get over

2 meanings

Meanings
  1. 1 recover from an illness, shock, or difficult emotional experience B2
  2. 2 start to feel better after a difficult experience or relationship B2
1 get over sth

recover from an illness, shock, or difficult emotional experience

B2

What does "get over" mean in this sense?

To get over something means to recover from it — to reach a point where it no longer affects you the way it once did. It can describe physical recovery, such as returning to full health after an illness, or emotional recovery, such as moving past grief, heartbreak, or a shock. The key idea is that something painful or difficult happened, and over time the person returns to a normal state. Negation is especially common with this phrase — saying someone 'never got over' a loss, or 'can't get over' a disappointment, suggests the recovery process is incomplete or ongoing. The time it takes to recover is often mentioned alongside this phrase, since getting over something is usually a gradual process rather than an instant one.

Examples

How to use it

get over + illness/experience

The most common pattern — the object is always an illness, emotional experience, or distressing event, and it always comes after 'over'.

It took him a long time to get over the news.

get over + person

Used to describe moving on emotionally from someone, typically after a breakup or loss.

She dated someone new, but she hadn't really got over her ex.

can't / couldn't + get over + object

The negative form is extremely common and suggests the recovery process is still incomplete or has not happened at all.

He still can't get over losing the competition after training so hard.

get over + pronoun (it / him / her / them)

Pronouns always follow 'over' — they can never be placed between 'get' and 'over'.

The whole team was upset about the result, but they eventually got over it.

take + time + to get over + object

This construction highlights the gradual nature of recovery and is very natural in both spoken and written English.

It takes most people several weeks to get over a bad bout of flu.

Common Collocations

get over a breakupget over an illnessget over someoneget over the shockget over itget over a loss

Common Mistakes

Separating the verb and particle

Unlike some phrasal verbs, 'get over' (in this sense) cannot be separated. The object must always follow 'over', never appear between 'get' and 'over'.

✗ She finally got it over.
✓ She finally got over it.
Confusing 'get over' with 'get through'

'Get through' describes surviving or enduring something while it is happening, whereas 'get over' describes full recovery after something has ended. They are not always interchangeable.

✗ The hardest part was getting over the long weeks of uncertainty while waiting for results.
✓ The hardest part was getting through the long weeks of uncertainty while waiting for results.
Using the present continuous when a simpler form is more natural

While 'I am getting over it' is not wrong, it can sound slightly unnatural. In most contexts, 'I'm still not over it' or 'I'm slowly getting over it' works better for describing an ongoing recovery.

✗ I am getting over the breakup right now.
✓ I'm slowly getting over the breakup. / I'm still not over the breakup.

Usage

This is a neutral, everyday expression used in both British and American English. It works for recovering from physical illness and emotional pain alike; 'She got over the flu' and 'He never got over the divorce' are both perfectly natural.

2 get over sb/sth

start to feel better after a difficult experience or relationship

B2

Sense 2: What does "get over sb/sth" mean?

To get over a difficulty or problem means to find a way past something that is blocking your progress. It suggests that the obstacle was real and significant, but that you managed to deal with it successfully and move forward. This sense is closely related to 'overcome' — both describe conquering challenges rather than simply enduring them. The object is typically something abstract that stands in your way: a fear, a disagreement, a technical problem, a communication barrier. What makes this phrasal verb useful is its flexibility — it works equally well in a business meeting, a formal report, or a casual conversation, making it a versatile alternative to the slightly more formal 'overcome'.

Examples

How to use it

get over + obstacle/problem

The most common pattern: the obstacle or difficulty always follows directly after 'over', never between 'get' and 'over'.

The hardest part was getting over the budget constraints, but eventually we found a solution.

need to / have to / manage to + get over + obstacle

This phrasal verb is frequently used with modal-like verbs to express necessity or achievement in dealing with a problem.

We're going to have to get over several logistical challenges before the launch can go ahead.

get over + pronoun (it / this / that)

Pronouns are very natural here and always follow 'over' — never placed between 'get' and 'over' in this sense.

There's a real communication barrier between the two departments, but I think we can get over it.

can / could + get over + obstacle

Modal constructions are common when discussing the possibility or ability to overcome something.

