get on
3 meanings
continue doing something, especially after stopping for a while
What does "get on" mean in this sense?
Examples
- Stop wasting time and get on with your essay — it's due tomorrow.
- Once the power came back on, everyone got on with their work.
- I know it's difficult, but sometimes you just have to get on with it.
How to use it
The most common pattern — use it when the object is a task, piece of work, or activity you need to continue or start doing.
We only have an hour left, so let's get on with the presentation.
Use 'it' or 'things' when the task is already understood from context — this is especially common in imperatives.
Stop checking your phone and just get on with it.
Pairing 'get on with' with 'need to' or 'have to' emphasises that continuing the task is necessary or urgent.
I really need to get on with my revision before the exam next week.
A gerund (-ing form) can follow 'with' when you want to name the activity more specifically.
Can we please get on with writing the report instead of discussing it all day?
Use this pattern to suggest that a group should stop delaying and begin or resume working together.
Right, everyone's here now — let's get on with the meeting.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
'Get on with' is a three-part phrasal verb and cannot be split — the object must always come after the complete phrase. Nothing can be placed between 'get', 'on', and 'with'.
The type of object tells you which meaning is intended: a task or activity means 'continue doing something', while a person means 'have a good relationship with someone'. Mixing them up can cause confusion.
'Get along with' only works for the relationship meaning (and mainly in American English). It cannot replace 'get on with' when you mean to continue a task.
Usage
Very common in British English. 'Just get on with it' is a slightly impatient way to tell someone to stop delaying and start working. Often used after an interruption or period of hesitation.
have a good relationship with someone
Sense 2: What does "get on" mean?
Examples
- She gets on really well with all her colleagues at the new office.
- They didn't get on when they first met, but now they're close friends.
- The two rival chefs actually got on brilliantly behind the scenes.
How to use it
The most common structure — use an adverb like 'well', 'fine', or 'badly' to describe the quality of the relationship.
She gets on really well with her new flatmates.
Use the negative form to say that two people have a difficult or unfriendly relationship.
He and his neighbour don't get on at all — they argue about everything.
Use 'together' instead of 'with + person' when talking about a group and how its members relate to each other.
The whole team gets on really well together.
A fixed expression meaning two people became friends very quickly and easily. Very common in British English.
My parents met his parents at the wedding and they got on like a house on fire.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
When naming the person you have a relationship with, you must include 'with' before them. Leaving it out sounds unnatural and incorrect.
When 'get on with' is followed by a task or activity, it means to continue or make progress with something — not to have a relationship. Only the relationship meaning applies when the word after 'with' is a person.
'Get on' in this sense is intransitive — it has no object, so it cannot be turned into a passive construction.
Usage
This is mainly British English; American English speakers prefer 'get along with'. Very commonly used with adverbs like 'well', 'badly', 'brilliantly', 'fine'. Often used in questions: 'Do you get on with your neighbours?'
manage or make progress in life or work
Sense 3: What does "get on" mean?
Examples
- How are you getting on in your new job? Is it going well?
- She's getting on really well at university — her grades are excellent.
- A: How did you get on at the interview? B: I think it went well, actually.
How to use it
The most common pattern — a general question about someone's progress or experience. Very natural in British English as a friendly check-in.
How are you getting on in your new role? Are you settling in?
Use an adverb to describe how well someone is managing, and 'at' or 'in' to say where.
She's getting on really well at her new school.
You can use 'get on' without any preposition when the context already makes clear what situation you're talking about.
The business is getting on fine — we've had our best quarter yet.
Use this broader pattern to talk about someone's general success or progress in life.
She's determined to get on in life and make the most of every opportunity.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
'Get on with' followed by a person means to have a good relationship. Without 'with + person', or with 'at/in + place', it means to manage or progress. The structure tells you the meaning.
'Get on' in this sense describes ongoing progress or general management, not completing a single task. For a specific task, use 'get on with' (the 'continue doing' sense).
