get worse

get worse — idiom

1. to move from being somewhat ill or bad into a state that is clearly more serious

1.idiomA2
Definition

to move from being somewhat ill or bad into a state that is clearly more serious, painful, or difficult to deal with

Example

After two days of rest, Tanvi's cold suddenly got worse and turned into bronchitis.

The storm got worse around midnight, its strong winds knocking down the old oak tree.

Common collocations
  • get progressively worse
  • get much worse
  • get worse over time
  • get worse before it gets better
Synonyms
Antonyms
  • get better

    the direct opposite; covers both recovery and improvement

  • improve

    more formal; used for situations as well as health

Usage Note

Used for both physical conditions (illness, injury) and abstract situations (problems, weather, conflict). More natural in everyday speech than formal alternatives like 'deteriorate' or 'worsen.'

Common Mistakes

My headache got worst after lunch.
My headache got worse after lunch.
'worse' is the comparative form; 'worst' is the superlative and does not follow 'get' in this pattern.

Etymology

Old EnglishOld NorseMiddle EnglishEnglish

A straightforward combination of 'get' (meaning 'become,' from Old Norse 'geta') and 'worse' (the comparative of 'bad,' from Old English 'wiersa'). The phrase has been used in everyday English since at least the 16th century to describe decline in health or circumstances.