get on

Verb

get on (third-person singular simple present gets on, present participle getting on, simple past got on, past participle (UK) got on or (US) gotten on)

1. (intransitive, transitive) To board or mount (something), especially a vehicle.
   • Please get on the bus as quickly as possible.
   • She has no trouble getting off a bus but has difficulty getting on.

   Synonyms:

   board, climb on, embark, get on board, get onto, mount, catch, get onboard

2. (intransitive) To cope or manage (over time); to handle a situation; to perform or make progress.
   • John is really getting on at work.
   • I hear John has a new job. How's he getting on?

   Synonyms:

   handle, cope, manage, get by, fare, perform, progress

3. (intransitive, often) To progress (with); to move forward.
   • It's time to get on with improving quality.
   • We've wasted enough time now. Can we get on, please?
   1. (intransitive, often) To move forward so as to approach a deadline or become late in the day.
      • Time is getting on. We need to hurry up or we'll miss our flight.
      • The hour is getting on. It'll be dark soon.
4. (intransitive, optionally with "for", usually in continuous tenses) To approach (a value, level, point in time, etc.)
   • The cost was getting on for a thousand pounds.
   • She must be getting on for 65 years of age.
5. (intransitive, usually in continuous tenses) To become old.
   • My parents are visibly getting on (in years) these days.
   • Apollodorus had headed this works for getting on two years.

   Synonyms:

   age

6. (UK, intransitive, often) To have a good relationship; to get along.
   • “I don't know how you and the ‘head,’ as you call him, will get on, but I do know that if you call my duds a ‘livery’ again there'll be trouble. It's bad enough to go around togged out like a life saver on a drill day, but I can stand that 'cause I'm paid for it. […]”1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter VII, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC
   • John doesn't get on with Jack. They're always arguing.

   Synonyms:

   get along, understand each other, understand one another

7. (UK, intransitive) To cope or deal (with).
   • I can't get on with prunes. They give me indigestion.
8. (transitive) To commence (an action).
   • Go get on to cleaning the floors, the others have already started.
9. (archaic, slang, transitive) To place a bet on.
   • to get on a horse or a man
10. (African-American Vernacular) Synonym of have on.

    Synonyms:

    have on

11. (slang) To have sex; to be sexually promiscuous.
12. (slang) To do drugs; to get drunk; to buy drugs; to regularly use drugs.
13. (slang) To observe or notice.
    • Get on that guy!

Interjection

1. Expresses surprise or disbelief.