If we work together, I believe we could get over even the most difficult obstacles.

once + subject + get over + obstacle

This 'once' construction is frequently used to describe progress that becomes possible after an obstacle is dealt with.

Once the team gets over this initial resistance, the rest of the process should run smoothly.

Common Collocations

hurdleobstaclechallengeproblemfearbarrier

Common Mistakes

Separating the phrasal verb

Unlike some phrasal verbs, 'get over' (meaning overcome) cannot be separated. The object must always come after 'over', not between 'get' and 'over'.

✗ We need to get this problem over.
✓ We need to get over this problem.
Confusing the 'overcome' and 'recover' senses

When the object is an illness, a loss, or an emotional experience, 'get over' means to recover — not to overcome. Pay attention to the type of object to know which sense is meant.

✗ She finally got over the challenge of losing her job by finding a new one. (ambiguous — could sound like emotional recovery)
✓ She finally got over the challenge of re-entering the job market and secured a great position.
Confusing 'get over' with 'get it over with'

'Get it over with' is a different expression meaning to finish something unpleasant so it's done. It uses a separated object pronoun and has a completely different meaning from 'get over' (overcome).

✗ Let's get the presentation over with — we need to overcome our nerves. (mixing up the two expressions)
✓ Let's get over our nerves before the presentation starts.

Usage

This phrasal verb is neutral and works in both spoken and written English, including professional and academic contexts. It is slightly less formal than 'overcome' but perfectly appropriate in business emails, presentations, and reports.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can 'get over' be used for both physical and emotional recovery?

Yes — it works naturally for both. You can get over a cold or the flu (physical), and you can get over a breakup or a bereavement (emotional). The object of the phrase tells you which kind of recovery is meant.

Does 'get over something' always mean the person has fully recovered?

Not necessarily. The phrase is often used in negative or uncertain forms — 'She never got over it' or 'I'm not sure he's fully over it' — which suggest recovery is incomplete. The phrase describes the process as well as the result.

Is 'Get over it!' the same meaning as this?

Not quite. When used as a blunt command, 'Get over it!' tells someone to stop dwelling on a problem and is often dismissive in tone. The recovery sense described here is neutral and describes a genuine process that takes time — it carries no dismissiveness.

Can I use 'get over' without any object, like 'She eventually got over'?

No — 'get over' in this sense always needs an object. You must specify what the person is recovering from. If the context is already clear, you can use a pronoun: 'She eventually got over it.'

Is 'not over something' the same as 'not got over something'?

They mean the same thing and are both very common in natural English. 'She's not over him yet' and 'She hasn't got over him yet' both describe an incomplete emotional recovery — the shorter form without 'get' is especially frequent in spoken English.

Can 'get over' be used in formal writing, like a business report or academic essay?

Yes, it works well in most professional and academic contexts. It is slightly less formal than 'overcome', but it is perfectly appropriate in business emails, presentations, and reports. If you need a more formal tone, 'overcome' is a natural alternative.

Does 'get over' always mean 'overcome a problem'?

No — 'get over' has several senses, and the meaning depends heavily on the object. When followed by a problem, hurdle, or challenge, it means to overcome it. When followed by an illness, a loss, or an emotional experience, it means to recover. Context and the type of object are your main clues.

What kinds of objects can follow 'get over' in this sense?

The object is typically an abstract obstacle or barrier — something that blocks progress rather than something suffered. Good examples include: a fear, a disagreement, a technical issue, a logistical challenge, a communication barrier, or internal resistance. A useful test is whether you could substitute 'overcome' — if you can, the object is probably right.

Can I use 'get over' in the passive, like 'the obstacle was got over'?

No — passive constructions with this phrasal verb sound very unnatural. It's best to keep the person or group doing the overcoming as the subject: 'The team got over the obstacle' rather than 'the obstacle was got over by the team'.

Is there any difference between 'get over' and 'get past' in this sense?

'Get past' and 'get over' are very close in meaning when talking about overcoming obstacles, and in many sentences they are interchangeable. 'Get over' tends to suggest the obstacle required effort or persistence to deal with, while 'get past' can sometimes feel slightly more neutral. Both are natural choices in most contexts.

Ready to practise?

Practise 1,000+ English phrasal verbs with interactive gap-fill exercises.

Start Practising →