Get over meaning in English

Learn how to use Get over correctly with Gymglish.
Test and improve your English. Start your free trial today.

TEST YOUR ENGLISH Free trial and no commitment to buy
4,7 on App Store, Play Store and Trustpilot More than 8 million learners worldwide

Definition

to get over (a death, an illness): to emotionally recover from, to stop grieving (a death), to recover from (an illness) verb
I still can't get over the fact that you got fired! I still cannot believe that you got fired!
to get over (an old boyfriend): to forget, to move on from, to stop being emotionally attached to (an old boyfriend) idiom
It was difficult for me to get over her the first few months after our break-up.

Examples

  • "It's a shock, I know, but we'll get over it, we'll work through it."
Exercise 1
All of the following sentences use over in different senses. Some of them are incorrect. Choose 'Correct' or 'Incorrect' for each sentence.

It took a long time before Luna got over the death of her cat 'Mittens' =

She was tired of looking at her husband, so she put a pillow over his face =

They were over with their game, so they all went home =
All of the following sentences use over in different senses. Some of them are incorrect. Choose 'Correct' or 'Incorrect' for each sentence.

It took a long time before Luna got over the death of her cat 'Mittens' = Correct 1

She was tired of looking at her husband, so she put a pillow over his face = Correct 2

They were over with their game, so they all went home = Incorrect 3
1 Correct: This sentence is correct. The expression 'to get over' is a common one. It expresses 'recovery' after a disturbing or sad event. In this case, it took some time before Luna 'felt good again' after the death of her cat 'Mittens'.
1 Incorrect: This sentence is not incorrect.
2 Correct: This sentence is correct. We use 'over' here to describe the action of putting the pillow 'on top of' the husband's face. 'To put something over something' is synonymous with 'To cover with something'.
2 Incorrect: This sentence is not incorrect.
3 Incorrect: This sentence is incorrect. Although 'over' can often be used to mean 'finished' (as in 'game over' or 'the vacation was over'), it cannot be used when followed by the preposition 'with'. It is only an adjective. We could say, however: 'Their game was over, so they went home'.
3 Correct: This sentence is not correct.

Still unsure of the best way to use 'Get over'? Improve your English thanks to our online English lessons. We offer a free test as well as a free level assessment!

What our users say:

Pleasure

         

I enjoy doing my online English lessons. Only ten minutes daily are enough...Thank you!

Innovative

         

I love your innovative method which allows me to learn a new language and have fun at the same time!

Unique

         

Your method is unique! Your courses have helped me to progress and gain confidence during my travels.

Progress

         

Gymglish has allowed me to improve my English. A daily routine I wouldn't miss for anything in the world!

More testimonials.

Test your English with Gymglish today and get a free level assessment

Absolutely free - no strings attached.