Get

Get is the 5th commonest verb in English, after be, have, would and say. As a full verb, phrasal verb and multi-word verb, it has many meanings and synonyms. It also forms part of several idioms.

Synonyms (single word)

 * arrive - get home, get to the station
 * become - get rich
 * capture - They got him in the end
 * fetch - Can you get the breadknife?
 * receive - Did you get my note?
 * understand - I don't get it

Phrasal verbs

 * get at - nag, insinuate, reach, intimidate
 * get off - several meanings
 * get on - be successful, make progress,
 * be getting on - get older
 * get over - recover
 * get through -

Multi-word verbs

 * get away with
 * get hold of (someone) - contact
 * get hold of (something) - acquire''
 * get off with (BrE)
 * get on with - continue
 * get out of - avoid
 * get rid of

Idioms

 * get (one's) act together
 * get high on (something)
 * get it in the neck
 * get it on with (AmE)
 * get (one's) own back (on someone)
 * get on with it
 * get with it

Get = change
Get is very often used with adjectives to refer to change, as well as the process leading to a result. With this use it is very similar in meaning to become (although there are some differences).
 * The rich are getting richer
 * I'm getting tired of this

A useful way of explaining this use of get to students is to point out the difference between a state (be cold) and a process (get cold or get colder):
 * Your coffee's getting cold/it'll get cold vs your coffee's cold
 * This is interesting - this is getting more interesting - it gets even more interesting
 * it's very late vs it's getting late

Get used to ...ing
Get can usually be used as a synonym of become and grow with ... used to ...ing.