phrasal verb🧩 phrasal verb

get back

to return to a place

What it means

To return to a place after being away, often home or to work. It can also mean to recover something you lost or lent, or to reply to someone later as in 'I'll get back to you'.

Examples

  • What time will you get back from the conference?
  • I just got back from a wonderful holiday in Greece.
  • She finally got her deposit back from the landlord.
  • I'll check my schedule and get back to you tomorrow.

Where it comes from

Inseparable in the 'return' sense, separable in the 'recover' sense ('get your money back'). Subtly different from 'come back' and 'go back': 'get back' emphasises the act of arriving, often after a journey, while 'come/go back' focuses more on direction. 'Get back to someone' meaning 'reply later' is now standard in business English.

Related phrasal verbs

#come back#go back#give back#call back

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