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Phrasal Verbs

What are phrasal verbs.

Table of Contents

Easy Examples of Phrasal Verbs

Real-life examples of phrasal verbs, transitive and intransitive phrasal verbs, separable and inseparable phrasal verbs, particle or a preposition, why phrasal verbs are important.

phrasal verb

  • to break in
  • to catch up
  • to break down
  • to cut back
  • to put up with
  • to go out with
  • to check up on
  • to cut down on
  • Damn your principles! Stick to your party. (Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli)
  • When people find out you're an actress, they Google you. (Actress Laverne Cox)
  • Meditation helps me to calm down . (Singer Lady Gaga)
  • Do I exaggerate? Boy, do I, and I'd do it more if I could get away with it. (Comedian David Sedaris)
  • Fill in the form as quickly as possible.
  • Did you go over those reports last night?
  • I will look into it immediately.
  • I felt compelled to hand the purse in .
  • If you're unhappy, please stand up .
  • The lorry is starting to drop back .
  • The tree could fall down .
  • Do not give in .
  • She will show up soon.
  • She will show up the opposition.
  • I will make you up to look like a princess.
  • She talked her father into letting her attend the party.
  • She looks up to her sister .
  • You must stick to the plan at all costs.
  • He looked my address up on the National Voter Register.
  • He looked up my address on the National Voter Register.

wrong cross

  • She takes after her mother.
  • Please think it over .
  • I can stand in for you next week.

(Reason to Avoid 1) Phrasal verbs sound informal.

  • We will congregate in the foyer. (preferable in a formal email)
  • We've put the meeting off until Tuesday. (okay, if a little informal)
  • The meeting is postponed until Tuesday. (preferable in a formal email)

(Reason to Avoid 2) Some phrasal verbs eat up your word count unnecessarily.

  • I cannot face up to this problem. (okay)
  • I cannot face this problem. (better, more succinct)
  • Try this new garlic dip out . (okay)
  • Try this new garlic dip. (better, more succinct)
  • She will not stand for shoddy work. (okay)
  • She will not stand shoddy work. (better, more succinct)
  • Even I don't wake up looking like Cindy Crawford. (Model Cindy Crawford)

(Reason to Avoid 3) A phrasal verb often puts a preposition at the end of your sentence.

  • It is a situation I will not put up with . (okay)
  • It is a situation I will not tolerate. (safer and more succinct)
  • Can you sort it out ? (okay)
  • Can you resolve it? (safer and more succinct)

(Reason to Embrace 1) A phrasal verb might better fit your image.

  • We would not expect you to tolerate a second-rate service. (corporate)
  • Don't put up with bad service. (engaging)

(Reason to Embrace 2) Phrasal verbs are easily understood.

  • The framework is required to concatenate the disparate elements.
  • The framework is required to join up each element.
  • Phrasal verbs sound natural, and they're easily understood. However, they can sound too informal for business or academic writing. Strike the balance you need.
  • Sometimes, the preposition that accompanies the main verb in a phrasal verb is unnecessary. If it doesn't add anything, delete it.

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  • Knowledge Base
  • Phrasal Verbs | List, Definition, Examples & Tips

Phrasal Verbs | List, Definition, Examples & Tips

Published on April 23, 2015 by Shane Bryson . Revised on November 7, 2022.

A phrasal verb combines two or more words to describe a specific action. Phrasal verbs can be difficult to get right, as their meaning usually has nothing to do with the definitions of the component words.

This means that   phrasal verbs must be treated   as distinct pieces of vocabulary. You have to learn them as a single unit of meaning, just like you would learn any single word.

Phrasal verbs are very common in everyday speech, but in academic writing, it’s best to replace them with one-word alternatives where possible.

47 phrasal verbs and one-word alternatives

Table of contents

What is a phrasal verb, when to use phrasal verbs, separating phrasal verbs.

A verb (e.g., “It goes ”) becomes a phrasal verb with the addition of one preposition (e.g., “The light goes out ”) or more (e.g., “She goes out with him”). Each additional preposition completely changes the meaning of the verb.

It is very important to remember that a phrasal verb should be considered one unit of meaning, just like a distinct verb. In the above examples, the phrasal verb “goes out” is as different from the verb “goes” as the verb “goes” is different from the verb “stays.”

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Although the best choice is usually to avoid phrasal verbs, they are so common that finding adequate replacements every time will be difficult. Change them when you can, and when you “run out” of ideas for rephrasing, “cheer up,” “believe in” yourself, and “write down” your phrasal verbs conscientiously.

Phrasal verbs do have their uses, after all. For example, they convey a casual tone, and while this is not usually desirable in academic writing , the best academic writers can vary their tone at will.

Accordingly, you should think of phrasal verbs as a stylistic option, even though you will often be best advised to eliminate them rather than add them.

Some phrasal verbs can be separated by intervening words, while others have to stay together in the sentence. There is no rule to tell whether a phrasal verb can be separated, so you have to learn by memory and practice—one good reason to avoid them when you can.

One helpful pointer, though, is that phrasal verbs that can be separated must be separated when their object is a pronoun (e.g., it , her , them).

Example: Separable

  • Call the meeting off .
  • Call off the meeting.

Note that if a phrasal verb is separable, it  must  be separated when its object is a pronoun (e.g., it , her , them).

  • Call it off .
  • Call off it.

Example: Inseparable

  • The message didn’t come across well.
  • The message didn’t come well across .

Example: Must be separated

Some phrasal verbs always have to be separated, but this is comparatively rare.

  • Oscar will take Sven up on the offer.
  • Oscar will take up Sven on the offer.

Sources in this article

We strongly encourage students to use sources in their work. You can cite our article (APA Style) or take a deep dive into the articles below.

Bryson, S. (2022, November 07). Phrasal Verbs | List, Definition, Examples & Tips. Scribbr. Retrieved July 17, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/verbs/phrasal-verbs/
Aarts, B. (2011).  Oxford modern English grammar . Oxford University Press.
Butterfield, J. (Ed.). (2015).  Fowler’s dictionary of modern English usage  (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.
Garner, B. A. (2016).  Garner’s modern English usage (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.

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Shane Bryson

Shane finished his master's degree in English literature in 2013 and has been working as a writing tutor and editor since 2009. He began proofreading and editing essays with Scribbr in early summer, 2014.

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Phrasal Verbs – List, Uses & Examples

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| Candace Osmond

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Candace Osmond

Candace Osmond studied Advanced Writing & Editing Essentials at MHC. She’s been an International and USA TODAY Bestselling Author for over a decade. And she’s worked as an Editor for several mid-sized publications. Candace has a keen eye for content editing and a high degree of expertise in Fiction.

You guessed it; as the name suggests, a phrasal verb is a type of verb that comes in phrases. Learning these different phrasal verbs improved my vocabulary and communication so I’m putting everything I know into this handy guide for you.

You’ll learn more about phrasal verbs and their different types as I explain. I also provided an extensive list of phrasal verbs with their definitions and sample sentences.

What are Phrasal Verbs?

Grammarist Article Graphic V3 2022 10 17T180017.610

Phrasal verbs in English are groups of words or multi-word verbs that show action. This verb usually includes a normal verb and an adverb or preposition.

Keep in mind the meaning of a phrasal verb is usually unrelated to the definition of the main verb. For example:

  • We passed out two hours after the social event.

The phrasal verb in this sentence is passed out, which means become unconscious, sleep, or blackout. But the base verb, pass, takes on a different meaning. This single-word verb means to move or cause to move in a specified direction.

Here’s another example.

  • The team members come up with the best project ideas at night.

The phrasal verb above is come up, meaning present itself. It’s different from the base verb, come, which means arrive .

English phrasal verbs can be confusing because their definitions are not explicit or painless to speculate. It takes memorization to understand the meaning of every phrasal verb.

Whether it’s a regular or irregular verb, remember that phrasal verbs act like normal verbs in sentences. They can express action while showing time. That means you can also conjugate them into every type of verb form and any verb tenses.

What are the Four Types of Phrasal Verbs?

Understanding phrasal verbs will help you master their placement and functions in sentences. Here are the four categories to remember.

Transitive Phrasal Verbs

A transitive phrasal verb acts like normal transitive verbs. A transitive verb always includes a direct object. For example:

  • I will go over the phone book to look for his telephone number.
  • We will get through this difficult time.

The phrasal verb in the first statement has a different meaning from the original verb, go . The phrase go over means to examine or look at something carefully. Its direct object is phone book because it is the receiver of the action.

In the second sentence, the phrasal verb is get through, meaning overcome. The receiver of the action is difficult time.

Here’s a list of transitive phrasal verbs you can use.

  • Bring back.
  • Pass around.
  • Switch off.

Intransitive Phrasal Verbs

This is a verb that doesn’t include a direct object. I remember that a direct object is a noun or pronoun that accepts the action. Take a look at the sentences containing intransitive phrasal verbs below.

  • We need to catch up without mobile phones and other distractions.
  • Please step aside for the cyclists.

In the first sentence, the verb catch up stands on its own without a direct object. The same is true with the second sentence. Step aside stands on its own without a noun or pronoun receiving the action.

Here are more examples of intransitive phrasal verbs.

  • Came about.
  • Come through
  • Stand by. Turn in.

Separable Phrasal Verbs

Separable phrasal verbs are transitive verbs where we can put the direct object between the words. For example, instead of saying, “pick up you,” we say, “ pick you up.” Below are more sentence examples.

  • Please don’t let me down.
  • Marvin is planning to take Lily out on a date.

You can even put long groups of words or a noun phrase between separable phrasal verbs. For example:

  • I know you would never let Hazel, Jason, and the rest of the organization down.

Remember that some separable phrasal verbs can still be placed together in a sentence. The sentences below are both correct.

  • I will pick up the package today.
  • I will pick the package up today.

It’s also important that not all transitive phrasal verbs can be separated. For example:

  • Incorrect: Let’s go these pages over.

Correct: Let’s go over these pages.

There’s a special rule for pronouns regarding separable verbs. If the direct object is a pronoun, position it in the middle of a phrasal verb. For example:

  • Incorrect: The men will pick up it later.

Correct: The men will pick it up later.

Here are some examples of separable phrasal verbs.

  • Bring about.
  • Bring over.
  • Quiet down.

Inseparable Phrasal Verbs

An inseparable phrasal verb is a phrasal verb that you should not split up. These phrasal verbs are always beside each other, whether there’s a direct object or not. Below is an example of an inseparable phrasal verb with a direct object.

  • Incorrect: The mother wants to stick her principles to.

Correct: The mother wants to stick to her principles.

Here’s another example of an inseparable phrasal verb without a direct object. In other words, it’s also an intransitive phrasal verb.

  • The orphan carried on with his life.

Some of the most common non-separable phrasal verbs in the English language are:

  • Back out of.
  • Come along with.
  • Check up on.
  • Disagree with.
  • Drop in at/on.
  • Drop out of.
  • Fall back on.
  • Fall out with.
  • Get away with.
  • Look after.
  • Put up with.
  • Run away with.

Rules for Using Phrasal Verbs

We have specific rules when using phrasal verbs. I laid them all out here for you to study.

Phrasal Verbs Have Different Definitions from the Main Verb

Combining a normal verb with a preposition or adverb gives it a different meaning from the original action verb. The sentences below will prove it.

  • Justine came down with a cold and fever after playing in the rain for hours.
  • I only came here to see the headmaster.

In the first sentence, the phrasal verb came down with is in its past form, meaning became sick. But in the second example, the verb came means arrived.

Below are more examples.

  • Julia promised not to back down from the fight. ( Back down means to withdraw, while back means to give support).
  • Let’s get away for the weekend. ( Get away means to escape, while get means to receive).
  • You keep on messaging me. ( Keep on means continue doing, while keep means have or retain possession of).

Phrasal Verbs Can Be Verbals

Since phrasal verbs are no different from ordinary verbs, they can also function as other parts of speech, such as a noun , adverb, or adjective. These are called verbals.

One type of verbal is a gerund, a verb in its present participle form acting as a noun. Here’s an example of the phrasal verb get over acting as a gerund.

  • Getting over that incident was a traumatizing experience.

Another type of verbal is the infinitive. Here, the word to plus the base form of the verb act as a noun, adjective, or adverb in the sentence. For example:

  • To get over a long-term ex-partner is challenging. ( To get over as a noun)
  • But I don’t want to get over him yet. ( To get over as an adverb)

Phrasal verbs can also be participles. Participles are verb forms used as adjectives or parts of specific tenses. Below are examples of the present and past participle forms of get over in sentences.

  • Jamie is still getting over her breakup. (present participle used in the present progressive tense)
  • Having gotten over the accident, Jamie is now ready to walk on her feet again. (past participle is used in the present perfect tense)

Conjugating Phrasal Verbs

As the main verb of the entire sentence, we conjugate a phrasal verb by only changing the action verb. Then, you should leave the other words, such as the preposition or adverb.

For example, the present progressive form of look forward is is/are/am looking forward. The word forward remains the same.

  • I’m looking forward to the charity event in three days time.

Here’s another set of sentence examples. The phrasal verb used is get up, where get is an irregular verb. That means it doesn’t follow the typical conjugation pattern for its simple past and past participle forms.

  • Simple present tense: She gets u p at 12 noon each day.

Simple past tense: She got up at 12 noon yesterday.

Simple future tense: She will get up at 12 noon tomorrow.

All Intransitive Phrasal Verbs are Inseparable

You already know that all separable phrasal verbs are transitive. However, not all transitive phrasal verbs are separable. However, all intransitive phrasal verbs are inseparable because they do not have a direct object. For example:

  • My mother wakes up the earliest in our family.
  • The competitive student wants to get ahead of everyone academically.
  • The elderly couple keeps on coming back to their first home every summer.

All Three-Word Phrasal Verbs are Inseparable

Some phrasal verbs actually have more than one particle after the main verb. All these three-word phrasal verbs are inseparable. That means a direct object cannot come between them. Check out the sentences below.

  • The finance department has to come up with a better plan for the 2023 budget.
  • Teachers must be role models because the children look up to them.
  • The stepmother and biological mother get along with each other.

All Three-Word Phrasal Verbs are Transitive

Three-word phrasal verbs end with prepositions, so there’s likely an object that will follow them. Some examples include come up with (something), look forward to (something), look up to (someone), and put up with (something.) Consider these sentences.

  • Did you come up with this plan by yourself?
  • I get along with him sometimes.
  • I can’t put up with your poor manners anymore. You need to change it.

What is the Formula for Phrasal Verbs?

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There are three possible formulas for producing phrasal verbs.

Verb + Adverb

The most basic structure of a phrasal verb is the main verb followed by an adverb. These can either be transitive or intransitive. Some examples include put off, turn down, and set off.

  • I suggest you don’t put it off until tomorrow.
  • I turned down his offer because he wouldn’t compromise.
  • We should set off at 3 PM to miss the rush hour traffic.

In these sentences, off and down are adverbs instead of prepositions. That’s because the proceeding words are not objects of the prepositions.

Verb + Preposition

This type of phrasal verb is also known as a prepositional verb. Note that every preposition should have an object. For example:

  • I believe in the theory of evolution.

In this sentence, believe in is the phrasal verb. The prepositional phrase is in the theory of evolution.

Other examples of prepositional verbs are look after and talk about. Here are some sentence examples.

  • Please look after my daughter while I’m away.
  • We talked about sociolinguistics, politics, and different economic systems the whole day.

