GET BACK

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does get back mean? 

• GET BACK (verb)
  The verb GET BACK has 3 senses:

1. recover something or somebody that appeared to be lost

2. take revenge or even out a score

3. get one's revenge for a wrong or an injury

  Familiarity information: GET BACK used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GET BACK (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Recover something or somebody that appeared to be lost

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Synonyms:

get back; win back

Context example:

He got back his son from the kidnappers

Hypernyms (to "get back" is one way to...):

acquire; get (come into the possession of something concrete or abstract)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 2

Meaning:

Take revenge or even out a score

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Synonyms:

get back; get even

Context example:

I cannot accept the defeat--I want to get even

Hypernyms (to "get back" is one way to...):

avenge; retaliate; revenge (take revenge for a perceived wrong)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "get back"):

fix; get; pay back; pay off (take vengeance on or get even)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Sense 3

Meaning:

Get one's revenge for a wrong or an injury

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Synonyms:

get back; settle

Context example:

I finally settled with my old enemy

Hypernyms (to "get back" is one way to...):

contend; fight; struggle (be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

 Context examples 

"We must hurry and get back to the road of yellow brick before dark," he said; and the Scarecrow agreed with him.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

Get back to your place for a lubber, Tom.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

I left him behind me with enough work to keep him busy until I get back to him.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

My surmise is, this: that in London the Count decided to get back to his castle by water, as the most safe and secret way.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

It may be some time before I get back.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

But now, if you are of my opinion, we have had thrills enough for one day, and had best get back to the surgical box at the camp for some carbolic.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I am often with him, and he enjoys my adventures, while I like to feel that someone is glad to see me when I get back from my wanderings.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

"Wait till I get back to Dawson," Beauty Smith threatened.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Mrs Charles Musgrove will, of course, wish to get back to her children; but if Anne will stay, no one so proper, so capable as Anne.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

I am strangely glad to get back again to you: and wherever you are is my home—my only home.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)