get over
Britishverb
-
to cross or surmount (something)
the children got over the fence
-
(intr, preposition) to recover from (an illness, shock, etc)
-
(intr, preposition) to overcome or master (a problem)
you'll soon get over your shyness
-
(intr, preposition) to appreciate fully
I just can't get over seeing you again
-
(tr, adverb) to communicate effectively
he had difficulty getting the message over
-
to bring (something necessary but unpleasant) to an end
let's get this job over with quickly
-
Overcome, surmount, as in We have finally gotten over our biases . “Late 1600s”
-
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.”
-
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.
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.
The deal should get over the line, according to Melius Research analyst James West, but it will take some time.
From Barron's • May 18, 2026
“Forgetting was a tried-and-true way for sheep to get over their sorrows,” Swann observes in her book.
From Salon • May 17, 2026
Until they get over the line in this league then that hurt will be an open wound.
From BBC • May 16, 2026
“We took the blinkers off the horse, gave him a chance to get over that experience and he seems to be in a good place right now, training just the way we want.”
From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2026
“I still can’t get over it. Is Reg even going to be able to go through them?”
From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro
![]()
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.