This phrasal verb structure is inseparable. That means the direct object should not be between the verb and the preposition. For instance, it’s incorrect to say, “Please look my daughter after while I’m away.”

Verb + Adverb + Preposition

The last type of phrasal verb is composed of the main verb, an adverb, and a preposition. They are also known as phrasal-prepositional verbs or three-word phrasal verbs. Some examples include get on with, get out of, and run out of.

I made up some examples so you know how to use phrasal verbs in a sentence.

  • He hasn’t gotten on with Maya since kindergarten.
  • The agent wants to get out of working the night shift.
  • We ran out of milk today.

What are the 20 Most Used Phrasal Verbs?

Check out this list of the most common phrasal verbs examples.

  • Figure out.
  • Throw away.
  • Turn on/off.
  • Turn up/down.

What are the Most Used Three-Word- Phrasal Verbs?

The most common three-word phrasal verbs are:

  • Come up with.
  • Get along with.
  • Get around to.
  • Look forward to
  • Look up to.
  • Look down on.
  • Keep up with
  • Make up for.

What are the Phrasal Verbs I Can Use in a Phone Conversation?

Now that you know the grammatical rules for phrasal verbs, here are some examples you can use in phone conversations.

  • Get through.
  • Put through.
  • Get back to someone.

Are Idioms Phrasal Verbs?

One of the most common questions about phrasal verbs is whether they are considered idioms or not. Phrasal verbs have more than one word that results in a different meaning.

Therefore, the final compound verb can be idiomatic. That’s because its definition cannot be derived from the different parts’ dictionary meanings.

Extensive Phrasal Verbs List

Phrasal VerbDefinitionExample
Abide byTo obey a law, rule, or decisionYou must abide by the rules and regulations of the company if you don’t want to be fired.
Advise againstTo suggest not to do one thingI strongly advise against texting when your emotions are all over the place.
Agree withHave similar opinionsI agreed with the lawyer when he mentioned the importance of swallowing one’s righteous indignation.
Allow forTo considerThe event organizers are allowing for additional fees and schedule interruptions.
Apply forTo request something formal, such as a loan, job, or permitI want to apply for a scholarship this coming school year.
Back downConcede, accept defeatI will not back down on your threats.
Black outLose consciousnessSheila blacked out after the night out.
To get angry, to be popular onlineYour tweet isn’t going to blow up if you have a private account.
Calm downTo relax after an anxious, irritated, or energetic state.Drinking tea instead of coffee might help you calm down.
Check outVerify an object or thing, Flirtatiously look at a personSeveral girls will check you out if you wear those sweatpants.
Clean upBe successful in sports, business, or any endeavorThe basketball team cleaned up during the finals.
Deal withTake care of a situation, manage a problemDealing with a kid’s tantrums can be stressful.
Dive intoOccupy oneself with somethingLet’s dive into the Twilight Saga tonight.
Ease offBecome less severe, slow downMy skin irritation eases off after summertime.
Fall throughTo not happen, failMy plan to start a business and pursue law fell through.
Figure outDiscover, find the answer, understandThree years later, I’m still figuring out why my laptop broke.
Get aheadProgressThe company wants to get ahead in terms of branding and online presence.
Get atImplyI do not understand what you’re getting at.
Give inTo cease oppositionThis country will never give in to despotic laws.
Hang upEnd a conversation on the cell phone or telephoneDon’t hang up. We’ll talk about a lot of things
Hurry upTo be quickHurry up because I don’t want to be late for class.
Join inparticipateAll the students should join in the online discussion.
Keep up withStay at an equal level as someoneI can’t keep up with the latest news about him.
Let downdisappointNo matter the mistakes you commit, you will never let me down.
Let go ofRelease or freeDon’t let go of your belongings every time you’re in public.
Look down onTo consider inferiorIt’s rude to look down on people in the service industry.
Make fun ofMake jokes aboutDo not make fun of someone else’s insecurities.
Make upinventStop making up excuses for not working out.
Nod offFall asleepJackie nodded off on the couch.
Own upConfess somethingOwn up to your mistakes.
Pass awayTo dieI heard that my favorite professor passed away in his sleep last week.
Pick upCollect somebodyJeff will pick me up at 8 PM tomorrow.
Point outTo direct attention to somethingWhat are you trying to point out? I’ve already understood your message.
Rely onDepend onWe don’t have to rely on them anymore.
Run out ofTo have no more of somethingWe are running out of rice and potatoes.
Show offTo want to be admired, to bragThe valedictorian rightfully showed off her medals and certificates.
Stand upRiseMy parents taught me to stand up when greeting a visitor.
Take care ofTo look afterPlease take care of my computer.
Turn downSay no or rejectI turned down Mr. Rooney’s offer last year because I found a better opportunity in Miami.
Top offFill something to the top, to finish somethingHe topped off my beverage.
Use upFinish a productI used up all the shampoo and conditioner. Let’s go grocery shopping.
Watch outBe carefulWatch out for any falling debris.
Wear outTo be unusable, be exhaustedI’ve been worn out after hours of running and lifting barbells.
Work outTo perform physical exerciseIs jogging considered working out?
Wipe offcleanPlease wipe off all surfaces in your room, including your bedside table and desk.

Practice Using Phrasal Verbs

I hope this help! Just remember that phrasal verbs are groups of words that act as a single verb. They are composed of a standard verb and a preposition or adverb. Learning the different phrasal verbs and their definitions will help you expand your vocabulary. Do you have other suggestions for phrasal verbs not mentioned in my guide?

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phrasal verb speech meaning

Cambridge Dictionary

  • Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Meaning of phrasal verb in English

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  • The phrasal verb ' heal up' is intransitive .
  • Some phrasal verbs consist of three words, such as ' look up to'.
  • bare infinitive
  • non-progressive
  • passivization
  • present participle
  • subjunctive
  • the active voice
  • the future perfect
  • the past continuous
  • the past tense

phrasal verb | American Dictionary

Examples of phrasal verb, translations of phrasal verb.

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So what are phrasal verbs anyway?

What are Phrasal Verbs?

A phrasal verb is a phrase or expression that consists of a verb plus another word or two, like this:

[verb + adverb] e.g: look up

[verb + preposition] e.g: look after

[verb + adverb + preposition] e.g: look forward to

The whole phrase acts as a verb, and has a different meaning to the original verb. For example, look up , look after and look forward to do NOT mean the same as look .

Because we cannot always work out the meaning of a phrasal verb from its individual words, phrasal verbs are usually "idiomatic". They are very common in spoken English, and less common in formal written English.

Some phrasal verbs can be split by their object. They are said to be "separable" because the object can go between the verb and the rest of the phrase. For example, in the following sentences the phrasal verb "turn on" is separable, so the object ("the radio") can go after the phrasal verb OR in the middle of the phrasal verb:

  • Mary turned on the radio.
  • Mary turned the radio on .

Here are some more example sentences with phrasal verbs:

  • They had to put off their wedding for a year.
  • What time do you get up in the morning?
  • I was disappointed that they turned my invitation down .
  • Who is looking after your dog while you're away?
  • She didn't get on with her boss so she was glad when he left.
  • Luckily, we didn't run out of petrol and we got home okay.

See a list of phrasal verbs

Study the grammar of phrasal verbs

Order "1000 Phrasal Verbs in Context" ebook

What Are Phrasal Verbs In English And How Are They Used?

What Are Phrasal Verbs?

Table of Contents

Introduction, what are phrasal verbs, form of phrasal verbs.

VerbOne Particle
getup
gothrough
writedown
takeafter
VerbParticle #1Particle #2
lookforwardto
putupwith
sitinfor
runoutof

Exploring Meaning Shifts Through Particle Changes

Verb & MeaningVerb + Particle (Phrasal Verb)Different Meaning
– “Take or go with (someone or something) to a place.”Bring upTo mention or introduce a topic into conversation.
– “Put, lay, or stand (something) in a specified place or position.”Set upTo establish or arrange something.
– “To grasp or obtain”Take offTo remove or lift off, especially in aviation.
“to rotate or change direction”Turn onTo activate or switch on a device.
– “To transfer or offer”Give upTo surrender, quit, or stop trying.
– “To direct one’s gaze toward someone or something”look forTo search or seek

Literal or Idiomatic?

Phrasal verb meanings can be either literal or idiomatic. While some phrasal verbs maintain a straightforward, tangible interpretation rooted in their constituent words, others transcend their literal origins to convey idiomatic nuances.

Phrasal VerbMeaningExamples
Run outTo physically exit a locationLiteral: “I ran out of the room.”
To deplete or exhaust the supply of somethingIdiomatic: “I ran out of milk.”
Put inTo place something insideLiteral: “I put my keys in my bag.”
To invest time or effort in somethingIdiomatic: “I put in a lot of time into the project.”
Take outTo remove or extract something from a locationLiteral: “I took out my wallet from my bag.”
To eliminate or withdraw someone or somethingIdiomatic: “They want to take out the sniper.”
Look outTo direct one’s gaze outward or be watchfulLiteral: “She looked out of the window.”
To be cautious or be aware of somethingIdiomatic: “The police have warned storekeepers to look out for forged bills.”

Types of Phrasal Verbs

Transitive and intransitive phrasal verbs, separable or inseparable phrasal verbs, separable phrasal verbs:.

Separable Phrasal VerbNon-Separable ExampleSeparable Example
Turn on“She the lights before entering the room.”“She the lights before entering the room.”
Take off“The plane smoothly, heading for its destination.”“The plane the passengers smoothly.”
Put off“Let’s the meeting until next week.”“Let’s the meeting until next week.”
Pick up“I need to groceries on my way home.”“I need to the groceries on my way home.”
Bring up“During the discussion, she an important point.”“During the discussion, she an important point .”
Set up“They a new system to improve efficiency.”“They a new system to improve efficiency.”
Give back“Don’t forget to the book you borrowed.”“Don’t forget to the book you borrowed.”
Turn off“He the television before leaving the room.”“He the television before leaving the room.”
Look up“I often unfamiliar words in the dictionary.”“I often unfamiliar words in the dictionary.”
Break up“They decided to after years of dating.”“They decided to the relationship after years of dating.”

Inseparable Phrasal Verbs:

Inseparable Phrasal VerbExample
Look after“She always her younger brother.”
Stand by“I will you during difficult times.”
Carry on with“After the interruption, the speaker decided to the presentation.”
Come across“During my trip, I an old bookstore.”
Get in“She the car and drove to work.”
Get over“It takes time to a loss.”
Do without“We’ll have to milk as there isn’t any left.”
Put up with“I can’t his rude behavior any longer.”
Run out of“We ran out of milk, so I need to buy some more.”
Look forward to“I always look forward to the weekend.”
Take care of“She takes care of her plants with great dedication.”

Frequently Used Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal VerbMeaning
Look afterTo take care of or be responsible for someone.
Set upTo establish or arrange something.
Bring upTo mention or introduce a topic into conversation.
Turn downTo reject or decline an offer or invitation.
Run intoTo unexpectedly encounter or meet someone.
Put offTo postpone or delay an event or task.
Come acrossTo find or discover unexpectedly.
Bring aboutTo cause or make something happen.
Take offTo remove or lift off, especially in aviation.
Look forward toTo anticipate or be excited about a future event.
Give upTo quit or stop trying.
Get along withTo have a good relationship with someone.
Take care ofTo attend to or manage a situation or person.
Go onTo continue or proceed.
Bring inTo introduce or involve someone or something.
Put up withTo tolerate or endure.
Bring downTo reduce or lower.
Show upTo appear or arrive.
Hold onTo wait or pause.
Break upTo end a relationship.
Look upTo search for information.
Figure outTo understand or solve a problem.
Bring outTo reveal or produce.
Check outTo examine or investigate.
Take onTo accept or undertake a task or responsibility.
Put outTo extinguish a fire or release a product.
Bring downTo cause a downfall or reduce.
Take overTo assume control or responsibility.
Look intoTo investigate or examine closely.
Pick upTo lift or collect; to learn or acquire.

ESL Grammar

Phrasal Verbs: Understanding and Using Them Correctly

Phrasal verbs are a crucial part of the English language, especially in informal contexts. They are made up of a verb and one or two particles that can change the meaning of the verb. For example, “pick up” means to grab or lift, which is very different from the meanings of “pick” and “up” alone.

In this article, we will explore phrasal verbs in-depth, providing definitions, examples, and tips for using them correctly. We will also discuss the differences between separable and inseparable phrasal verbs, and how to identify them. By the end of this article, readers should have a solid understanding of phrasal verbs and feel confident in using them in their daily conversations and writing.

Phrasal Verbs Unlocking the Secrets of English Language

What Are Phrasal Verbs?

Phrasal verbs are a type of compound verb that consists of a verb and one or more particles. The particles can be prepositions or adverbs , or a combination of both. When combined with a verb, the meaning of the phrasal verb is often different from the meaning of the individual words.

Phrasal verbs are commonly used in spoken and informal English. They are also used in written English, particularly in novels and other creative writing. However, their use in academic writing is generally discouraged.

Phrasal verbs are an essential part of the English language. They are used to express a wide range of meanings, from simple actions to complex ideas. For example, the phrasal verb “take off” can mean to remove something, to leave a place quickly, or to become successful.

Phrasal verbs are often idiomatic, which means that their meaning cannot be easily predicted from the meaning of the individual words. For example, the phrasal verb “look up” can mean to search for information, but it can also mean to respect or admire someone.

Types of Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs are a combination of a verb and one or more particles, which can be prepositions or adverbs. They are commonly used in English and can be classified into different types based on their usage and structure. Here are the three main types of phrasal verbs:

Transitive Phrasal Verbs

Transitive phrasal verbs are those that require a direct object to complete their meaning. The direct object can come before or after the particle, depending on the context. For example, “pick up the phone” and “pick the phone up” mean the same thing. Here are some common transitive phrasal verbs:

  • put up with

Intransitive Phrasal Verbs

Intransitive phrasal verbs do not require a direct object and can stand alone as a complete sentence. They are often used to describe a change in direction or movement. Here are some common intransitive phrasal verbs:

  • come across

Separable and Inseparable Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs can also be classified based on whether they can be separated by other words or not. Separable phrasal verbs can be separated by an object or adverb, while inseparable phrasal verbs cannot be separated. Here are some examples of separable and inseparable phrasal verbs:

  • Separable: “I will look the report over” or “I will look over the report.”
  • Inseparable: “I will look into the matter.”

It’s important to note that the meaning of a phrasal verb can change depending on whether it is separable or inseparable.

