get-together: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
High (Very Common)Informal to Neutral
Quick answer
What does “get-together” mean?
An informal social gathering or meeting.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An informal social gathering or meeting.
Any instance of people coming together for a shared purpose, which can range from casual socialising to a formal meeting aimed at resolving differences or coordinating action.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is very similar in both dialects. The hyphenated form 'get-together' is standard in formal writing, while 'get together' (as two words) is common in informal contexts, especially as a verb phrase. No significant divergence in meaning.
Connotations
Equally informal and friendly in both dialects.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in everyday speech in both the UK and US.
Grammar
How to Use “get-together” in a Sentence
have a get-togetherorganise a get-togethera get-together for [occasion/person]a get-together with [people]a get-together at [place]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used informally for team-building or casual departmental meetings (e.g., 'We'll have a team get-together after the project wraps up.').
Academic
Rare in formal writing; used in campus social contexts (e.g., 'a postgraduate get-together').
Everyday
The primary domain of use: family events, friend meetups, informal celebrations.
Technical
Not typically used in technical fields.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “get-together”
- Spelling: Writing 'gettogether' as one word without a hyphen is common but non-standard in formal writing.
- Verb vs. Noun: Using 'get-together' as a verb (e.g., 'We should get-together soon') – the correct verb form is the two-word phrase 'get together'.
- Over-formalising: Using it in very formal contexts where 'meeting', 'function', or 'reception' would be more appropriate.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
As a noun, the standard form is hyphenated: 'get-together'. The two-word form 'get together' is the verb phrase.
A 'get-together' implies a smaller, more informal, and often more intimate gathering. A 'party' can be larger, more organised, and may involve more explicit celebration.
It is generally considered informal. In formal writing, words like 'meeting', 'gathering', 'function', or 'reception' are more appropriate, depending on the context.
The pronunciation is very similar. The primary difference is in the final 'r' sound in the last syllable (/ə(r)/ in UK, /ɚ/ in US), which is characteristic of the rhotic/non-rhotic distinction between the dialects.
An informal social gathering or meeting.
Get-together: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡet təˌɡeð.ə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡet təˌɡeð.ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A meeting of minds (similar conceptual idea for agreement).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the phrase: 'Let's GET everyone TOGETHER.' The event where you do that is a GET-TOGETHER.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIALISING/MEETING IS PHYSICAL ASSEMBLY (people are objects brought into one place).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'get-together' LEAST appropriate?