getup

1 of 2

noun

get·​up ˈget-ˌəp How to pronounce getup (audio)
Synonyms of getup
1
: outfit, costume
2
: general composition or structure

get up

2 of 2

verb

got up; got up or gotten up; getting up; gets up

intransitive verb

1
a
: to arise from bed
b
: to rise to one's feet
c
: climb, ascend
2
: to go ahead or faster
—used in the imperative as a command especially to driven animals

transitive verb

1
: to make preparations for : organize
got up a party for the newcomers
2
: to arrange as to external appearance : dress
3
: to acquire a knowledge of
4
: to create in oneself
cannot get up the courage to tell them

Synonyms of getup

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Noun

Verb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of getup in a Sentence

Noun He came onstage in a cowboy getup. a guy in a crazy getup Verb you need to get right up when the alarm goes off in the morning all got up in her Sunday best
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The Hall of Famer recalled that wearing a leather-on-leather getup at the NYC event wasn’t exactly in his wheelhouse. — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2026 The bars are flooded with single people dressed in their sexiest getups and looking vaguely uncomfortable. — Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026
Verb
This was not his Dartmouth College graduation keynote of 2025, filled with lessons on getting up after falling. — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026 With her expertise and experience across astronomy, and with NASA just getting up and running, Roman was asked to join the new agency and create its first astronomy program. — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 29 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for getup

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1842, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of getup was in the 14th century

Rhymes for getup

See All Rhymes for getup

Browse Nearby Words

get undressed
getup
get up
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Getup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/getup. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

get up

2 of 2 verb
get-ˈəp, 
git-
1
a
: to arise from bed
b
: to rise to one's feet
2
: prepare sense 2, organize
get up a petition
3
: to produce in oneself by effort
get up the courage
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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