as in After her husband died, she didn't get about much for a year . Also see get around , def. 3 and 4.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Thousand Oaks and Santa Clarita could get about one-fifth of an inch of rain; downtown Los Angeles and Los Angeles International Airport, one-tenth of an inch; and Long Beach, one-twentieth.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 19, 2026
He said he has poured about $165,000 into buying and improving his getaway; without power, he figures he could get about $40,000 for it.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026
That means redeeming investors will get about $730 million.
From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026
Prices paid to caterers for their oil can depend on how much is available for collection and its quality, but according to the industry, a restaurant could get about 30p a litre.
From BBC • Feb. 12, 2026
“Now I know I was right. This will make thine arms even stronger, and soon they will help thee to get about on land as well.”
From "The Door in the Wall" by Marguerite de Angeli
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
