get even

verb

To inflict trouble or harm on another in return, typically the same as that inflicted on oneself.

Similar
reciprocateretaliateequalizeequaliseget back
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Meanings

verbget even (third-person singular simple present gets even, present participle getting even, simple past got even, past participle (UK) got even or (US) gotten even)

present singular third person gets even · participle present getting even · past got even · UK participle past got even · US participle past gotten even

  1. idiomaticinformalTo inflict trouble or harm on another in return, typically the same as that inflicted on oneself.

    Pinkerton man, murdering bastard / I’m gonna get even, get even with you

    2013, Clutch, “Book, Saddle, & Go”
    1 more example

    But I warn you, Anita, we're through. I'm through with all of you! I'll get even. Just wait! You'll be sorry! You fools! You...YOU IDIOTS!

    1961, 101 Dalmatians

    Synonyms: reciprocate, retaliate

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo inflict trouble or harm on another in return, typically the same as that inflicted on oneself.

Similar
reciprocateretaliate

More synonyms by meaning

verbcompensate; make the score equal

Similar
equalizeequalise
Broader
scoretallyrack up

verbtake revenge or even out a score

Similar
get back
Broader
revengeavengeretaliate
Also see
equalizeget back

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 算帳 /算帐
  • 算帳 /算帐 (suànzhàng)get revenge
Finnish päästä tasoihin, tasoittaa
  • päästä tasoihinget revenge
  • tasoittaaget revenge
French se venger, prendre sa revanche
  • se vengerget revenge
  • prendre sa revancheget revenge
  • rendre la monnaie de sa pièceget revenge
Italian pareggiare i conti
  • pareggiare i contiget revenge
Japanese 仕返しする
  • 仕返しする (shikaeshi suru)get revenge
Latin hostiō
  • hostiōget revenge
Russian свести́ счёты, рассчита́ться
  • свести́ счёты (svestí sčóty)get revenge
  • рассчита́ться (rassčitátʹsja)get revenge
  • расквита́ться (raskvitátʹsja)get revenge
  • поквита́ться (pokvitátʹsja)get revenge
Scottish Gaelic faigh do latha fhèin air
  • faigh do latha fhèin airget revenge
Spanish desquitarse
  • desquitarseget revenge
Thai แก้แค้น, ล้างแค้น
  • แก้แค้น (gɛ̂ɛ-kɛ́ɛn)get revenge
  • ล้างแค้น (láang-kɛ́ɛn)get revenge
  • เอาคืน (ao-kʉʉn)get revenge
  • คิดบัญชี (kít-ban-chii)get revenge
  • เช็กบิล (chék-bin)get revenge
Turkish ödeşmek
  • ödeşmekget revenge
Cite this entry
APA

get even. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/get%20even

MLA

“get even.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/get%20even. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “get even,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/get%20even.

Source: get even on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.