What does "get round" mean (sense 1)?

To find a way to avoid or deal with a problem, rule, or restriction. Example: "The lawyers found a way to get round the planning regulations."

What does "get round" mean (sense 2)?

To persuade or charm someone into doing what you want, often by being friendly. Example: "She knew how to get round her father — a smile and a hug usually did the trick."

What does "get round" mean (sense 3)?

To visit or deal with a number of people or places, usually with some difficulty. Example: "With only one car between them, it's hard to get round to all the clients in one day."

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get round

B2 neutral inseparable transitive

To find a way to avoid or deal with a problem or restriction, or to persuade someone.

In plain English

To cleverly avoid a rule or problem, or to convince someone to agree with you.

What does "get round" mean?

3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.

1 B2 idiomatic neutral

common

To find a way to avoid or deal with a problem, rule, or restriction.

"The lawyers found a way to get round the planning regulations."

inseparable

2 B2 idiomatic informal

common

To persuade or charm someone into doing what you want, often by being friendly.

"She knew how to get round her father — a smile and a hug usually did the trick."

inseparable

3 B2 neutral

uncommon

To visit or deal with a number of people or places, usually with some difficulty.

"With only one car between them, it's hard to get round to all the clients in one day."

inseparable

Literal vs figurative

Words literally mean

To move around the edges of something — the obstacle-avoidance sense is a natural extension.

Actually means

To cleverly avoid a rule or problem, or to convince someone to agree with you.

Usage tip

British English; the American equivalent is 'get around'. 'Get round a rule' is common in legal and business contexts. 'Get round someone' means to charm or flatter them into agreeing. Also used for physically travelling around an area.

Words that pair with "get round"

Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.

problem law rule restriction someone obstacle difficulty issue

How to conjugate "get round"

The five tense forms you'll use most often.

Base

get round

I/you/we/they

3rd person

gets round

he/she/it

Past simple

got round

yesterday

Past participle

got/gotten round

have + pp

-ing form

getting round

continuous

Hear "get round" in the wild

Listen to native speakers using "get round" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.

Other ways to say "get round"

Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.

avoid bypass circumvent get around sidestep work around

Keep exploring

Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.

All phrasal verbs with "get" All phrasal verbs with "round" More B2-level phrasal verbs