get over
Britishverb
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to cross or surmount (something)
the children got over the fence
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(intr, preposition) to recover from (an illness, shock, etc)
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(intr, preposition) to overcome or master (a problem)
you'll soon get over your shyness
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(intr, preposition) to appreciate fully
I just can't get over seeing you again
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(tr, adverb) to communicate effectively
he had difficulty getting the message over
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to bring (something necessary but unpleasant) to an end
let's get this job over with quickly
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Overcome, surmount, as in We have finally gotten over our biases . “Late 1600s”
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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.”
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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.
"We lost not only the goods but also all the money invested in them... I hope I have the strength, courage, and resilience to get over this," she said, breaking into tears.
From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026
If he wants to be president, he’ll need to get over that.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
If you want to bring back old-fashioned pamphleting, your nearest print shop will be delighted to help, just as soon as they get over their astonishment.
From Slate ● Jul. 20, 2026
“I’m satisfied with the work we’ve done, but when you lose — and I’ve lost a lot in my career — you never quite get over it,” Aguirre said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 12, 2026
“We say, ‘I’m mad at you right now, but I’ll get over it.’”
From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan
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.
