Got Meaning
/ɡɒt/Definition, CEFR level A1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
verbExpressing obligation; used with have.
verbMust; have/has (to).
Sentence Examples
Back in high school, I got up at 6 a.m. every morning.
My computer has got to be useful for something.
He sat watching her as she got ready.
CEFR Practice Quiz
He finally ____ a new car for his birthday last week.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
I finally ____ the job I wanted after several rounds of interviews and a very long waiting period.
Word Origin & History
Analogous to Chinese 有, such as Hokkien 有 (ū), Cantonese 有 (jau⁵), Mandarin 有 (yǒu). Sense 1 is also comparable to Malay ada.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"We got to ride to clean up the streets / For our wives and our daughters!"
— 1971, Carole King, Gerry Goffin, “Smackwater Jack”, in Tapestry, Ode Records:
"“Got lighter or not?”"
— 1999, Alfian Sa'at, Corridor, Singapore: SNP Editions, →OCLC, page 122:
"She sure got a lot of costume change, make-up, wig long long…"
— 2010, Haresh Sharma, Those Who Can't, Teach, Epigram Books, Act II, scene iv:
"“There is no such thing as president of the world. But there is one king of the world. I am king of the world. Bigger than you!”
“Where got king, one? Who say so? You play cheat.”
“My mother say got. You don’t believe me you ask her.”"
— 2022, Daren Shiau, chapter VIII, in Heartland, Ethos Books, →ISBN:
"You got send [e-mail] meh? I never receive leh."
— 2010 August 22, Fiona Chan, The Sunday Times, Singapore, page 13:
Explore More A1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
He finally ____ a new car for his birthday last week.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
I finally ____ the job I wanted after several rounds of interviews and a very long waiting period.