List of Common Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs are an essential part of the English language, and they are commonly used in both spoken and written English. Here is a list of some of the most common phrasal verbs:

Phrasal Verbs with Get

Phrasal Verb Meaning
Get away To escape or leave a place
Get along To have a good relationship with someone
Get over To recover from an illness or a difficult situation
Get up To wake up and get out of bed
Get in To enter a vehicle or a building
Get out To leave a place
Get off To leave a vehicle or a mode of transport
Get on To board a vehicle or a mode of transport
Get by To manage to survive or cope with a difficult situation
Get through To complete a task or a difficult situation
Get ahead To make progress in one’s career or life
Get down To feel sad or depressed
Get together To meet with friends or family
Get out of To avoid doing something
Get back To return to a place
Get around To move from place to place
Get in touch To contact someone
Get away with To do something wrong without being punished
Get rid of To dispose of something
Get on with To continue doing something
Get the hang of To understand how to do something
Get into To become interested in something
Get off on To enjoy something
Get lost To go away or leave someone alone
Get a hold of To obtain or acquire something

Phrasal Verbs with Look

Phrasal Verb Meaning
Look after To take care of someone or something
Look around To explore or examine a place
Look away To avert one’s gaze or attention
Look back To remember or reflect on the past
Look down on To have a negative attitude towards someone or something
Look for To search for something
Look forward to To anticipate or be excited about something in the future
Look into To investigate or examine something
Look out To be careful or watchful
Look over To review or examine something
Look up To search for information or a word in a dictionary
Look up to To admire or respect someone
Look through To browse or examine quickly
Look upon To consider or regard something in a particular way
Look beyond To consider something in a broader context
Look out for To watch out for someone or something
Look to To rely on or seek help from someone
Look in on To visit someone briefly
Look for trouble To intentionally seek out conflict or problems
Look sharp To hurry or be quick
Look someone in the eye To make direct eye contact with someone

Phrasal Verbs with Take

Phrasal Verb Meaning
Take after To resemble or have similar traits to a family member
Take apart To disassemble or break something down into parts
Take away To remove or subtract something
Take back To retract or withdraw something that was said or done
Take down To write or record information
Take in To understand or comprehend something
Take off To leave the ground (for a plane) or to remove clothing
Take on To accept responsibility or a challenge
Take out To remove something or to go on a date with someone
Take over To assume control or responsibility
Take up To begin a new activity or hobby
Take care of To look after or attend to someone or something
Take advantage of To use or exploit a situation for one’s benefit
Take a break To rest or take a pause from an activity
Take a chance To take a risk or gamble
Take a hike To go away or leave
Take a look To examine or inspect something
Take a stand To make a firm decision or position on an issue
Take a step back To pause and reassess a situation
Take a turn To change direction or course
Take it easy To relax or slow down
Take someone for granted To not appreciate or value someone
Take the plunge To take a big risk or make a major decision

Phrasal Verbs with Put

Phrasal Verb Meaning
Put away To tidy up or store something
Put down To criticize or belittle someone
Put off To postpone or delay something
Put on To wear clothing or makeup
Put out To extinguish a fire or to inconvenience someone
Put up To accommodate or host someone
Put together To assemble or create something
Put aside To save or reserve something
Put forward To propose or suggest something
Put in To install or contribute something
Put through To connect or transfer a phone call
Put up with To tolerate or endure something
Put money on To bet on something

Phrasal Verbs with Up

Phrasal Verb Meaning
Add up To make sense or be logical
Back up To support or confirm something
Bring up To raise or mention a topic
Cheer up To make someone feel happier or more positive
Clean up To tidy or clean a space
Dress up To wear formal or fancy clothing
End up To eventually reach or become something
Fix up To repair or improve something
Give up To quit or surrender
Grow up To mature or become an adult
Hang up To end a phone call or to hang clothing on a hook
Hold up To delay or hinder something
Keep up To maintain or continue something
Look up To search for information or to improve
Make up To reconcile or create something
Pick up To lift or collect something
Put up To accommodate or host someone
Show up To arrive or appear
Speak up To speak louder or more confidently
Stand up To rise from a seated position or to defend oneself
Take up To begin a new activity or hobby
Team up To collaborate or work together
Turn up To increase in volume or to appear unexpectedly
Wake up To become alert or to awaken from sleep

Phrasal Verbs with Break

Phrasal Verb Meaning
Break away To escape or separate from a group
Break down To stop functioning or to have an emotional collapse
Break in To wear something in or to interrupt someone
Break into To enter a building or a conversation
Break off To end a relationship or a piece of something
Break out To escape or to start suddenly
Break through To make a breakthrough or to penetrate a barrier
Break up To end a relationship or to disperse a group
Break the ice To initiate conversation or to make a situation less tense
Break the news To inform someone of something important or difficult
Break the rules To violate or disobey established rules
Break the bank To spend or lose a large amount of money
Break a habit To stop doing something that has become routine
Break a leg A superstitious phrase used to wish someone good luck
Break bread To share a meal with someone
Break even To have expenses equal to income
Break ground To begin construction or to make progress
Break the cycle To put an end to a negative pattern
Break the mold To do something different or unconventional
Break the silence To speak up or to end a period of silence
Break the news gently To deliver bad news in a sensitive way
Break ranks To deviate from a group or organization
Break free To escape or to become independent
Break wind To pass gas or to fart (informal)

Phrasal Verbs with Turn

Phrasal Verb Meaning
Turn around To reverse direction or to change one’s attitude
Turn away To refuse or reject something or someone
Turn back To return or to change one’s mind
Turn down To refuse or reject an offer or request
Turn in To submit or hand in something
Turn off To switch off or to disgust someone
Turn on To switch on or to excite someone
Turn out To attend or to produce a result
Turn over To flip or to transfer ownership
Turn to To seek help or advice from someone
Turn up To arrive or to increase in volume
Turn against To become hostile or opposed to someone or something
Turn into To transform or to change into something else
Turn over a new leaf To start fresh or to change one’s behavior
Turn a blind eye To ignore or overlook something
Turn the tables To reverse a situation or outcome
Turn the corner To make progress or to recover from a difficult situation
Turn the page To move on from a past event or situation
Turn up the heat To increase pressure or intensity
Turn heads To attract attention or admiration
Turn a profit To earn money or make a financial gain
Turn the other cheek To forgive or tolerate an offense
Turn to stone To become petrified with fear or shock

Phrasal Verbs with Do

Phrasal Verb Meaning
Do away with To get rid of or eliminate something
Do up To fasten or to renovate something
Do without To manage or survive without something
Do over To redo or to repeat something
Do in To exhaust or to kill someone
Do for To ruin or to defeat someone
Do out of To deprive someone of something
Do up in To dress in fancy or formal clothing
Do the dishes To wash the dishes
Do the laundry To wash and dry clothing
Do time To serve a prison sentence
Do a favor To help someone out
Do a job on To criticize or damage something
Do a number on To deceive or manipulate someone
Do a double take To take a second look or to be surprised
Do business To conduct transactions or to work together
Do drugs To use illegal drugs
Do harm To cause harm or damage
Do justice To treat fairly or to represent accurately
Do research To investigate or study a topic
Do the trick To solve a problem or satisfy a need
Do well To perform successfully or to prosper
Do your best To try your hardest
Do your homework To prepare or research something thoroughly

Phrasal Verbs with Make

Phrasal Verb Meaning
Make up To invent or create something, to reconcile after a disagreement
Make out To see or hear something with difficulty, to understand, to kiss passionately
Make up for To compensate for something, to make amends
Make up one’s mind To decide
Make for To head towards a destination
Make off To leave quickly or secretly
Make do To manage with what one has
Make over To renovate or transform something, to transfer ownership
Make out with To engage in sexual activity with someone
Make a point To emphasize or stress something
Make a difference To have an impact or effect
Make a living To earn money
Make a fool of To embarrass or humiliate someone
Make a break for it To try to escape
Make a mess To create a disorderly or untidy state
Make a scene To cause a public disturbance
Make good To succeed or fulfill a promise
Make light of To treat something as unimportant or insignificant
Make sense To be logical or understandable
Make the most of To take advantage of an opportunity
Make up to To try to gain someone’s favor or affection
Make waves To cause trouble or controversy
Make way for To clear a path for someone or something

These are just a few examples of the many phrasal verbs in the English language. Each phrasal verb consists of a verb and one or more particles that modify the meaning of the verb.

Using Phrasal Verbs in Context

When it comes to using phrasal verbs, context is key. As mentioned in the search results, phrasal verbs can have more than one meaning, and the meaning can change depending on the context. Here are a few tips on how to use phrasal verbs in context:

  • Consider the situation: Think about the situation in which the phrasal verb is being used. Is it a formal or informal situation? Is it a conversation between friends or a business meeting? This can help you determine which phrasal verb to use and how to use it.
  • Look at the surrounding words: Pay attention to the words that come before and after the phrasal verb. This can help you understand the meaning of the phrasal verb in that specific context.
  • Use the correct particle: The particle in a phrasal verb can often change the meaning of the verb. Make sure to use the correct particle in the correct context. For example, “put up with” means to tolerate , while “put up” means to hang something on a wall.
  • Practice: The best way to get better at using phrasal verbs in context is to practice. Read and listen to English in different contexts, and try to use phrasal verbs in your own conversations and writing.

Phrasal Verbs with Prepositions and Adverbs

Phrasal verbs are a common feature of the English language. They are formed by combining a verb with a preposition or adverb to create a new meaning. Prepositions are words like in, on, at, up, down, etc., while adverbs are words that describe verbs. When used in phrasal verbs, prepositions and adverbs can change the meaning of the verb completely.

Phrasal verbs with prepositions and adverbs are often used in everyday English. They can be separable or inseparable, depending on whether the object can be placed between the verb and the particle. Here are some examples:

  • Separable phrasal verb: He turned off the lights. / He turned the lights off.
  • Inseparable phrasal verb: She put on her coat. / She couldn’t put her coat on.

Prepositional verbs are another type of verb that includes a preposition and an object. Unlike phrasal verbs, the object always comes after the preposition. Here are some examples:

  • Prepositional verb: She listened to the radio. / He looked at the picture.

It is important to note that prepositions and adverbs can have different meanings depending on the context in which they are used. For example, the preposition “up” can mean “to increase” in the sentence “The company’s profits are up,” but can mean “to complete” in the sentence “I need to finish up my work.”

Phrasal Verbs Exercises

Exercise 1 : Choose the correct phrasal verb to complete the sentence.

  • I need to _________ up early tomorrow for my flight. a) wake b) wake off c) wake up
  • Can you _________ the music? It’s too loud. a) turn on b) turn up c) turn off
  • I’m going to _________ my old clothes to charity. a) give out b) give up c) give away
  • She _________ her keys and couldn’t find them. a) lost out b) lost off c) lost
  • He always _________ his work until the last minute. a) puts off b) puts up c) puts on

Answers: 1) c, 2) c, 3) c, 4) c, 5) a

Exercise 2 : Rewrite the sentences using the phrasal verbs in brackets.

  • I’m going to stop smoking. (give up)
  • She’s going to start a new job next week. (take on)
  • Can you please explain the concept again? (go over)
  • The teacher postponed the test until next week. (put off)
  • We need to clean the kitchen before the guests arrive. (tidy up)

Answers: 1) I’m going to give up smoking. 2) She’s going to take on a new job next week. 3) Can you please go over the concept again? 4) The teacher put off the test until next week. 5) We need to tidy up the kitchen before the guests arrive.

FAQs on Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs can be tricky to understand, so here are some frequently asked questions to help clarify their meaning and usage.

What are phrasal verbs?

Phrasal verbs are combinations of a verb and one or more particles, such as prepositions or adverbs. Together, they create a new meaning that is different from the individual words used. For example, “take off” means to remove clothing or to leave quickly by airplane.

Are phrasal verbs only used in informal English?

No, phrasal verbs can be used in both formal and informal English. However, they are more common in spoken and informal English than in written and formal English.

How can I tell if a phrasal verb is separable or inseparable?

A separable phrasal verb can have the particle separated from the verb and placed in a different position in the sentence. For example, “I took off my shoes” and “I took my shoes off” are both correct. In contrast, an inseparable phrasal verb cannot be separated, such as “I’m looking forward to the party.”

Are there any rules for using phrasal verbs?

There are no strict rules for using phrasal verbs, but there are some general guidelines to follow. For example, it is important to use the correct particle to convey the intended meaning. Additionally, some phrasal verbs are more common in certain contexts or regions, so it can be helpful to study them in context.

How can I learn and practice phrasal verbs?

One way to learn phrasal verbs is to study them in context, such as in news articles or TV shows. Another way is to use flashcards or quizzes to practice identifying and using phrasal verbs. Additionally, it can be helpful to use phrasal verbs in your own writing and speaking to become more comfortable with them.

Related resources:

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What is a phrasal verb?

A phrasal verb is a verb that is made up of a base verb and one or two particles, such as off , up , or on .

These particles change the meaning of the base verb in various ways. Phrasal verbs are an important part of the English language, and they are often used in everyday conversation and writing.

Common phrasal verbs

Some of the most common verbs used in phrasal verbs include get , take , put , make , and do .

The verb get can be combined with the particle off to form the phrasal verb get off , which means to depart or leave.

We can combine take with on to form the phrasal verb take on , which means to assume or undertake.

Put can be combined with the particle off to form the phrasal verb put off , meaning to postpone or delay.

Make can be combined with up to form the phrasal verb make up – to invent or fabricate.

Do can be combined with the particle over to form the phrasal verb do over , which means to redo or repeat.

Phrasal verbs can be a bit tricky to learn

Phrasal verbs are often quite difficult to learn (or remember) because their meanings are often not directly related to the meanings of the individual words that make them up. However, with practice and exposure, you can become more comfortable with using phrasal verbs in your own communication.

Structure of phrasal verbs
A phrasal verb can be made up of:

Examples of phrasal verbs

  • Phrasal verbs with put put down, put in, put off . . .
  • Phrasal verbs with come come across, come out with, come round . . .
  • Exercises section: Phrasal verbs practice, upper-intermediate level
  • Grammar section: Phrasal verbs vs. prepositional verbs: position of the object
  • Vocabulary section:  10 important phrasal verbs for elementary learners
  • Stuart’s article on phrasal verbs:  Seven ways to make learning phrasal verbs easier
  • Stuart’s article: 4 phrasal verbs with look

Related Posts

  • Phrasal verbs vs. prepositional verbs: position of the object
  • Transitive vs. intransitive phrasal verbs
  • How to learn phrasal verbs more easily
  • Four phrasal verbs with “look”
  • Upper-intermediate vocabulary exercise (B2 level): phrasal verbs with ‘up’
  • Using “it” with phrasal verbs
  • Vocabulary: phrasal verbs with “come”
  • Upper-intermediate vocabulary exercise (B2 level): phrasal verbs – clear up, come up with, drop off, let down, point out
  • 10 important phrasal verbs for elementary learners
  • Upper-intermediate vocabulary exercise (B2 level): phrasal verbs ex. 4

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  • Phrasal Verbs | List, Definition, Examples & Tips

Phrasal Verbs | List, Definition, Examples & Tips

Published on 20 October 2022 by Shane Bryson . Revised on 23 May 2023.

A phrasal verb combines two or more words to describe a specific action. Phrasal verbs can be difficult to get right, as their meaning usually has nothing to do with the definitions of the component words.

This means that   phrasal verbs must be treated   as distinct pieces of vocabulary. You have to learn them as a single unit of meaning, just like you would learn any single word.

Phrasal verbs are very common in everyday speech, but in academic writing, it’s best to replace them with one-word alternatives where possible.

47 phrasal verbs and one-word alternatives

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Table of contents

What is a phrasal verb, when to use phrasal verbs, separating phrasal verbs.

A verb (e.g., ‘It goes ‘) becomes a phrasal verb with the addition of one preposition (e.g., ‘The light goes out ‘) or more (e.g., ‘She goes out with him’). Each additional preposition completely changes the meaning of the verb.

It is very important to remember that a phrasal verb should be considered one unit of meaning, just like a distinct verb. In the above examples, the phrasal verb ‘goes out’ is as different from the verb ‘goes’ as the verb ‘goes’ is different from the verb ‘stays’.

