get over

British  

verb

1. to cross or surmount (something)

   the children got over the fence

2. (intr, preposition) to recover from (an illness, shock, etc)

3. (intr, preposition) to overcome or master (a problem)

   you'll soon get over your shyness

4. (intr, preposition) to appreciate fully

   I just can't get over seeing you again

5. (tr, adverb) to communicate effectively

   he had difficulty getting the message over

6. to bring (something necessary but unpleasant) to an end

   let's get this job over with quickly

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get over Idioms  

1. Overcome, surmount, as in We have finally gotten over our biases . “Late 1600s”

2. Recover from, as in I just got over the flu , or I hope the children get over their parents' divorce quickly . [c. 1700] This usage sometimes appears as get over it , as on a bumper sticker following the 1992 presidential election: “Bush Lost, Get Over It.”

3. Also, get over with . Complete, have done with, especially something unpleasant. For example, When I finally got the proofreading over, I was ready for a day off , or I'm glad to get all that dental work over with . It also is put as get it over with , as in I might as well sign the check and get it over with . The first usage dates from the late 1800s, the second from the early 1800s.

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Example Sentences

Lookout Hill: Yarn and Art Supplies – I passed this shop a few times and couldn’t get over how charming it looked.

From Salon • Mar. 31, 2026

An engine crew threw a 20-foot ladder to get over the wall.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2026

"It's never over until it is over, and I'm delighted to get over the line because I was feeling it."

From BBC • Mar. 1, 2026

"In order to get over them we have to act methodically, rigorously, and as a team."

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

To get over the nervousness of my first plane ride, I got real goofy and obnoxious.

From "The Million Dollar Shot" by Dan Gutman

Related Words

• mend
• overcome
• survive