English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
Login Flashcards
verb Very common

got

got
Quiz me More like this

Got (verb) means past tense and past participle of "get" — to have received, obtained, or acquired something. Example: “She got a promotion after only six months.”

verb
1
Past tense and past participle of "get" — to have received, obtained, or acquired something.
"She got a promotion after only six months."
"We got tickets to the final game."
"They got a puppy from the animal shelter last weekend."
2
Used with "have" to say something is in your possession right now, or that you must do something.
"I've got two brothers and a sister."
"You've got to finish this by Friday."
"Have you got a pen I could borrow for a moment?"

How to use got

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe past tense of "get" — used for having, receiving, or needing to do something.

Common mistake

"Have got" (I've got a car) is informal for "have" (I have a car); avoid "have got" in formal writing.

When to use it

"Gotta" and dropping "have" ("I got a car") are casual speech, not standard written English.

Easily confused with
gotten →
Common pairings
got to go got it have got
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like got.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice

Word forms

Third person singular
gots
Past tense
had
Test yourself on “got” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She _____ a promotion after only six months.

Etymology

The past form of "get", itself from Old Norse geta, meaning "to obtain" or "to guess".

Origin: Old Norse

Synonyms

View more →
obtained received acquired gained secured procured came by got hold of

Related words

gave received foreign reached bought obtained achieved attached

Frequently asked questions

What does “got” mean?
The word “got” means past tense and past participle of "get" — to have received, obtained, or acquired something. In plain terms, the past tense of "get" — used for having, receiving, or needing to do something.
How do you pronounce “got”?
“Got” is pronounced got (/ɡɑt/ in IPA).
How do you use “got” in a sentence?
Here is “got” used in a sentence: “She got a promotion after only six months.”
What part of speech is “got”?
“Got” is a verb.
Where does the word “got” come from?
The word “got” comes from Old Norse. The past form of "get", itself from Old Norse geta, meaning "to obtain" or "to guess".
Is “got” a common word?
“Got” is a very common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “got” have?
“Got” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: past tense and past participle of "get" — to have received, obtained, or acquired something.
What is the difference between 'got' and 'gotten'?
Both are past participles of 'get.' British English generally uses 'got' ('have you got the message?'), while American English often prefers 'gotten' to describe a process or change ('the weather has gotten worse'). For the simple past tense, both varieties use 'got,' as in 'I got a letter yesterday.'
Is 'got' the past tense of 'get'?
Yes. 'Got' is the past tense of 'get,' as in 'I got your message this morning.' It is also the past participle in British English, as in 'she has got a new job.' The base form is 'get' and the present participle is 'getting.'
Is 'have got' correct English?
Yes, 'have got' is standard, especially in British English, where it commonly means 'have' or 'possess,' as in 'I have got two sisters.' It can also express obligation: 'I have got to leave.' In formal writing many people simply use 'have,' but 'have got' is perfectly acceptable in everyday speech.

Example sentences

Real-world examples showing got in context, drawn from published sources. Any opinions expressed are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.

Before I got on the plane this morning, I was at vocal therapy.
From Los Angeles Times · Jul 24, 2026

Featured in

Vocabulary lists that include got:

Words with old Norse origins 3 letter words Words that start with G Words that end with T The 500 most common English words The 1000 most common English words The 2000 most common English words The 5000 most common English words

People also searched

gave received foreign reached bought obtained achieved attached