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Although the best choice is usually to avoid phrasal verbs, they are so common that finding adequate replacements every time will be difficult. Change them when you can, and when you  ‘run out’ of ideas for rephrasing, ‘cheer up’, ‘believe in’ yourself, and ‘write down’ your phrasal verbs conscientiously.

Phrasal verbs do have their uses, after all. For example, they convey a casual tone, and while this is not usually desirable in academic writing , the best academic writers can vary their tone at will.

Accordingly, you should think of phrasal verbs as a stylistic option, even though you will often be best advised to eliminate them rather than add them.

Some phrasal verbs can be separated by intervening words, while others have to stay together in the sentence. There is no rule to tell whether a phrasal verb can be separated, so you have to learn by memory and practice – one good reason to avoid them when you can.

One helpful pointer, though, is that phrasal verbs that can be separated must be separated when their object is a pronoun (e.g., it , her , them).

Example: Separable

  • Call the meeting off .
  • Call off the meeting.

Note that if a phrasal verb is separable, it  must  be separated when its object is a pronoun (e.g., it , her , them).

  • Call it off .
  • Call off it.

Example: Inseparable

  • The message didn’t come across well.
  • The message didn’t come well across .

Example: Must be separated

Some phrasal verbs always have to be separated, but this is comparatively rare.

  • Oscar will take Sven up on the offer.
  • Oscar will take up Sven on the offer.

Sources for this article

We strongly encourage students to use sources in their work. You can cite our article (APA Style) or take a deep dive into the articles below.

Bryson, S. (2023, May 23). Phrasal Verbs | List, Definition, Examples & Tips. Scribbr. Retrieved 17 July 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/verb/phrasal-verb/
Aarts, B. (2011).  Oxford modern English grammar . Oxford University Press.
Butterfield, J. (Ed.). (2015).  Fowler’s dictionary of modern English usage  (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.
Garner, B. A. (2016).  Garner’s modern English usage (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.

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Shane Bryson

Shane Bryson

Shane finished his master's degree in English literature in 2013 and has been working as a writing tutor and editor since 2009. He began proofreading and editing essays with Scribbr in early summer, 2014.

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Phrasal Verbs - Meaning, Definition and Examples

Want to know how to speak English in a polished and sophisticated manner? Try using phrasal verbs in the place of normal verbs. As speakers of the English language , we use a lot of verbs and phrasal verbs in our everyday communication. Most of the time, we are not aware that we are making use of these verbs. This article on phrasal verbs will enlighten you with the meaning, definition and examples of phrasal verbs. Try out the practice questions as well to check your understanding of phrasal verbs and their usage.

Table of Contents

Definition of a phrasal verb, types of phrasal verbs, conjugating phrasal verbs, using the right word order, examples of phrasal verbs, check your understanding of phrasal verbs, frequently asked questions on phrasal verbs in english, what are phrasal verbs.

Phrasal verbs can be said to be formed by the combination of a verb and an adverb or a preposition . In some cases, it is a combination of all the three parts of speech – verb, adverb and preposition. Though each of these parts of speech have different functions, they play the role of the verb when they are put together. They can also act as a phrase and that is why these verbs are called phrasal verbs.

The Oxford Learner’s Dictionary defines a phrasal verb as “a verb combined with an adverb or a preposition, or sometimes both, to give a new meaning, for example, ‘go in for’, ‘win over’ and ‘see to’.” According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a phrasal verb is defined as “a phrase (such as take off or look down on) that combines a verb with a preposition or adverb or both, and that functions as a verb whose meaning is different from the combined meanings of the individual words.” The Cambridge Dictionary defines a phrasal verb as “a phrase that consists of a verb with a preposition or adverb or both, the meaning of which is different from the meaning of its separate parts.”

Phrasal verbs can be divided into four main types or rather two main categories based on how they behave when used in sentences. They are:

Transitive Phrasal Verbs

Intransitive phrasal verbs, separable phrasal verbs, inseparable phrasal verbs.

Just like normal transitive verbs , a transitive phrasal verb can be identified by its demand for an object.

For example :

  • It was not possible for Veena to do away with all of it as they brought back so many memories of the past.
  • Can you fill in the required details so that we can move forward with the screening process.

Intransitive phrasal verbs behave exactly like intransitive verbs. They do not require an object to complete the sentence they are used in or make sense of the context.

For example:

  • My car broke down all of a sudden while driving through the ghat section.
  • It has been years since we met, we should definitely catch up.

Separable phrasal verbs include transitive phrasal verbs which have the characteristic property of separating the phrasal verb with the object in between. There is, however, a word order which should be taken into account when separating the phrasal verb.

  • I am not the kind of person who holds all of this against you.
  • Dhiraj is the one who is taking care of the applications for gold loan. Can you please hand it over to him?

Inseparable phrasal verbs, as the name suggests, cannot be separated from each other and have to be used together, no matter what.

  • You will have to account for all the losses that have been incurred.
  • Harish was asked to check out of the hotel before 9 p.m. on Tuesday.

How to Use Phrasal Verbs?

As fun and interesting as it is to use phrasal verbs, there are a few pointers you have to keep in mind when using them in your daily communication. Following a particular word order and conjugating it to represent the tense of the sentence are the two things you have to learn and put into practice.

As far as the conjugation part is concerned, all you have to remember is to employ the same rules of conjugation you would if the verb stands by itself. When the phrasal verb is used as a main verb , you have to conjugate the verb alone according to the respective tense and not change the preposition in the phrasal verb.

  • Heera dropped out of school due to her illness. (Drop out)
  • My friend, Sharon, had broken up with her boyfriend last month. (Break up)
  • The security guard asked around the whole building to know whose car was parked right in front of the gate. (Ask around)
  • I hung out with my friends after the wedding reception. (Hang out)

Note that, in the above sentences, the prepositions remain the same whereas the verbs ‘dropped’, ‘asked’ and ‘hung’ have been conjugated in the simple past form and the verb ‘broken’ has been conjugated in the past participle form. Keep in mind that irregular verbs take the same spellings as they do when used as normal verbs conjugated in the different forms.

Word order comes into the picture mainly when you are attempting to split up the phrasal verbs. Always bear in mind that intransitive phrasal verbs and inseparable phrasal verbs have to be used together. The verb and the participle /preposition should go next to each other.

With separable phrasal verbs, it is different. They are transitive and always have a direct object to complete them. You can separate the phrasal verb by putting the direct object in between the verb and the preposition.

  • Kate let me down when she did not show up for my court hearing.

Some phrasal verbs will always require to be separated by the direct object in between.

  • We are very glad that we have you around during this difficult time.

When noun phrases act as the object, it can also be placed in between the verb and the preposition.

  • He was asked to leave all of it out for approval.

Phrasal verbs are most often a topic that confuses a lot of people, especially second language learners and new learners of the language. Since the multiple words used in a phrasal verb have different meanings and have a completely different meaning when used together, they end up being a slightly puzzling topic for some.

Phrasal verbs can be conjugated to suit the tense of the sentence and can be used like a normal verb. Here are a few examples of phrasal verbs. Identify how many of them you know and how often you use them in your regular communication.

Give up – combination of a verb (give) and a preposition (up)

Individually, the verb ‘give’ means to give something to someone and the preposition ‘up’ shows the position of some object. The magic happens or the confusion begins when both the verb and the preposition are used together. The phrasal ‘give up’ means to surrender or to stop making an effort in doing something.

Let us look at how the phrasal verb ‘give up’ can be conjugated to represent the different verb forms in English.

  • Simple Past Form

The captain gave up at the last quarter.

  • Infinitive Form

It was not easy for the coach to give up trying to encourage the team even in such a hopeless situation.

  • Gerund Form

Giving up is not the solution to the problem, it is just the easiest choice.

  • Past Participle Form

I have given up on them.

Fill in the blanks by choosing the most appropriate phrasal verbs from the list of phrasal verbs given below. Conjugate them to suit the tense of the sentence.

(stand for, narrow down, hold on, run into, check out, go through, fall apart, pull off, fill in, hold against)

1. Make sure you _________ of the hotel at the right time, else they will charge you extra.

2. Levin was asked to _______ for Suresh.

3. ________ the whole itinerary before you make a decision.

4. Tom and Jerry ___________ after their last meeting.

5. Please _________ for a minute, I forgot to take my car keys.

6. It is not good to _______ such a silly issue _______ her for so many years.

7. Do you think Andreah would be able to _____ it _____ all by herself?

8. We have _____________ the possibilities of them finding us.

9. Do you know who we _______ on our way here?

10. Nelson Mandela ________ for the rights of his people.

Check your answers here.

1. Make sure you check out of the hotel at the right time, else they will charge you extra.

2. Levin was asked to fill in for Suresh.

3. Go through the whole itinerary before you make a decision.

4. Tom and Jerry fell apart after their last meeting.

5. Please hold on for a minute, I forgot to take my car keys.

6. It is not good to hold such a silly issue against her for so many years.

7. Do you think Andreah would be able to pull it off all by herself?

8. We have narrowed down the possibilities of them finding us.

9. Do you know who we ran into on our way here?

10. Nelson Mandela stood up for the rights of his people.

What are phrasal verbs?

Phrasal verbs can be said to be formed by the combination of a verb and an adverb or a preposition. In some cases, it is a combination of all the three parts of speech – verb, adverb and preposition. Though each of these parts of speech have different functions, they play the role of the verb when they are put together. They can also act as a phrase and that is why these verbs are called phrasal verbs.

What is the definition of a phrasal verb?

The Oxford Learner’s Dictionary defines a phrasal verb as “a verb combined with an adverb or a preposition, or sometimes both, to give a new meaning, for example, go in for’, ‘win over’ and ‘see to’.” According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a phrasal verb is defined as “a phrase (such as take off or look down on) that combines a verb with a preposition or adverb or both, and that functions as a verb whose meaning is different from the combined meanings of the individual words.” The Cambridge Dictionary defines a phrasal verb as “a phrase that consists of a verb with a preposition or adverb or both, the meaning of which is different from the meaning of its separate parts.”

Give some examples of phrasal verbs.

Here are some examples of phrasal verbs which you can use in your daily communication – stand up, go through, check in, fall apart, make up, stop over, put up with, do away with, hold up, get through, give in, etc.

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210+ Most Common English Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs are when we combine a verb with a preposition of another grammatical element, and end up with a completely new meaning.

They’re used constantly by native speakers in spoken and written English, which makes them important to know.

In this English phrasal verbs list, we’ll show you 210+ of the most common phrasal verbs , with audio and example sentences included.

Afterwards, you’ll find a complete lesson on what phrasal verbs are, how to form them and how to learn them effectively.

Before we jump into the list, here’s a quick video explanation: 

The Most Common English Phrasal Verbs

Separable, transitive phrasal verbs, inseparable, transitive phrasal verbs, inseparable, intransitive phrasal verbs, more useful english phrasal verbs, what is a phrasal verb, types of phrasal verbs .

  • Transitive 

Intransitive

Inseparable, how to use phrasal verbs, conjugation, and one more thing....

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

To start off, we’ll be going over the top English phrasal verbs that you’ll hear in everyday situations. You can get a taster with this video, which features 15 useful English phrasal verbs (plus example sentences):  

Here’s a more detailed list of common English phrasal verbs, but right before the list, there’s two things you need to know about phrasal verbs in English:

  • They can be separable or inseparable
  • They can be transitive or intransitive (like all verbs in English)

I’ll go over these concepts more just after these handy lists!

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phrasal verb speech meaning

1. Pay back — To give someone back money that you owe

Thanks for getting me lunch when I forgot my wallet at home! I’ll pay you back tomorrow.

2. Give out (1) — To hand out or distribute something

He has a lot of contacts because he gives out his business card to everyone he meets.

3. Look up — To check the meaning of something

If you don’t know the meaning of a word, you should look it up in the dictionary.

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phrasal verb speech meaning

4. Give up — To stop trying, surrender

After two weeks of trying to build my own table, I gave up and just bought one.

5. Give away — To hand things out for free

When Linda’s cat had kittens, she gave them all away to good homes.

6. Hold back — To stop yourself from doing or saying something

Amy has a great voice, but whenever she’s singing in public, she feels shy and holds back .

7. Drop off — To take someone or something somewhere and leave them/it there

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phrasal verb speech meaning

Can you drop me off at the grocery store on your way home?

8. Work (something) out — To come up with a solution or a compromise

Don’t worry, I’m sure we can work something out so that everyone is happy.

9. Drop in — To visit someone without making an appointment

Drop in to my office anytime.

10. Check out — To see or try something out to learn more about it

Check out my new car!

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phrasal verb speech meaning

11. Take out (1) — To remove something, like from a pocket or a bag

The children sat at their desks and took out their pens and paper.

12. Take out (2) — To take someone on a date

He took her out to the most expensive restaurant in the city.

13. Turn on / Turn off — To switch a machine or light on or off

Turn off the light, I’m trying to sleep!

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phrasal verb speech meaning

14. Cheer on — To support someone through words of encouragement

Even though Samantha was in last place, her brother cheered her on through the entire race.

15. Fill in (for someone) — To do someone else’s job temporarily

Can you fill in for me while I’m on vacation?

16. Put out (1) — To extinguish a fire.

The firefighters managed to put out the fire before it spread to other houses.

phrasal verb speech meaning

17. Put out (2) — To irritate someone by asking them for a favor

I’d ask you to make me dinner but I don’t want to put you out .

18. Put on — To get your clothes or makeup on

Every morning she puts on her dress, lipstick, shoes and hat—in that order.

19. Take off (1) — To remove clothing

She was very happy when she finally got home and took off her shoes. They had been hurting her feet all day!

20. Fill out — To complete a form by providing required information

Please fill out the application form and submit it by Friday.

21. Cheer up — To show support to someone who seems sad or to try to make someone happier

Andrew was having a bad day, so his girlfriend cheered him up by taking him out for ice cream.

22. Cut off — To interrupt or stop something

His father is rich but he cut him off without any money of his own.

23. Cut (it) out — To stop it

Hey , cut it out ! I was watching that movie, so stop changing the channel!

24. Call off — To cancel something

We had to call off the picnic because of the rain.

25. Bring up — To mention something

Mark was sick and had to miss the party, so please don’t bring it up , I don’t want him to feel bad for missing it.

26. Bring on — To cause something to happen, usually something negative

His lung cancer was brought on by years of smoking.

27. Bring it on! — To accept a challenge with confidence

You want to have a race? Bring it on ! I can beat you!

28. Call on (1) — To visit someone

I’ll call on you this evening to see how you’re feeling.

29. Warm up to — To start liking someone or something more as you spend more time with them

The new puppy was scared of my husband when we first got him, but he warmed up to him pretty quickly.

30. Come across — To meet or find by chance

I was cleaning the attic and I came across my high school uniform. Can you believe it still fits?

31. Get back at — To get revenge on someone

Her ex-husband took her house so she got back at him by taking his dogs.

32. Go out with — To go on a date with someone

Sarah was so happy when Peter finally asked her to go out with him!

33. Log in — To sign in to your account on a website or computer

Don’t forget to log in to your account to learn English better and faster.

34. Pay for — To give someone money for a particular purpose

She used her credit card to  pay for the hotel reservation. 

35. Pay for — To suffer because of something you did.

He’ll pay for all the problems he caused me by being late today!

36. Fall for (someone) — To fall in love with someone

He fell for her the moment he saw her.

37. Cut in — To interrupt a conversation or activity

The teacher cut him in and asked him to explain the answer to the class.

