get back

verb

got back; got back or gotten back; getting back; gets back

intransitive verb

1

: to come or go again to a person, place, or condition : return, revert

getting back to the main topic of the lecture

2

: to gain revenge : retaliate

—usually used with at

transitive verb

: to regain possession of : recover

Synonyms

• re-collect
• reacquire
• recapture
• reclaim
• recoup
• recover
• regain
• repossess
• retake
• retrieve

Examples of get back in a Sentence

the distraught owner cried that she would do anything to get back her lost dog

Recent Examples on the Web

He is expected to be ready for Sunday’s game, but after missing more than two-and-a-half weeks, there are concerns about rust and getting back up to game speed. —The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025

Twenty seconds later, Michael Porter Jr. buried a 3-pointer after Peyton Watson picked Zubac’s pocket, and the Nuggets were suddenly up 11 in a game that never got back within single digits. —Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 9 Jan. 2025

Zendaya's ready to get back to work, and Sydney and Jacob. —Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025

Despite the current low point in the U.S.- Georgian relationships, Coffey believes that with the best policies pursued, relationships can get back on track. —Nana Sajaia, Fox News, 8 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Kids Definition

get back

verb

1

: to return to a person, place, or condition

getting back to our first topic

2

: to get revenge

get back at him for the insult

3

: to regain possession of