Definition

Verb: 1. To return to a place or person: To come back to a starting point or to someone. 2. To retrieve or recover something: To obtain something again that was lost, taken, or spent. 3. To take revenge: To retaliate against someone for a wrong or injury.

Usage and Examples

• To return:
  • What time did you get back from the trip?
  • I'll call you when I get back home.
• To retrieve/recover:
  • She finally got her book back from her friend.
  • The company is trying to get back the money it invested.
• To take revenge:
  • He vowed to get back at them for the insult.
  • She wanted to get her own back after being unfairly treated.

Advanced Usage

• "Get back to (someone)": To contact someone again later, usually to give a reply or information.
  • I don't know the answer now; I'll get back to you tomorrow.
• "Get back to (something)": To return one's attention to a task or activity.
  • Let's get back to the main topic of our meeting.
• "Get your own back": An idiomatic phrase meaning to get revenge.
  • He played a prank to get his own back.

Variants and Related Words

• Comeback (n): A return to popularity or activity. (e.g., )
• Retrieval (n): The process of getting something back. (e.g., )
• Retaliation (n): The action of returning an attack or wrong. (e.g., )

Synonyms

• Return: To come or go back to a place.
• Retrieve: To get or bring something back.
• Recover: To get back something lost or taken.
• Retaliate: To make an attack or assault in return for a similar attack.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Get ahead: To become successful or make progress.
• Get by: To manage to live or survive, usually with difficulty.
• Get over: To recover from an illness or an unpleasant experience.

Related Idioms

• "Get back on your feet": To recover from a difficult situation, especially financial.
  • After losing his job, it took him a year to get back on his feet.
• "Get back into the swing of things": To return to and become accustomed to a usual routine or activity.
  • After my vacation, it took a few days to get back into the swing of things at work.

Verb

1. get one's revenge for a wrong or an injury
   • I finally settled with my old enemy
2. take revenge or even out a score
   • I cannot accept the defeat--I want to get even
3. recover something or somebody that appeared to be lost
   • We got back the money after we threatened to sue the company
   • He got back his son from the kidnappers