38. Call on (2) — To use someone’s or something’s knowledge

I may need to call on the university’s excellent professors in order to answer your question.

39. Come up (with something) — To think of an idea

I came up with this idea for a TV show about a woman living with her best friend and daughter. I call it ‘Two and a Half Women.’

40. Drop out — To quit or stop participating in something

She was a straight-A student, but she dropped out of college to pursue her dream of becoming an artist.

41. Log out / Log off — To sign out of your account

You should always log out of your accounts when you use a public computer.

42. Look out — To watch out for something

Look out , there’s a baseball coming your way!

43. Come up (1) — To bring up a topic

I wanted to tell her that I got a new job but the chance never came up .

44. Come up (2) — When something happens unexpectedly

I was going to meet my friends for dinner, but something came up so I had to cancel.

45. Come in — To enter

‘ Come in , the door is open!’ said the grandmother to the wolf.

46. Come forward — To volunteer information about something, like a crime

The police are encouraging people to come forward with any information about the kidnapped girl.

47. Check in — To register at a hotel for a stay

We haven’t checked in at the hotel yet.

I was in the neighborhood, so I decided to drop in on my sister and see how she was doing.

48. End up — To eventually be in a particular place or situation

After driving around for hours, we finally ended up at the beach.

49. Fall apart — To stop working or break into pieces

The old chair fell apart when I sat on it.

50. Fall down — To collapse or fall to the ground

The little girl tripped and fell down the stairs.

51. Fall off — To decline in quality or quantity

Sales fell off during the holiday season.

52. Give out (2) — To break down or stop working

The city had to rebuild the bridge completely because it was about to give out and fall down.

53. Go ahead — To go in front of someone, or to give permission

You can go ahead and start the meeting without me.

54. Grow up — To tell someone to stop acting childish

Some people tell Steve he needs to grow up , but he loves acting like a child.

55. Grow apart — To get distant from someone, like a friend

When my friend moved to a different country, I tried to stay close with her, but we slowly grew apart .

56. Hang on — To keep something

When everyone else was getting fired, Paul managed to hang on to his job.

57. Hang out — To spend time with someone, casually

My friends and I used to hang out in the park after school.

58. Hang up — To end a phone call, especially if before the other person is ready

I was in the middle of a sentence, and he hung up on me! How rude.

59. Hold on (1) — To hold something tightly

You’d better hold on to your hat; it’s windy out there!

60. Hold on (2) — To ask someone to wait for a moment

Hold on , I’ll be right back. 

61. Give in — To surrender, especially in a fight or argument

Ben’s mother gave in and let him stay out late with his friends.

62. Take off (2) — To leave for a journey

The plane will  take off in a few minutes. 

63. Turn around — To move so you’re facing the opposite direction

Sally was about to get on the plane, but she turned around when someone called her name.

64. Turn up — When something that was lost is found unexpectedly

Anything I lose usually turns up under the couch. It’s my cat’s favorite hiding place.

65. Work out — To exercise

I try to work out every morning, by repeatedly lifting a heavy donut to my mouth.

Phrasal VerbMeaningExample Type
To perform a role or behavior a scene from the play.Separable, transitive
To behave inappropriately or malfunction and froze.Inseparable, intransitive
To request or invite someone to do something help with this difficult task.Inseparable, transitive
To support or assist someone or something your claims with evidence?Separable, transitive
To reverse or move backward the car so I can park?Separable, transitive / intransitive
To be suited or suited for a particular role or occupation a career in medicine.Inseparable, transitive
To explode or burst into pieces in the sky tonight.Inseparable, intransitive
To lose one's temper or become angry at his colleague during the meeting.Inseparable, intransitive
To escape or separate from a group or organization from their captors.Inseparable, intransitive
To enter a building or place forcibly or illegally to the house.Inseparable, intransitive
To end a relationship or conversation abruptly their engagement.Separable, transitive
To escape or start suddenly and violently in the city center.Inseparable, intransitive
To overcome an obstacle or make a significant achievement the language barrier.Inseparable, transitive / intransitive
To bring someone or something with you your passport.Separable, transitive
To introduce or earn a certain amount of money new customers with the marketing campaign.Separable, transitive
To dismiss or ignore someone or something casually my suggestion and continued with his plan.Separable, transitive
To develop or expand on something already existing the success of our previous project.Inseparable, transitive
To require or demand something immediate action.Inseparable, transitive
To request someone's presence or services to investigate the crime scene.Separable, transitive
To shout or say something loudly and clearly the answer to the question.Separable, transitive
To make a telephone call the restaurant and make a reservation.Separable, transitive
To become overly excited or emotional in a situation and spent all her savings on the shopping spree.Inseparable, intransitive
To continue or proceed with an activity or action with our plans despite the challenges.Inseparable, intransitive
To complete or perform a task or action a thorough investigation.Separable, transitive
To understand or grasp something, usually quickly to the new concept.Inseparable, intransitive
To mark or indicate that something has been completed or verified the items on the list as we go.Separable, transitive
To review or examine something carefully the document for any errors.Separable, transitive
To verify or investigate the condition or progress of something your recovery.Inseparable, transitive
To empty or remove the contents of something the garage and get rid of old items.Separable, transitive
To tidy or make something clean and neat the room before the guests arrive.Separable, transitive
To happen or occur , but I'm glad it did.Inseparable, intransitive
To make progress or improve ?Inseparable, intransitive
To accompany or join someone to the party with me?Inseparable, intransitive
To return to a place or situation and visit us next year.Inseparable, intransitive
To obtain or acquire something some concert tickets for tonight.Inseparable, intransitive
To move from a higher to a lower position the stairs.Inseparable, intransitive
To criticize or reprimand someone heavily him for consistently being late to work.Inseparable, transitive
To become ill with a particular illness or condition the flu and had to stay home from work.Inseparable, transitive
To offer oneself for a task, position, or help and speak to the authorities.Inseparable, intransitive
To enter a place .Inseparable, intransitive
To succeed or be accomplished really well.Inseparable, intransitive
To detach or be removed from something .Inseparable, intransitive
To encourage or urge someone , you can do it!Inseparable, intransitive
To be revealed or made public after years of speculation.Inseparable, intransitive
To visit someone's place to my house this weekend?Inseparable, intransitive
To arise or occur and I couldn't pass it up.Inseparable, intransitive
To produce or provide something, especially an idea or solution a plan to solve this problem.Inseparable, transitive
To rely on or trust someone or something me for support.Inseparable, transitive
To reduce the amount or quantity of something caffeine.Inseparable, transitive
To handle or manage a situation or problem this issue immediately.Inseparable, transitive
To eliminate or get rid of something unnecessary paperwork.Inseparable, transitive
To fasten or decorate something her hair and put on a beautiful dress for the party.Inseparable, transitive
To wear formal or fancy clothing for a special occasion for the wedding.Separable, transitive
To consume all the food his entire meal in just a few minutes.Inseparable, transitive
To rely on something as a last resort or backup my savings.Inseparable, transitive
To collapse inward or form a line or formation after years of neglect.Inseparable, intransitive
To have a disagreement or argument over a trivial issue and stopped speaking to each other.Inseparable, intransitive
To unintentionally drop an object of her pocket.Inseparable, intransitive
To fail to happen or be completed as planned due to bad weather.Inseparable, intransitive
To understand or solve something the solution to the puzzle.Separable, transitive
To discover or obtain information what time the meeting starts.Separable, transitive / intransitive
To have a harmonious relationship or rapport with someone her coworkers very well.Inseparable, transitive / intransitive
To escape or go on a vacation from the city and relax at the beach.Inseparable, intransitive
To manage or survive with the available resources or income with their current budget.Inseparable, intransitive
To enter or arrive at a place before the meeting starts.Inseparable, intransitive
To leave or disembark from a vehicle or transportation the bus at the next stop.Inseparable, transitive / intransitive
To make progress or continue with his work.Inseparable, transitive / intransitive
To have a good relationship or get along with someone my coworkers.Inseparable, transitive
To leave or to remove something of this dangerous situation.Separable, transitive / intransitive
To recover from an illness or emotional distress the loss of her pet.Inseparable, transitive
To finish or complete today.Inseparable, transitive / intransitive
To emit or produce a pleasant fragrance.Inseparable, transitive
To leave or depart and leave me alone?Inseparable, intransitive
To return to a previous location or time to visit our hometown every summer.Inseparable, intransitive
To pass or elapse so quickly when you're having fun.Inseparable, intransitive
To continue or proceed with your presentation.Inseparable, intransitive
To leave one's place of residence or to socialize for entertainment for dinner tonight.Inseparable, intransitive
To experience or endure a lot of difficulties to achieve her goals.Inseparable, transitive
To match or be suitable for my dress perfectly.Separable, transitive
To distribute or give worksheets to the students.Inseparable, intransitive
To linger or wait around in the park after school.Inseparable, intransitive
To spend time in a place without any specific purpose the mall when we were teenagers.Inseparable, intransitive
To wait or remain on the line while I transfer your call.Inseparable, intransitive
To retain or maintain something within a confined space or boundary
his emotions and rarely shows them.Separable, Transitive
To continue doing something trying.Separable, transitive
To maintain the same pace or level as the latest technological advancements.Separable, transitive / intransitive
To demolish or destroy the old building and construct a new one.Separable, transitive
To terminate someone's employment several employees due to financial problems.Separable, transitive
To omit or exclude an important detail in her report.Separable, transitive
To disappoint or fail someone us when he didn't show up.
Separable, transitive
To allow someone to enter me the room; I forgot my key.Separable, transitive
To release or excuse from a punishment him with a warning.Separable, transitive
To take care of or watch over her younger siblings while their parents are away.Inseparable, transitive
To view with contempt or consider inferior people who don't have a college education.Inseparable, transitive
To anticipate or be excited about our vacation next month.Inseparable, transitive
To investigate or examine the matter and take appropriate action.Inseparable, transitive
To watch or be vigilant for something or someone any signs of danger.Inseparable, transitive
To admire or respect someone my older sister for her achievements.Inseparable, transitive
To understand or see something unclear or distant the words on the sign from here.Separable, transitive
To engage in passionate kissing in the park.Inseparable, intransitive
To invent or create a story or excuse a silly excuse for being late.Separable, transitive
To reconcile or restore a friendly relationship and be friends again.Inseparable, intransitive
To confuse or mistake something or someone our names.Separable, transitive
To die last night.Inseparable, intransitive
To transmit or convey something the message to the team.Separable, transitive
To faint or lose consciousness temporarily during the presentation.Inseparable, intransitive
To miss or decline an opportunity the chance to travel the world.Separable, transitive
To result in success or bring a positive outcome when he won the competition.Inseparable, intransitive
To give someone the money owed, usually to settle a debt. his debts and became debt-free.Separable, transitive
To choose or select something a beautiful dress for the party.Separable, transitive
To collect or gather something or someone some groceries on your way home?Separable, transitive
To indicate or draw attention to something or someone the mistake in the report.Separable, transitive
To succeed in achieving something difficult or impressive a flawless performance on stage.Separable, transitive
To propose or suggest something a new idea for the project.Separable, transitive
To postpone or delay something the meeting until next week.Separable, transitive
To tolerate or endure something his constant complaining.Inseparable, transitive
To assemble or display their artwork for the gallery show.
Separable, transitive
To escape or flee from a place or situation from home.Inseparable, intransitive
To meet or encounter someone by chance an old friend at the grocery store.Inseparable, transitive
To leave quickly or suddenly without saying goodbye.Inseparable, intransitive
To use up or exhaust the supply of something milk, so I need to go to the store.Inseparable, transitive / intransitive
To start a journey or trip early in the morning to avoid traffic.Inseparable, intransitive
To trigger or initiate something, such as a series of events a heated debate among the panelists.Inseparable, transitive
To establish or arrange something a new business together.Separable, transitive / intransitive
To calm down or become established in a stable life in a small town.Inseparable, intransitive
To become accustomed or get comfortable in a new place their new home.Inseparable, transitive / intransitive
To pay a debt or resolve financial matters the bill before leaving the restaurant.Inseparable, transitive
To display or demonstrate one's skills or possessions his new car to everyone.Separable, transitive / intransitive
To arrive or appear, especially unexpectedly or at a specified time at the party wearing a stunning dress.Inseparable, intransitive
To close or stop the operation of a business or system its manufacturing plant.Separable, transitive / intransitive
To dismiss or reject an idea, proposal, or argument his suggestion.Separable, transitive
To take a seat or position oneself comfortably and discuss the details of the project.Inseparable, intransitive
To be noticeably different or exceptional among the other contestants.Inseparable, intransitive
To confront or resist someone or something the bully.Inseparable, transitive
To remain or stay in a place or situation until I finish this task?Inseparable, intransitive
To resemble or have similar traits as someone her mother in terms of looks and personality.Inseparable, transitive
To disassemble or dismantle something the furniture before moving it.Separable, transitive
To retract or withdraw a statement or offer what I said earlier.Separable, transitive
To return something to its original location or owner this book to the library?Separable, transitive
To write or record something the important points of the meeting.Separable, transitive
To understand or comprehend something all the information at once.Separable, transitive
To undertake or accept a responsibility or challenge the project despite the difficulties.Separable, transitive
To assume control or become dominant the department next week.Inseparable, transitive
To start or begin a hobby, activity, or occupation playing the piano.Separable, transitive
To discuss or consider something with others the details of the project.Separable, transitive
To consider or reflect on something your proposal.Separable, transitive
To discard or get rid of something the old magazines.Separable, transitive
To attempt to achieve or obtain something a promotion at work.Inseparable, transitive
To test or experiment with wearing something the dress before buying it.Separable, transitive
To test or evaluate something the new software.Separable, transitive
To reject or refuse an offer or request the job offer because of the low salary. Separable, transitive
To deplete or exhaust the supply or quantity of something all the printer ink.Inseparable, transitive
To stop sleeping and become conscious early in the morning.Inseparable, intransitive
To leave or abandon a situation or relationship from the argument.Inseparable, intransitive
To leave suddenly or in protest during the boring performance.Inseparable, intransitive
To be cautious or vigilant for the step, it's slippery.Inseparable, intransitive
To gradually fade or disappear in a few hours.Inseparable, intransitive
To eliminate or reduce through physical activity or effort the extra calories I consumed.Separable, transitive
To develop or generate a particular feeling or state the courage to ask her out.Separable, transitive
To record or write something on paper the important details.Separable, transitive
To consider something as a loss or failure the damaged goods.Separable, transitive
To write a report, summary, or account of something the meeting minutes.Separable, transitive
To fasten or close a zipper her jacket before going outside.Separable, transitive

As you’ve probably figured out from the lists above, a phrasal verb is a phrase that’s made up of a verb and another word or two—usually a preposition but sometimes an adverb . The same verb can be used in several phrasal verbs, such as give in, give away  and  give up, but the meaning will be different. 

There are also phrasal verbs that you’re more likely to say with friends ( hang out ,  cut it out ), while others are pretty common at work emails and meetings:  

To understand phrasal verbs, it’s important to know what verbs , prepositions and adverbs are.

  • A verb is an action word. It describes something happening (e.g. hearing, seeing ), a state of being (e.g. to live, to sleep ) or an action being done (e.g. to read, to sing ).
  • A preposition  describes the relationship between two words. For example, the bees are above the table or under the table, but not inside the table (hopefully). Prepositions mainly deal with location or direction (e.g. on, through, around) and time (e.g. “by” or “around” a certain time).
  • An adverb is a word that describes a verb. For example, you can run quickly or slowly  and arrive to class early or late .