In American English, 'get along' can replace 'get on' for the relationship sense, but it does not work as naturally for the managing/progressing sense. 'How are you getting along at school?' is possible but less common than the British 'How are you getting on at school?'
Usage
Very common in British English for asking about someone's progress or general situation. 'How are you getting on?' is an everyday greeting that expects a real answer, unlike 'How are you?' Often followed by 'at' or 'in' for a specific context: 'How are you getting on at school?'
Frequently Asked Questions
Can 'get on with' be used in the passive?
No — 'get on with' is not used in the passive. For the 'continue' sense, the person doing the task is always the subject of the sentence, so you'd say 'She got on with her work', not any passive form.
Is 'get on with it' rude or impolite?
It depends on the situation. Said directly to someone, it can sound impatient or bossy, especially without 'please'. However, in British English it's also used as friendly encouragement — the tone of voice and context make a big difference. 'Let's just get on with it' said to a group often sounds practical rather than rude.
Is 'get on with' more British than American English?
Yes, especially for the 'continue' sense. British and Australian speakers use it very naturally, and the phrase 'just get on with it' is a very common expression in British culture. American speakers might understand it but would more often say 'get on with it' for tasks, and 'get along with' for relationships.
What's the difference between 'get on with it' and 'get on with things'?
'Get on with it' usually refers to a single specific task that everyone in the conversation already understands. 'Get on with things' is broader and suggests handling life or several tasks in general — for example, continuing with daily life after a difficult period. Both are very natural and common.
Can I say 'get on with doing something' or does it have to be a noun?
Both are correct. You can say 'get on with the report' (noun) or 'get on with writing the report' (gerund). The gerund form is useful when you want to be more specific about the activity itself.
Is 'get on with' British English? Do Americans say something different?
Yes, 'get on with' in the relationship sense is mainly used in British English. American English speakers usually say 'get along with' instead, which means exactly the same thing. If you're speaking or writing for an American audience, 'get along with' may sound more natural.
Does 'get on' always need 'with' after it?
Not always. You can say 'They get on well together' without naming a specific person after 'with'. But when you want to say who the relationship is with, you need 'with': 'She gets on well with her colleagues.'
Can 'get on' describe a bad relationship, or is it only positive?
It can describe both good and bad relationships. Use adverbs to show the quality: 'get on well' or 'get on fine' for a positive relationship, and 'get on badly' or 'not get on at all' for a difficult one. The phrasal verb itself is neutral — the adverb carries the meaning.
Does 'get on' have other meanings I should know about?
Yes, the same words can mean different things depending on the context. 'Get on' can mean to board a vehicle (like a bus or train), to continue doing a task ('get on with your work'), or to manage or make progress in life ('How are you getting on?'). The relationship meaning is clear when 'with' is followed by a person.
What adverbs go naturally with 'get on'?
'Well' is the most common — 'get on well with someone' is very frequent in everyday English. Other natural choices include 'really well', 'fine', 'okay', 'badly', and 'not at all'. There is also the fixed expression 'get on like a house on fire', which means two people immediately become great friends.
Is 'How are you getting on?' the same as 'How are you doing?'
They're very similar, but 'How are you getting on?' often implies a specific situation — a new job, a project, a course — and asks about progress or experience. 'How are you doing?' is more general and can be a simple greeting. In practice, they overlap a lot, especially in casual conversation.
Is this mainly British English?
Yes — 'get on' in the managing/progressing sense is much more common in British and Australian English. American speakers might say 'How are you doing?' or 'How's it going?' instead. They would understand 'How are you getting on?' but might not use it themselves.
Can 'get on' mean to be successful or ambitious?
Yes — phrases like 'get on in life' or 'get on in the world' suggest ambition and career success. Someone who 'wants to get on' is motivated to progress and do well. This is a natural extension of the managing/progressing meaning.
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