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

The Mavericks will attempt to get back to the finals for a second consecutive season without the player who ranks second all-time in postseason scoring average. —Christian Clark, The Athletic, 3 Feb. 2025

The Mavericks will be looking to get back to the NBA Finals. —David Faris, Newsweek, 2 Feb. 2025

If either spokespeople for the Gossip Girl alum and Deadpool star and the Gray Lady get back to us, this post will be updated. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 1 Feb. 2025

Season two finds Mo trying to get back to his family and girlfriend Maria (Teresa Ruiz ) in Houston after being stuck across the border in Mexico. —Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 1 Feb. 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