WordVale

get over

to recover from

In Phrasal Verbs

In more detail

1. (verb) to recover from something unpleasant such as an illness or a strong emotion

2. (verb) to successfully deal with or manage a difficulty

3. (verb) to cross or move to the other side of something

Examples

• 1. It took her months to get over the breakup.
• 2. He found it hard to get over his shyness in social situations.
• 3. We had to get over the fence to reach the other field.

How to use get over

Get over is a versatile phrasal verb commonly used in informal and semi-formal contexts. Sense 1 (recover emotionally or physically) is the most frequent in everyday speech, often implying a process that takes time. Sense 2 (manage a difficulty) overlaps with sense 1 but emphasizes active coping. Sense 3 (cross physically) is less common in modern usage. The expression suggests moving forward after an obstacle.

Register: informal

Common phrases

• get over an illness
• get over a breakup
• get over a fear
• get over a hurdle
• hard to get over
• can't get over

Synonyms

recover from · overcome · surmount · get past · bounce back from

Opposites

succumb to · be defeated by

Word family

getting over · got over · gets over

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse 'get over' with 'get through'—'get through' typically means to endure or complete something difficult, while 'get over' emphasizes recovery or moving past it.

Nearby in Phrasal Verbs

follow up, get across, get by, give in, give up, go over

Keep going

How to remember the words you read · Spaced repetition, explained