You put these words together to form phrasal verbs. 

It’s easier than you think. For example, you probably already know the phrase “come on”—that’s a phrasal verb!

The word “come,” on its own, means to move towards something. Together with the preposition “on,” though, the phrase “come on” becomes a phrase of encouragement.

If the idea of phrasal verbs still takes some getting used to, you can pick them up more naturally by watching English movies , TV clips  or online videos and then trying to notice the phrasal verbs that come up. English shows make great material for this because they often use everyday language.

Sometimes it can be tricky to do on your own, though. As an English learning resource, FluentU makes this more approachable. 

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Phrasal verbs are such an important part of English that you’ll hear them everywhere!

As mentioned above, phrasal verbs can be either transitive or intransitive and separable or inseparable. 

Transitive  

Transitive phrasal verbs have a direct object (a thing or person that’s being acted on).

For example, let’s take the phrasal verb “put on”:

She’ll put on some makeup before stepping on stage.

In this sentence, “some makeup” is the direct object. You can’t say “she’ll put on before stepping on stage” because with transitive verbs, there needs to be a direct object—what exactly is she putting on? 

Here are some other transitive phrasal verbs:

We’re already indoors, take off your hat. 

This is really tough, but the team’s confident that they can work out a solution. 

I’m ready for this challenge, bring it on !

On the other hand, intransitive phrasal verbs don’t have a direct object. You can just use them in a sentence as is:

          When I’ve had a really good nap, it’s hard to get up !

          My friends want to hang out at this interesting café that just opened.

Separable phrasal verbs are phrasal verbs that can be split up, with a word or phrase in the middle:

Since you weren’t at the party yesterday, I’ll fill you in on the funny things that happened.

He had to take his jacket off  because he was sweating. 

One thing to remember is that separable phrasal verbs are always transitive—it’s the direct object that gets inserted into the middle of the phrase.

Usually, if the direct object is a noun, the word order is a bit more flexible. You can place it either inside the phrasal verb or simply add it afterwards: 

I’m going to turn my phone off because there’s no signal here in the mountains. 

I’m going to turn off my phone because there’s no signal here in the mountains.

There’s an exception to this, though. If the direct object is a pronoun (me, you, he, she, it, them), it would have to be inserted into the phrasal verb:

Correct: We brought a gift to cheer her up .

Incorrect: We brought a gift to cheer up her. 

With inseparable phrasal verbs, you can’t break them up! If there’s a direct object, it has to come after the phrasal verb, even if it’s a pronoun:

Correct: Can you stay nearby so we can call on you if an emergency happens? 

Incorrect: Can you stay nearby so we can call you on if an emergency happens? 

Inseparable phrasal verbs can be either transitive or intransitive:

She came across her old school photos and felt surprised about how different she looked back then. (Transitive)

As a teenager, he was excited to grow up and live in his own apartment. (Intransitive)

The catch is that there’s no definite way to tell whether a phrasal verb is separable or inseparable, so if you encounter a new phrasal verb, you’ll have to observe how it’s used! 

Phrasal verbs are used just like verbs—you can use them anywhere they make sense.

First, you have to remember if a phrasal verb is separable or inseparable.

Inseparable verbs need to have the verb and preposition said together, like in the phrase fall down.

For separable verbs, though, you can also separate the verb and the preposition by putting other words in between them—both ways are correct. For example:

T urn off the TV

Turn the TV off

The verb part of the phrase should be changed depending on the tense and subject of the sentence . For example, take out can transform like this:

He  took out  his water bottle from his bag.  (Past tense)

She  takes out  the trash every Thursday. (Present tense)

They often take out their dog for a walk in the park. (Present tense)

I’ll take out the boxes from the storage room tomorrow. (Future tense)

Here’s another example (call off) :

They called off the meeting due to a scheduling conflict. (Past tense)

We’re calling off our plans to go hiking because it might rain. (Present continuous tense)

She will call off the event if not enough people RSVP. (Future tense)

How many of these English phrasal verbs did you already know? Phrasal verbs are everywhere! Don’t be afraid of how many there are—just start with a few at a time and soon you’ll be an expert.

If you like learning English through movies and online media, you should also check out FluentU. FluentU lets you learn English from popular talk shows, catchy music videos and funny commercials , as you can see here:

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100 Phrasal Verbs, Meanings and Example - wordscoach.com

100 Phrasal Verbs, Meanings and Example Sentences

100 phrasal verbs.

Phrasal verbs are an essential part of English grammar and are commonly used in daily conversations. They consist of a verb and a preposition or adverb, and their meanings can often be quite different from the individual words.

In this list, we have compiled 100 common phrasal verbs along with their meanings and example sentences to help you understand and use them correctly in your own writing and speaking.

  • Ask out – to invite someone on a date Example: He finally asked her out to dinner.
  • Back up – to support or defend someone or something Example: I will back you up on this decision.
  • Break down – to stop working properly Example: My car broke down on the way to work.
  • Bring up – to mention something in conversation Example: I don’t like to bring up politics at the dinner table.
  • Call off – to cancel an event or meeting Example: They had to call off the meeting because of bad weather.
  • Carry on – to continue doing something Example: He told her to carry on with her work.
  • Catch up – to reach the same level as someone or something else Example: I need to catch up on my reading.
  • Check in – to arrive and register at a hotel, airport or hospital Example: We need to check in at the hotel before we go sightseeing.
  • Cheer up – to make someone feel better Example: I tried to cheer him up by telling him a joke.
  • Clean up – to tidy and clean a place Example: We need to clean up the kitchen before guests arrive.
  • Come across – to find or meet unexpectedly Example: I came across an old friend on my way to work.
  • Come up with – to think of or suggest an idea or plan Example: We need to come up with a new marketing strategy.
  • Count on – to rely on someone or something Example: I can always count on my best friend to help me.
  • Cut off – to stop or interrupt someone or something Example: The teacher cut off the student in the middle of his sentence.
  • Deal with – to handle or manage a problem or situation Example: I need to deal with this issue before it becomes worse.
  • Do away with – to get rid of something Example: They decided to do away with the old furniture and buy new.
  • Dress up – to wear formal clothes or make oneself look better Example: She likes to dress up for special occasions.
  • Drop off – to take someone or something to a particular place Example: I need to drop off the package at the post office.
  • End up – to finally reach or do something Example: They ended up staying home instead of going to the party.
  • Fall apart – to break into pieces or fail completely Example: The old car finally fell apart after years of use.
  • Fill in – to provide information that is missing or incomplete Example: I had to fill in the missing details on the form.
  • Find out – to discover or learn something Example: I need to find out what time the movie starts.
  • Get along – to have a good relationship with someone Example: I get along well with my colleagues.
  • Get away – to escape or take a break from something Example: I need to get away from work for a few days.
  • Get back – to return to a place or activity Example: He will get back to work on Monday.
  • Get by – to manage to live or do something with limited resources Example: They were able to get by on very little money.
  • Get off – to leave a vehicle or mode of transportation Example: We need to get off the train at the next stop.
  • Get on – to board a vehicle or mode of transportation Example: We need to get on the bus before it leaves.
  • Get out – to leave a place or situation Example: I need to get out of this meeting.
  • Get over – to recover from an illness or emotional experience Example: It took him a long time to get over his breakup.
  • Give up – to stop doing something or trying to achieve something Example: She decided to give up smoking.
  • Go ahead – to proceed or continue with something Example: You can go ahead and start the presentation.
  • Go out – to leave one’s home to go somewhere, usually for social reasons Example: We’re planning to go out for dinner tonight.
  • Grow up – to become an adult or mature Example: He needs to grow up and start taking responsibility.
  • Hand out – to distribute something to a group of people Example: She handed out the brochures at the conference.
  • Hang up – to end a phone call Example: He hung up on me before I could finish speaking.
  • Hold on – to wait or pause for a moment Example: Please hold on while I transfer your call.
  • Keep up – to maintain a certain level or pace Example: It’s important to keep up with your studies.
  • Knock out – to defeat or render unconscious Example: The boxer knocked out his opponent in the first round.
  • Look after – to take care of someone or something Example: She looks after her younger siblings.
  • Look up – to search for information in a reference source Example: I need to look up the meaning of that word.
  • Make up – to invent or fabricate something, or to reconcile after an argument Example: He made up a story to explain his absence.
  • Mess up – to make a mistake or create a mess Example: I accidentally messed up the report.
  • Pass away – to die Example: Her grandfather passed away last week.
  • Pay back – to return money that is owed Example: He promised to pay back the loan by next month.
  • Pick up – to lift or collect something, or to improve or learn something quickly Example: She picked up the book from the table.
  • Point out – to draw attention to something or someone Example: He pointed out the mistake in the report.
  • Put off – to postpone or delay something Example: They decided to put off the meeting until next week.
  • Put up with – to tolerate or endure something unpleasant Example: She can’t put up with the noise from the construction site anymore.
  • Read out – to read aloud Example: She read out the names of the winners.
  • Run into – to meet someone unexpectedly Example: I ran into an old friend at the mall.
  • Set up – to arrange or establish something Example: They set up a meeting to discuss the new project.
  • Show off – to display one’s abilities or possessions to impress others Example: He likes to show off his new car.
  • Sort out – to resolve a problem or organize something Example: We need to sort out the issue with the supplier.
  • Stand by – to support or be loyal to someone or something Example: I will stand by you no matter what.
  • Stand out – to be noticeable or outstanding Example: Her bright red coat made her stand out in the crowd.
  • Take off – to remove clothing, or to become popular or successful Example: She took off her shoes and sat down.
  • Take on – to accept a challenge or responsibility Example: She decided to take on the new project.
  • Take over – to gain control or authority over something Example: The new manager took over the department last month.
  • Talk over – to discuss something in detail with someone Example: We need to talk over the plans for the weekend.
  • Tear up – to rip into pieces Example: She tore up the letter in anger.
  • Think over – to consider something carefully before making a decision Example: He needs to think over the job offer before accepting it.
  • Throw away – to discard or dispose of something Example: She threw away the old magazines.
  • Try on – to wear clothing to see if it fits or looks good Example: She tried on several dresses before finding the perfect one.
  • Turn down – to refuse or reject something or someone Example: He turned down the job offer because of the low salary.
  • Turn up – to arrive or appear unexpectedly Example: He turned up at the party uninvited.
  • Use up – to exhaust or deplete a supply of something Example: We used up all the paper in the printer.
  • Wait for – to remain in a place until someone or something arrives Example: I will wait for you at the entrance.
  • Wake up – to stop sleeping and become alert or conscious Example: He wakes up early every morning.
  • Warm up – to prepare the body for exercise or activity, or to become friendlier or more enthusiastic Example: She always warms up with stretching before running.
  • Watch out – to be careful or cautious Example: Watch out for that slippery patch of ice.
  • Wear out – to become worn or exhausted Example: His shoes were worn out from all the walking.
  • Work out – to exercise or train, or to solve a problem Example: She likes to work out at the gym every day.
  • Write down – to record something in writing Example: He wrote down the phone number on a piece of paper.
  • Zip up – to close a zipper or fastener Example: She zipped up her jacket to keep warm.
  • Act out – to express one’s emotions or feelings through behavior Example: The child was acting out because he was upset.
  • Back up – to support or provide assistance, or to make a copy of data Example: She backed up her important files on an external hard drive.
  • Blow up – to explode or increase suddenly, or to become angry Example: The balloon blew up when she tried to inflate it.
  • Break down – to stop functioning, or to become emotional and start crying Example: The car broke down on the highway.
  • Bring up – to raise or mention a topic, or to raise a child Example: She brought up the issue during the meeting.
  • Brush up on – to review or improve one’s skills or knowledge of something Example: He needs to brush up on his French before his trip to Paris.
  • Burn down – to completely destroy a building or structure by fire Example: The old warehouse burned down last night.
  • Call off – to cancel or abandon something Example: They called off the wedding due to a family emergency.
  • Carry on – to continue with an activity or task Example: She carried on with her work despite the distractions.
  • Catch up – to reach the same level or pace as someone else, or to update oneself on news or events Example: She needs to catch up on the latest developments in the industry.
  • Check in – to register one’s arrival at a hotel or airport Example: We need to check in at the hotel before 3 pm.
  • Cheer up – to become happier or to make someone else happier Example: The sunny weather cheered her up.
  • Clean up – to tidy or remove dirt or clutter from a place Example: They cleaned up the beach after the party.
  • Come across – to encounter or discover something or someone unexpectedly Example: She came across an interesting article on the internet.
  • Come back – to return to a place or activity Example: He will come back to work after his vacation.
  • Count on – to rely or depend on someone or something Example: They know they can count on their parents for support.
  • Cut off – to stop or interrupt something suddenly Example: The phone cut off in the middle of our conversation.
  • Deal with – to handle or manage a situation or problem Example: We need to deal with the customer complaints as soon as possible.
  • Die down – to become less intense or loud Example: The storm died down after a few hours.
  • Do over – to repeat or redo something Example: She had to do the project over because of a mistake.
  • Draw up – to prepare or create a plan or document Example: They drew up a proposal for the new project.
  • Drop off – to fall asleep, or to leave someone or something at a specific location Example: She dropped off to sleep on the couch.
  • Eat out – to dine at a restaurant instead of at home Example: They decided to eat out at their favorite restaurant.
  • Figure out – to understand or solve a problem Example: He needs to figure out a way to fix the machine.
  • Fill out – to complete a form or document with information Example: She filled out the application for the job.

Phrasal verbs can be challenging for non-native English speakers to master, but with practice and familiarity, they can become an essential part of your language skills. We hope this list of 100 phrasal verbs, meanings, and example sentences has been helpful in expanding your understanding and usage of these important language structures.

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100+ Phrasal Verbs Meaning and Examples with Sentences

phrasal verb speech meaning

Explore 100+ Phrasal Verbs Meaning and Examples with Sentences through our comprehensive guide to phrasal verbs, providing detailed explanations and examples with sentences to help you understand and use them effectively. Whether you’re looking to improve your English vocabulary or seeking a refresher on Phrasal Verb Meanings and Examples, this article is a valuable resource.

Definition of Phrasal verbs

Phrasal Verbs  are the combinations of  Verbs  and  adverbs  or  prepositions  or  both  with completely new meanings and they consist of more than one word.

Most phrasal verbs  consist of  two words ; the  first  word is a  simple monosyllabic Verb,  and the  second  word is a  particle  i.e., a  preposition  or an  adverb . For example,

  • Put (simple monosyllabic Verb) + on (preposition) = Put on

It is nowadays called  Phrasal  because it represents the appearance of a  two-word phrase rather than a single item . There are also some  three-word phrasal verbs  i.e., 

  • to put up with , 
  • to look down upon , and
  • to leave up to .

Phrasal Verb Meanings and Examples

Phrasal Verbs  are also called  Group Verbs  and  Prepositional Verbs . We know that the word  give  means to contribute, supply,  or  transfer. If we add  up  after  give  ( i.e., Give up  ), those two words express completely a new meaning and that is the wish to stop .

  • Verb + Preposition / Adverb   =    A Phrase with completely one new meaning.
  • Give  +   Up                =    Wish to stop
  • Example: Here  Give up   is called  Phrasal Verb.

If the object of a  Transitive Phrasal Verb  is a  Noun , the particle ( preposition or adverb ) may be placed before or after the object; i.e., 

  • He worked out the sum .  
  • He worked the same out.

