1.
to go onto a bus, a train or a bike
“Get on the bus quickly!”
“She got on her bike.”
“We got on the train at 9.”
Synonyms: to board, to mount
Phrasal verb
What does get on mean?
Meaning: to enter a bus or train; to be friendly
B1
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Quick answer
Get on = to go onto a bus, a train or a bike. In British English, get on with someone also means to have a friendly relationship with them. Get on the bus = go onto the bus. I get on with her = she and I are friends.
Meanings of the phrasal verb
2.
to be friendly with someone (British English)
“I get on well with my colleagues.”
“They don't get on.”
Synonyms: to get along with (US)
3.
to make progress (British, informal)
common“How are you getting on with your homework?”
Word order
Inseparable
The object goes after the particle, never between the verb and the particle.
Forms
- Present Simple:
- get on
- Past Simple:
- got on
- Past participle:
- got on (UK) / gotten on (US)
- -ing form:
- getting on
Common mistakes to avoid
Get on (bus, train) or get in (car)?
Get on: a bus, a train, a bike, a motorbike, a horse (you climb on or step up). Get in: a car, a taxi (you sit inside a small space). Get IN the car / get ON the bus. Get in the bus ❌.
Get on with or get along with?
Get on with (British English) = get along with (American English). They mean the same: to have a friendly relationship. Get on is shorter and British. Get along is more American.
Practice quiz
Question 1 / 3The Big Challenge question bank
Related pages: get on
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What's next?
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Frequently asked questions
What does get on mean?+
Get on has three meanings: (1) to go onto a bus, a train or a bike; (2) to have a friendly relationship (British English, with with); (3) to make progress (British English, informal). It is a very useful verb.
Is it get on or get in?+
Use get on for a bus, a train, a plane, a bike, a motorbike or a horse (you climb on or step up). Use get in for a car, a taxi or a small closed space. This is fixed by usage: learn it with the vehicle.
Is get on separable?+
No, it is not separable. Get on the bus ✓ / Get the bus on ❌. The order is always verb + particle + object, or get on with + a person.
What is the opposite of get on a bus?+
Get off (to leave a bus or a train). Get on the bus / get off the bus. They are a classic pair.
What is the past simple of get on?+
Got on. Get is irregular: get → got → got (British English) / gotten (American English). I got on the train at 9.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/phrasal-verbs/get-on
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.