get back together

Meaning

This expression means to restart a romantic relationship after a breakup. It is used when two people who separated decide to date each other again. It is very common in casual conversation and has a neutral to emotional tone.

Examples

• I heard that Sarah and Tom finally got back together after being apart for six months.

  I heard that Sarah and Tom finally got back together after being apart for six months.

• Do you think they will ever get back together, or is it over for good?

  Do you think they will ever get back together, or is it over for good?

• We had some issues to work through, but I'm really glad we got back together.

  We had some issues to work through, but I'm really glad we got back together.

• They keep breaking up and getting back together; it's exhausting to watch.

  They keep breaking up and getting back together; it's exhausting to watch.

• My ex wants us to get back together, but I don't think it's a good idea.

  My ex wants us to get back together, but I don't think it's a good idea.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ They returned back together last week.

  ✓ They got back together last week.

  Learners often confuse 'get back' with 'return'. 'Return back' is redundant, and 'get back together' is the correct phrasal verb for relationships.

• ✗ I want to get together with my ex-boyfriend again.

  ✓ I want to get back together with my ex-boyfriend.

  'Get together' means to meet up socially as friends. To restart a romantic relationship, you must include the word 'back' ('get back together').

Related Expressions

Practice

• After a year of living in different cities, they decided to ___.

  💡 Restart their romantic relationship.

  Show answer

  get back together

• Do you really think it's a good idea to ___ with your ex?

  💡 Start dating the same person again.

  Show answer

  get back together

• They had a huge fight, but they decided to ___ eventually.

  💡 Reunite as a couple.

  Show answer

  get back together