Be getting on for… Definition 1 of 1Pro Tip 1/3Close To Use the phrase when something is approaching a particular time, age, or number and not precise. She must be getting on for 70 now, don't you think? Pro Tip 2/3Subjective Time People use this phrase to express their personal feeling that a lot of time has passed. It's getting on for two hours since they left. Pro Tip 3/3Not Exact The phrase doesn't mean the exact number or time, but very close to it. We're getting on for completion of the project.