got: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
A1 (Extremely High)Informal to neutral in most uses. In some contexts (e.g., 'have got' for possession), it is standard in both speech and writing.
Quick answer
What does “got” mean?
The past tense and past participle of 'get', primarily indicating acquisition, reception, possession, or arrival.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The past tense and past participle of 'get', primarily indicating acquisition, reception, possession, or arrival.
Can indicate understanding ('I get it'), obligation (with 'have got to'), or the achievement of a state ('got tired'). Often used in informal spoken English.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
UK: Uses 'have got' (present) and 'got' (past) as past participle for all meanings. US: Uses 'have got' for possession and obligation, but often uses 'gotten' as the past participle for meanings of acquisition, obtaining, or becoming (e.g., 'I have gotten a new car', 'He has gotten better').
Connotations
In UK English, 'got' is perceived as more standard and neutral. In US English, 'have got' for possession can sometimes be considered slightly informal compared to just 'have'. 'Gotten' is standard American but considered non-standard in the UK.
Frequency
"Got" is extremely frequent in both varieties. 'Have got' for possession is more frequent in UK English. In American English, the simple past 'got' and 'gotten' are both very common.
Grammar
How to Use “got” in a Sentence
[SUBJ] got [OBJ] (I got a letter)[SUBJ] got [OBJ] [ADJ] (She got her hair wet)[SUBJ] got [IOBJ] [DOBJ] (He got me a present)[SUBJ] got [to-INF] (We got to see the show)[SUBJ] have/has got [OBJ] (They've got a problem)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “got” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- I've got two tickets for the match.
- She got a first-class degree from Oxford.
- Have you got the time?
- They got here at eight.
American English
- I got a new phone last week.
- He's gotten much taller over the summer.
- We've got to finish this report.
- She got home late from work.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used informally ('I got the memo', 'He's got the contract'). More formal writing would prefer 'received' or 'obtained'.
Academic
Generally avoided in formal academic prose, especially for possession ('have' is preferred). May appear in reported speech or informal examples.
Everyday
Ubiquitous in all forms of conversation for possession, acquisition, and obligation.
Technical
Limited use. Might appear in procedural instructions ('Once you have got the data...') but 'obtained' is more precise.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “got”
- *I have got a car yesterday. (Wrong tense – should be 'I got a car yesterday.')
- *She has got blonde hair since birth. (Redundant – 'She has blonde hair' is sufficient.)
- *We got to go now. (Missing 'have' for obligation – 'We have got to go' or 'We've got to go.')
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, especially in British English for expressing possession or necessity. It is standard in spoken English and informal writing. In formal American writing, 'have' is often preferred.
'Gotten' is the traditional past participle of 'get' and is standard in American English for meanings of acquisition, obtaining, or change of state (e.g., 'I've gotten a new car', 'It's gotten cold'). British English uses 'got' for all meanings of the past participle.
Use it sparingly. For possession, 'have' is more formal than 'have got'. For other meanings, words like 'obtained', 'received', 'became', or 'arrived' are often more precise and formal alternatives.
No. 'I got' is simple past (e.g., 'I got a letter yesterday'). 'I have' is present tense. Using 'I got' to mean 'I currently possess' (e.g., *'I got a car') is non-standard. For present possession, use 'I have' or 'I have got'.
The past tense and past participle of 'get', primarily indicating acquisition, reception, possession, or arrival.
Got: in British English it is pronounced /ɡɒt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɡɑːt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “got it in one”
- “got cold feet”
- “got wind of something”
- “got your number”
- “got the short end of the stick”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a 'GOT' sign on a gift you just RECEIVED. It's short, simple, and means you've ACQUIRED it.
Conceptual Metaphor
POSSESSION IS HAVING ACQUIRED (e.g., 'I've got an idea' – the idea is a possessed object obtained). CHANGE IS GETTING TO A STATE (e.g., 'got angry' – anger is a location reached).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'got' used to express obligation?