get round
finally find the time to do something you have been planning to do
What does "get round to sth" mean?
Examples
- I finally got round to painting the kitchen last weekend.
- She never gets round to answering her emails on time.
- Don't worry — I'll get round to fixing that leak eventually.
How to use it
The most essential pattern — the object after 'to' must always be a verb in -ing form, never a bare infinitive.
I finally got round to sorting out the spare room at the weekend.
When the postponed task is expressed as a noun rather than a verb, it follows 'to' directly.
She still hasn't got round to that report she was supposed to finish last month.
Pronouns replace the object and always sit after 'to', making this a natural short response when the activity is already understood from context.
I know I owe you a reply — I'll get round to it by the end of the week, I promise.
This phrasal verb very commonly appears alongside negatives or adverbs of delay, reflecting the idea of something that has been put off.
He'd been meaning to call his old friend for months but never got round to it.
Used to reassure someone — or acknowledge to yourself — that a task will happen at some point, even if not soon.
I'll get round to reading that novel eventually — it's been on my shelf for two years.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
After 'get round to', you must use a gerund (-ing form), not a bare infinitive. This is the single most common error learners make with this phrase.
'Get round to' (three parts, followed by a gerund) means to finally find time to do something. 'Get round' (two parts, followed by a noun) means to find a way to overcome or avoid a problem — a completely different meaning.
Unlike many phrasal verbs, 'get round to' is a fixed three-part unit and cannot be split. The object must always come after 'to', never between any of the three parts.
Usage
'Get round to' is the standard British English form; Americans say 'get around to'. Both mean the same thing. This phrasal verb is neutral to informal and is very common in everyday speech — it's fine in emails but may sound too casual in formal writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'get round to' British English? Americans seem to say something different.
'Get round to' is indeed the standard British English form. Americans typically say 'get around to', but the meaning is exactly the same. Both versions are widely understood internationally, so you won't confuse anyone whichever form you use.
Can I say 'I'm getting round to it' in the present continuous?
It's possible but quite rare and can sound slightly awkward. 'Get round to' is much more natural in the simple past, present perfect, or future: 'I haven't got round to it yet' or 'I'll get round to it soon'. Stick to those forms for the most natural result.
Can 'get round to' be used in the passive?
No — this phrasal verb is almost never used in the passive. The subject is always the person who is (or isn't) doing the task, so the active form is the only natural option.
Does 'get round to' always imply that someone has been lazy or irresponsible?
Not necessarily — it simply implies that something has been delayed, which can happen for any number of reasons. It's often used in a lighthearted or self-deprecating way, for example: 'I've been so busy — I never get round to the things I actually want to do.' The tone depends on context rather than the phrase itself.
What kinds of things can follow 'get round to'? Are there any restrictions?
Almost any task or activity can follow 'get round to', as long as it's expressed as a gerund (-ing form) or a noun phrase. Everyday tasks are the most typical: reading, calling someone, fixing something, replying to messages. You can also use it for more personal actions, like 'I never got round to telling her how much I appreciated her help.'
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