If, however, the object of a  Transitive Phrasal Verb  is a  Pronoun , the particle ( preposition or adverb )  must be placed after the pronoun . i.e.,

  • He worked it out.  
  • (Not,  he worked out it.)

Phrasal Verb Meanings and Examples Alphabetically

All the common and important Phrasal Verb Meanings and Examples are arranged alphabetically in the following sentences. Expand your vocabulary and improve your English language skills with this comprehensive guide on Phrasal Verbs Meaning and Examples.

Phrasal Verb Meanings and Examples with Act

We should not   his opinion.
A solicitor   his clients.
The medicine   the heart.
He   my suggestions. 
He   my expectation.

Phrasal Verb Meanings and Examples with Bear

He   the first prize in school sports.
The king   the enemy.
Shyamal   the first prize in school sports.
These are issues that   the welfare of society.
She did not   your statement or she will   me 
The soldiers   their courage against all odds.
You should   a sick child.

Phrasal Verb Meanings and Examples with Break

The prisoner   from captivity
His health has 
Burglars   the building last night. She   tears when I told her the news.
The robbers   the house in the dead of night.
He   in the middle of the story. Anil  her engagement with Sheila.
A devastating flood  . Several prisoners  from jail.
Lionel Messi  the defense of his rival team.
The school  at 4:30 PM. The sheep was  into parts having been struck against the rock.
We should  blind prejudices.
Why are you  our conversation?

Phrasal Verbs Meaning and Examples with Bring

They   their own ruin.
The price of essential commodities has been  The subjects   the tyrant.
Trees   new tender leaves in spring./The news   a cheer.
All these matters were   in the meeting for discussion.
Idleness   poverty.He has   this disgrace to himself. The damp weather has   his illness.
He will soon   the new edition of his book.Adversity   the good qualities of man.
Several girls painted in the heat but they were soon  .
After the date of our parents the girl was   by her aunt.
The king quickly   the rebels.

Phrasal Verbs Meaning and Examples with Call

I   his house yesterday.
The occasion   prompt action. 
your speech   an angry response from him.
He   a doctor.  The National Library has   all overdue books.
The strike has been  The journey has been   due to some unavoidable circumstances.
I   him yesterday. We   him at his residence .
the fire brigade was   by the authorities.
The old man could not   past events.
I now   the chief guest to address the meeting. I   him to help me.

Phrasal Verbs Meaning and Examples with Carry

He was  by his passion.
India  all the prices.
He  the business in his father’s absence.
I shall  what I have promised.
He  the work successfully. His courage  him  difficulties.
The incident   him   to his childhood days.

Phrasal Verbs Meaning and Examples with Cast

He has   her family.
He has   his old hat.
He was   by his sans act.
He’s trying to   his bad image.
I am   for an opportunity to visit your village.

Phrasal Verbs Meaning and Examples with Come

When did the accident  ?
I   my aunt in the street.
They   us last night with a knife.
How did you   this ring?
The roof of the house   during the storm. Rain   in torrents.
The boy   the room.
He   1,000,000 rupees when his father died.
each speech   for a great deal of criticism.
Vidyasagar   a poor brahmin family.
The prize giving ceremony of our school   yesterday. The experiment did not 
The winter is  .   we will be late for the function. The project is   nicely.
The truth ever   When is your school magazine  ?
He   with a most extraordinary story.
He will never   to our site.Why did Thomas   to India?
When did the patient  ? At last, he   to our views.
His annual expenditures   10,000 rupees.
May the patient   soon?A message had just   here.
Your work has not   the required standards.
I   a dead horse.

Phrasal Verbs Meaning and Examples with Cry

Don’t   his achievements.
It’s no use   the split milk.
There is no trader but   his own goods.
They   for help.
We said we should go but we had to   at the last moment.
People are   against dictatorship.

Phrasal Verbs Meaning and Examples with Cut

You must   your expenditure. Please   the essay, it is much to lengthy.
Don’t   your expenditure. She kept on   our conversation.
He was   in the prime of life. The baby is   from its mother.
He is not   an engineer.
The mother was terribly   at the death of her own son.
They trimmed the plants   the uneven branches.

Phrasal Verbs Meaning and Examples with Deal

He   rice.
the profits will be   among the investors.
They try to   politely   the customers. He   the difficult problem easily.

Phrasal Verbs Meaning and Examples with Do

The death penalty has been   in all civilised societies. We should   this practice. The women tried to   herself.
This desk he will do for a table. He is  .
I am quite   with the long journey. We are having the kitchen  .
I cannot   his insolence.
No minister can   the service of a secretary.
He was so depressed that he felt like   himself. He looked very  .
He was   by a gang of anti-socials.  We are   the drawing room.

Phrasal Verbs Meaning and Examples with Fall

Our false friends   when we fall into distress. Superstitions are here to   from our society.
They are marriage finally 
The enemy   with the advance of our troops.
Finding no other means of livelihood, he   up on begging.
France   Germany in coal products and.
On his way to Kolkata, he     his long lost father. The headmaster   the decision of the committee.
The left tenant ordered the soldiers to  . The roof of the building  .
Don’t   bad habits.
Attendance in classes has   with the exams around the corner.  False friends   in adversity.
Miscreants   or   them. I have   every time./The full cost of the program fell on or upon us.
Things   as we had hoped She   with me over a trifle.
The scheme   for want of sufficient funds.
The hungry man   meeting with great joy.
he was doing well on the exam until he fell down on the last essay question.
that case falls under the heading of errors of judgement.

Phrasal Verbs Meaning and Examples with Get

The old woman is too weak to  . The news of Mrs Indira Gandhi’s death   fast. The news of the accident   in different places.
How is your sister   with her studies?
The fox could not   the grapes. Truth is hard to  . He failed to   the witness.
The thief   with my purse. The culprit can’t  .
When did you   last night? She has   her last ring.
She cannot   without him.
Did you   his address?Let’s   to our work. He   from the tree.  
The train   five minutes early.
Don’t   a moving train.Father   me   the school.Your son has   bad habits.Me   trouble or debt.
We   the stadium after lunch.We were lucky to  .
He will surely   in life.
The boy is   well with his studies.
The secret  . When did the new book  ? He got out of the room.

Phrasal Verbs Meaning and Examples with Give

The minister  the prizes at the sports meet. That remark  his real feelings.    Mr Roy has  his whole property to his elder son.    
The reveals  to the government.   Please  your timecards.
You have not  the books you borrowed from me.
The fire  a dense smoke.
The blast furnace is  a lot of heat.  The wicked man   that his wife had died of snake bite  The minister he  the handbills among the people.     The fuel  .  She tried to  with a song.
The fire  a dense smoke.
The thief was  to the police. Please   this matter.  You should not   this matter.      Before exams he  to studies.
The boy has  smoking.The Malaga  himself  to the police yesterday.

Phrasal Verbs Meaning and Examples with ‘Go’

Phrasal verb – go.

the Hawker is   selling his articles. He   his business at Daybreak.
the soldiers   the enemy.everybody   wealth.
These police will   the public interest.
 with your plan.
I shall   with you as far as the charge. He   with me on this point.
The man   the policeman with a big knife.
he is the last man to   upon his word.
a boy should   what his parents say. Mr sane   me without speaking a single word.
the price of rice has  .he will   in history as a despot. The sun has 
The robbers   the policeman. Mr sane   a patriot in the country.
He will   the exam this year.
I sell soon   the matter.
the gun   accidentally. Does your party   all right?
I’m educated man wants to know what is   in the world.   with your work.
The lamp has  .
Mr sane has   to the Congress. The examiner   the accounts.
this book   10 editions. I have   the book. Mita   great sufferings.
the price of fees is   day by day.
I cannot     you on this point. I shall   you as far as the post of his.
the poor boy has often to   food.
 

Phrasal Verbs Meaning and Examples with Hand

This tradition has been  to us from the past.
The minister has  his resignation.
Samuel   this magazine   to me.
The teacher   the books   to the students.
The thief was  to the police.

Phrasal Verbs Meaning and Examples with Hang

Children always   their mothers.
The Pak army how to 
The unemployed young man   in the office for a job.
Do not   the open balcony.The meeting has been  .
A notice was   on the wall.

Phrasal Verbs Meaning and Examples with Hold

Old years   from saying unpleasant things.
You should   your temper.
People revolt against the rulers who   the people 
Please   for a minute. The rain   for two hours.  He   tohis course of action through all opposition.  
He   a helping hand show me. The doctor   a little hope of his recovery.
The match was   on an hour.
We shoot   our convictions. 
The travellers where   are   bandits.
Many do not   Co-education.
The matter is   till the next meeting.

Phrasal Verbs Meaning and Examples with Keep

You must  your studies if you are serious.
He advised hits on to  from bad company.
I sell  nothing from you.
You must mark  your anger.
bad habits.
I cannot  him any longer.
Thousands of years ago man used to make a big fire to  wild animals.
see  talking.
Please  your temper   control.
of their quarrels.
One should always     one’s promise.
skipper Virat Kohli always  pressure on the England team.   your courage in times of danger.
your son cannot the class.

Phrasal Verbs Meaning and Examples with Lay

Father   the offender with a big stick.
We should   money for our old age. She led her   to listen to me. We need to   something for our bad days.
We should   some money for a rainy day.
the rebels   their arms. Our freedom fighters   their lives to the cause of the country’s liberation.
Hoarders    food for the future.
The factory had to   many workers when it’s orders decreased.
The mother   her hand   her son’s head. Taxes were   liquor.
He has   all his money.
She is   with typhoid. He has   nothing for a rainy day.

Phrasal Verbs Meaning and Examples with Look

I am still   for a job.
Mother   her children.
 the moon.
Don’t   the poor.
I am still   a job.
We are   his visit.
I shall   next time.
I will soon   the matter.
We   the rare event of the full solar eclipse in 19 95.
The police were   for the criminal.
A selfish man   for nobody except himself.
They   the application.
Please   the letter.
You must   your manners. We shall all   you for help.
Please   the word in the dictionary. The prices of necessaries are 
They all look up to him as their leader.
I   hard add my sister. 

Phrasal Verbs Meaning and Examples with Make

The cat   the mouse.
He   his father’s money.
The sheep   the port.  Early rising   good health. Mr Roy   the Andamans.
This chair is   food. I can   nothing  what he says.
The thief  with ornaments.
I could not  anything what he said. He failed to  his case.
He  his property to the Trust.
We   to come back. They have   their quarrel. The government   for the last. He   the whole story.

Phrasal Verb Meanings and Examples with Pass

He   last night.
One should not   the faults of wants words. We   his house every day.
He is   a great scholar.
The prize giving ceremony of our school.  yesterday.  He tried to   himself   as a great scholar.
Mr Sen   he her son’s faults.
He   terrible sufferings in life.   They   endless hardships.

Phrasal Verbs Meaning and Examples with Pull

He  me.
The old buildings was 
The train  on time.
Five men  a robbery yesterday.
You will soon  in our village.
The doctor says the patient will soon 
He was  by my father.

Phrasal Verb Meanings and Examples with Put

We all need to   some amount of money for future use.
We all need to   some amount of money for future use.
Ants   food for the winter.
The king   the rebellion by force of arms.   the names of the successful candidates.  
You must   all your strength. Trees   new leaves in spring.
He has   a new theory.
He has   a claim for compensation.
 your shoes.   She put on an air of innocence.
I   my departure for a month. Getting back home we   our clothes.  You must   your doubts in fear.
The fire should be properly 
I   at and in for the night.  We   a tent.  KL Rahul   a steep resistance against the Australian bowlers. A notice was 
The measure was   without opposition.
The committee   his proposal   vote. Don’t put me to Saint. She has been put to great difficulty.
None can   such kind of behaviour.

Phrasal Verbs with Run

The policeman   the thief.
The boy ran   home and never returned.
The man ran   a bag.
The tiger   the deer.
The cyclist was     by a minibus.  The battery has   
I will   and see you this evening.
I  an old friend of mine yesterday. He has  debt
the man  with my watch.
The stock of food   
Don’t  on your friends when they need you.
The old man was    by a bus.  He   his notes before starting his lecture.
Bullets   the body of the escaping terrorist. He has   his fortune.
The book   four hundred pages.

Phrasal Verbs with See

He promised to     the matter.
I sell   the matter. A great man   the reality of things.
off My parents were present at the airport to   me  .
The headmaster himself   the arrangement for the prize giving ceremony.

Phrasal Verbs with Set

The maid   cleaning the room.
The court   my claim 
These seats are   for ladies.
The old man   a huge amount of money for the future.
The old man   he’s bored and gently. The bass stopped to s    an old man.   The police   the complaint.
In his speech he   is religious views.
The rainy season in West Bengal  about June.
He  for Kolkata last night.
The dogs were  the Jackal.
East   out  Jalpaiguri easily this morning.  He   his ideas clearly in this essay. He   to collect all the wisdom of the world.
They were all hungry and at once   eating.
He had  a school.  He had  as a grocer.
The boy is  being a doctor.    The thieves  him and beat him senseless.

Phrasal Verb Meanings and Examples with Stand

He   the re- election of the president.
He always   any agreements he makes. He will always   me.
White   purity.   He   total prohibits .
 from their quarrel.
His work   from that of others.
Let the matter     until next meeting.
He always   his promise. We should   our principles.
He always   the underdogs.

Phrasal Verbs with Strike

He is   with paralysis.
The boy’s name was   the school register.
 the line.
I quickly   an acquaintance with the new neighbour.

Phrasal Verbs with Take

He  his father.
Many books were    from the library.
I will not  my words.
He  the speech in shorthand.
I  him   a fool.
The foolish act is sure to   his reputation as a sensible man.
He is the last man to be  . I fail to   the meaning of this passage.
The boy   his shoes. The doctor   his leg.  Coronavirus has     many lives in this year.  When will the plane  ? 
He   heavy responsibilities.
The dentist   his teeth.
The new Prime Minister will   the charge of the government . The government has   the primary schools.
Recently he has been   gambling.  He has   cultivation.
I sell   the problem with the doctor. When did you   your study of French? We shall   the problem to solve it.  

Phrasal Verbs with Tell

He   us   his hardships.
I cannot   him his brother.
smoking started to   or   his health.
the teacher   him   for quarrelling with his classmate.

Phrasal Verbs with Throw

He is   his money  .
He  and advantage.
Recently he has   himself   research work.
One must   troublesome companions.
The bill was   by the parliament.
When he became rich he   all his old friends.
He   his job.  A country seldom   a great political genius.

Phrasal Verbs with Turn

I shall never   you.
We should not    from the path of honesty.
he  a beggar.
The headmaster did not  our proposal.
The hermit   the cat  a dog.
Please   the light.
Please   the light or radio.  The success of a picnic usually   the weather.
Please   the light.  Our school has     some first rate scholars. He   to be a cheat.  Dishonest students must be   of the class. 
He has   his business to his successors.
The orphan has nobody to  .
We cannot say what will   next.  He   in time.

Phrasal Verbs with Work

He is   Shakespeare’s sonnet.  The sculptor   making the statue.
He has been   the evolution of the caste system.
He   a few jokes   the lecture.
New must take regular physical exercise to   your excess weight.
The laborers   the project. His speech   ignorant villagers.
I will help you to   the problem.  He has   a plan to save money.
He’s emotional speech   the mob.

Phrasal Verbs with Write

I will   him   as a fool.
He   an account of the sports meet.  I will   your debt.
Please   a copy of the agreement.
I must   my notes of the lecture.

