get started

verb

To begin an activity.

“Get the car started and then we can set off.”

Similar
get crackingbestir oneselfget goingget movingget weavingget rolling
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Meanings

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

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

  1. intransitiveTo begin an activity.

    Come on guys, settle down, it's time to get started

  2. transitiveTo begin (an activity or event); to get something to start.

    Get the car started and then we can set off.

  3. idiomatictransitiveTo cause (someone) to start talking about something in length.

    He is also an avid photographer and falconer. Don't get him started talking about his birds because he won't stop for a while.

    2015, A. J. Marcus, Grizzly Discovery

Synonyms & antonyms

verbstart to be active

Similar
get crackingbestir oneselfget goingget movingget weavingget rolling
Broader
get downbeginget
Also see
get crackingget goingget moving

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

Finnish aloittaa
  • aloittaa3. cause someone to start talking in length
French lancer
  • lancer3. cause someone to start talking in length
Polish zaczynać, zacząć
  • zaczynać2. (''transitive'') to begin
  • zacząć2. (''transitive'') to begin
  • rozpoczynać2. (''transitive'') to begin
  • rozpocząć2. (''transitive'') to begin
  • zapoczątkowywać2. (''transitive'') to begin
  • zapoczątkować2. (''transitive'') to begin
  • uruchamiać3. cause someone to start talking in length
  • uruchomić3. cause someone to start talking in length
  • zaczynać się1. (intransitive) to begin
  • zacząć się1. (intransitive) to begin
  • rozpoczynać się1. (intransitive) to begin
  • rozpocząć się1. (intransitive) to begin
Portuguese começar
  • começar3. cause someone to start talking in length
Spanish poner en marcha, dar cuerda
  • poner en marcha2. (''transitive'') to begin
  • dar cuerda3. cause someone to start talking in length
  • ponerse en marcha1. (intransitive) to begin
Cite this entry
APA

get started. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/get%20started

MLA

“get started.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/get%20started. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “get started,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/get%20started.

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