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Common Phrasal Verbs List with Questions and Answers

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Phrasal Verbs  

What is a phrasal verb, constructing phrasal verbs – particles vs. prepositions, particle phrasal verbs.

  • “My table takes up too much room.” (The table occupies too much space.)
  • “Please look over the proposal and let me know what you think.” (Please quickly examine the proposal.)
  • “I can’t believe that you’re giving up !” (I’m surprised that you’re going to stop trying.)
  • “There will always be setbacks that we have to allow for .” (We always have to consider and be ready for possible setbacks.)
  • “We have to wait for the fire to die down before we can enter the building.” (We have to wait for the fire to become less intense.)
  • “The plane took off an hour late.” (The plane rose into the air and began to fly later than scheduled.)
  • “She is always making up excuses.” (She is always inventing excuses that are not true.)
  • “When I am on the bus, I always give up my seat to the elderly.” (I vacate my seat and give it to an older passenger.)

Preposition phrasal verbs

  • “He has been looking after his mother .” (He has been caring for his mother.)
  • “I came across that old watch of mine when I was cleaning out the drawers.” (I found my old watch unexpectedly.)
  • “Stop picking on your brother like that!” (Stop teasing or harassing your brother in that way.)

Particle-prepositional phrasal verbs

  • “She comes across as a really confident person .” (She gives the impression of being confident by the way she acts.)
  • “You’re going too fast, so I can’t keep up with you .”
  • “I’ll make sure that she doesn’t get away with her plan .” (I’ll make sure she is caught and/or punished.)
  • “A substitute teacher has been filling in for Mr. Davis all week.” (The substitute teacher is taking the place of Mr. Davis.)
  • “I’ve been trying to cut back on junk food lately.” (I’m trying not to eat as much junk food as I had been before.)

Differentiating prepositional and particle verb phrases

Intransitive verbs.

  • “Please don’t give up .”
  • “I know you want me to lie, but I just wasn’t brought up that way.”
  • “I hope that my idea came across well.”

Transitive verbs

  • “Please look over the proposal and let me know what you think.”
  • “Please look it over and let me know what you think.”
  • “He has been looking after his mother .”
  • “He has been looking after her .”
  • “He has been looking her after .” (incorrect)

Transitive and intransitive phrasal verbs

  • “I was a bit of a skinny kid, but I filled out nicely during high school.” ( Intransitive , meaning “to become larger or fuller in one’s figure.”)
  • “Make sure that you fill out the form correctly.” ( Transitive , meaning “to complete (a document) by providing the required information.”)
  • “The two friends made up after their bitter argument.” ( Intransitive , meaning “to reconcile or resolve a quarrel.”)
  • “Please stop making up excuses .” ( Transitive , meaning “to fabricate or invent.”)

Prepositional verbs vs. phrasal verbs

  • “Kelly asked for a raise.” (The literal meaning of to ask is to inquire . Kelly inquired about a raise, making it a prepositional verb.)
  • “Kelly asked out Chad.” ( Ask out means to invite someone on a date , making it an idiomatic phrasal verb.)
  • “They sailed through the waters with plenty of time to spare.”
  • “They sailed through their exams with plenty of time to spare.”

Recognizing common phrasal verbs

1. Which of the following is not a component of a phrasal verb?

2. What is the primary difference between prepositional verbs and phrasal verbs?

3. What do prepositions do that particles cannot do in phrasal verbs?

4. Identify the phrasal verb in the following sentence. “It appears to me that you have thoroughly mucked up the case again.”

5. Which of the following can be separable in a sentence?

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42 Advanced Phrasal Verbs (That You Need to Know)

Phrasal verbs  are very common in English conversation. Learning phrasal verbs is a great way to make your English sound more natural. 

Some  phrasal verbs  are  literal , which means the meaning is exactly what the words say . Some  phrasal verbs  are  metaphorical , this means they have a completely different meaning than you would associate with the verb by itself .

–  – 
To go someplace and move around it to see what is there.
Be careful, something dangerous is coming.
.” !”

Another category of phrasal verbs is  separable  and  inseparable . This simply means that some verbs can take a subject in between the verb and the particle and some cannot. 

separable –  inseparable – 
To save something or keep it available to useTo be responsible for, or to take care of someone or something
money every month for when I retire.”
my kids while my wife and I are on vacation.”

42 Advanced Phrasal Verbs 

  • Be up for Something – To want or be willing to do something. 
  • We’re going to go hiking this weekend, you can join us if you’re up for it .
  • I’ll ask Kevin if he wants to come to the pub with us tonight but he had a long day, so I’m not sure he’ll be up for it . 
  • Be up to Something – To be doing something.
  • Hey Jeff, what are you up to today? 

*This can also mean to be doing something secretly. 

  • Todd has been sneaking around the office all morning, I think he’s up to something . 
  • Bounce back – To return to health or return to a good condition after an illness, injury, or difficulty.
  • Lucas injured his shoulder in the rugby match last weekend but I’m sure he can bounce back in no time. He’s a tough guy. 

*We can bounce back from something.

  • Travel companies are starting to bounce back from the loss of business during the pandemic. 
  • Bounce s omething off someone – To share an idea or plans with someone so they can tell you what they think about it. 
  • I’ve been thinking about ways to increase company profits next year. I’d like to bounce some ideas off you if that’s okay. I would love to know what you think. 
  • Block off – to close a road or an opening by placing a barrier at one end or in front of it.
  • The news just said that a water pipe burst downtown today. Emergency crews are trying to fix the damage and the police have blocked off Main Street. It must be a traffic nightmare. 

*This is separable is a verb so we can put an object in between the verb and the preposition – block something off ​.

  • The police have blocked Main Street off .

1) To become greater, stronger, or to increase in number.

  • The movie had a nice steady build up until the big finale. It was fun. 

2) Build somebody/something up – to give a very positive and enthusiastic description of somebody/something, often making them seem better than they really are.

  • Really? I didn’t like the movie at all. It was built up to be the most exciting movie of the year but I was disappointed. 

3) Build somebody/yourself up – To make somebody/yourself healthier or stronger.

  • Did you see Anthony today? He has so much muscle! He really built himself up over the summer. She must have joined a gym. 
  • Bump into – To meet someone by chance.
  •  I bumped into Shannon this morning at the train station. She looked great, I think she lost weight. 
  • Call off – To cancel something. 
  • The boss called off the meeting today so we can all go home early. That’s great. 

*This is separable phrasal verb so we can put an object in between the verb and the preposition –  Call something off

  • The boss called the 5:00 meeting off today. 
  • Catch up (with) – To reach somebody who is further ahead of you. 
  • You guys head to the restaurant now and I’ll catch up with you later. I’ve got a bit more work to do before I can leave. 

*We can also catch someone up – Give someone information that was shared earlier that they didn’t receive.

  • Smith was late today due to the heavy traffic on Main Street. Can you guys catch him up on this morning’s meeting? 
  • Clamp down on – To take strict action in order to prevent something, especially crime.
  • The city has installed new traffic cameras to clamp down on people running red lights. 
  • Come across – 

1)To be understood. 

  • After I did a practice presentation, I felt the message didn’t really come across in my speech. I need to rewrite it to make it clear. 

2) To find or discover something by accident. 

  • I came across an old photo album in my grandmother’s attic. It was fun to see photos of my Dad when he was small. 
  • Come up with -To find or make an answer, an amount of money, etc.
  • I need to come up with another $200 if I want to buy that new moped. 
  • If we work together I’m sure we can come up with a solution that works for everyone.
  • Crack down on – To make more effort to prevent illegal activities and give stronger penalties to the people who do them. 
  • The police have set up a new task force to crack down on car theft in the city. 
  • Crank something out – To produce a lot of something quickly.
  • The writer locked himself in a hotel room so he would have no distractions. His goal was to crank out 300 pages of his book over the weekend. 

Do you want to learn even more phrasal verbs?  You’ll find a list of common ones add my post here> Learn 50 Phrasal Verbs (List, Examples, Video, 42-page PDF)

  • Crop up – To appear or happen unexpectedly. 
  • Who is Jonathan? I hear his name crop up in a lot of conversations around the office. Is he the new manager? 
  • Face up to – To accept or deal with something that is difficult. 
  • Rayleen had to face up to the fact that the relationship was over. 

*The phrasal verb face up to is often paired with the fact . 

  • Fall out with – To end of friendly relationship with someone due to a disagreement or improper behavior. 
  • I fell out with Rory 6 months ago. We haven’t talked since. 

*It’s common to use falling out as a noun phrase with the verb had .

  • Rory and I had a falling out 6 months ago. 
  • Figure something out – 1) To think about somebody/something until you understand them/it.
  • Sean is an odd guy, I could never figure him out .
  • This is a small problem, I’m sure we can figure it out together. 

2) To calculate an amount or the cost of something

  • My wife wants to go to Hawaii, and I need to figure out how much it will cost. 
  • Freak out – To become or cause someone else to become very uncomfortable or excited. 
  • Try not to freak out but I might be able to sell my company 4 million dollars. Isn’t that amazing! 

*This is separable is a verb so we can put an object in between the verb and the preposition – freak someone out

  • My aunt has a creepy doll in her living room​ that looks like his eyes follow you wherever you go. That thing freaks me out every time I visit. 
  • Hash out – (informal, especially North American English) To discuss something carefully and completely in order to reach an agreement or decide something.
  • The contract is almost ready, we just need to hash out some details, and then I can sign it. 
  • Iron out – To sort out any problems or difficulties. 
  • I like your business plan but before I invest any money we need to iron out a few details. 

The phrasal verbs hash out and iron out are often used with the noun details . 

  • Jot down – To write something down quickly. 
  • I usually carry a small notepad with me so I can jot down any ideas that come to me. 
  • Lay off – (informal) 1. To stop pressuring or bothering someone.
  • I think David is having a hard time at work, maybe we should lay off him for a while. 
  • (informal) To stop using something.
  • Holy cow, I’ve gained 6 kg in 4 months. I need to lay off the fast food and start eating healthy. 
  • To stop employing somebody because there is not enough work for them to do.
  • The company was losing money so they had to lay off 50 workers from their factory. 

*This is separable is a verb so we can put an object in between the verb and the preposition – lay someone off

  • The company will lay 50 workers off at the end of the summer. 
  • Look down on – If you look down on someone you think that you are better than them.
  • I don’t like the way Melanie looks down on everyone. She thinks she’s so special but really she’s not. 
  • Look something over – To carefully look at something to check its condition and quality.
  • My friend Martin is a licensed mechanic so I asked him to look the car over before I bought it. 
  • Mull something over – To carefully consider something.
  • I understand your proposal, let me mull it over tonight and I’ll give you my answer tomorrow morning. 
  • Pass away – To die, this is used as a gentler way to talk about someone who is no longer with us. 
  • My high school Spanish teacher passed away last month, he was a great guy. Adios my friend, you will be missed. 
  • Plod along – To make very slow progress, especially with difficult or boring work.
  • Filling out this paperwork is the most boring part of my job. I just have to plod along until it’s finished. 
  • Put up with – To tolerate something. 
  • Marcos is rude to all the girls in the office, they’re not going to put up with this any longer. 
  • Ramp up – To make something increase in amount.
  • The whole team needs to ramp up our efforts to get this product launched on schedule. 
  • The factory has ramped up production to meet the surge in demand.
  • Run something by – This phrasal verb’s meaning is similar to bounce off someone . You want to share a plan or an idea with another person to get their feedback. 
  • It’s a good idea, let’s run it by the manager to get his reaction. If he likes it, we can go ahead and start. 

*We can also say run something past someone.

  • Let me run this idea past Jonah first, he has experience in this area. 
  • See off – To take someone to the airport, bus/train station, etc. and say goodbye before they leave
  • Tomorrow I’ll drive my son to the airport and see him off .

Visit my post > 74 Idioms and Phrasal Verbs with OFF (With Real Examples) and learn more ways to use OFF in conversation > https://worldenglishblog.com/idioms-and-phrasal-verbs-with-off/  

  • Sign up – to sign or add your name to a document, form, or contract that says you agree to do a job or to participate in something. 
  • Randall just walked into the Army recruiting office and signed up for five years. He has always wanted to be a soldier. 

*We can also say sign on to do something. 

  • Randall signed on for five years. 

Sign up for – To arrange to do a course of study by adding your name to the list of people doing it

  • My local library offers free Japanese lessons for foreign people living in the area. I’m going to sign up for classes tomorrow. 

If new circumstances or a new situation happens that we are not happy with, prepared for, or enjoying we often use the expression –  I didn’t sign up for this . 

  • This is my third straight Saturday working overtime. At first, I was excited to work for this company but I didn’t sign up for all this overtime ! 
  • Stem from – To be the result of something 
  • Bullying often stems from a difficult home life for the child. Unfortunately, it’s a cycle. 
  • Stick Up for – To support or defend yourself or someone else. 
  • I was big for my age in elementary school so I often stuck up for the smaller kids who were being bullied. 
  • Stock up on – To buy or prepare many things for later use.
  • The weather says a big typhoon is coming in 2 days so we had better stock up on food and water now. It will be tough to go shopping when the storm hits. 
  • (To) muster up – The verb muster is often used with the prepositions up to mean to find as much support, courage, etc. as you can
  • I mustered up the courage, walked to my boss’s office, and demanded a raise. 
  • Turn down –  1)To reject or refuse an offer, a proposal, etc. or the person who makes it
  • I turned down the promotion because I didn’t want to move to the other side of the country. 

2) Turn something down/Turn down something – To reduce the noise, heat, etc. produced by a piece of equipment by moving its controls

  • Can you turn the TV down ? It’s too loud. 
  • I’m getting warm, does anyone mind if I turn down the heat? 

*The opposite of Turn Down is Turn Up.

  • I’m getting chilly, does anyone mind if I turn up the heat? 
  • Turn out – To be discovered to be; to prove to be
  • I was worried about running a half marathon but it turned out to be easier than I thought. 
  • The antique watch that I bought at the market turned out to be very valuable. 
  • Weed out – To remove or get rid of people or things from a group because they are not wanted or are less good than the rest
  • We look at the applications and weed out the candidates who are not suitable before we start the interviews. 

*This is separable is a verb so we can put an object in between the verb and the preposition – weed something/someone out .

  • Gangs and troublemakers had taken over the school. The new principal wanted to weed the bad students out so he could turn the school back into a place of learning. 
  • Weigh in – (informal) to join in a discussion, an argument, an activity, etc. by saying something important.
  • It was a big decision so all the staff were asked to weigh in and share their opinions. 

*The phrasal verb weigh in is sometimes followed by another preposition, on. 

  • Walter, you’ve been awfully quiet over there. Would you like to weigh in on the topic?  

1) (informal) (of a person) to find yourself in a particular place or situation.

  • When I was younger I never thought I would wind up working for my Dad’s company. My life is completely different than I imagined it, but I am happy. 

2) wind up something/wind something up – To end something that has been happening, like a speech or a meeting.

  • Okay everyone, let’s wind up this meeting and head home. 
  • Okay everyone, let’s wind this meeting up and head home. 

3) wind up somebody/wind somebody up – (British English, informal) to deliberately say or do something to annoy somebody.

  • Don’t listen to Alexander, he likes to wind up the staff on Monday mornings with his stupid comments. Just ignore him. 
  • He likes to wind the staff up on Monday mornings, just ignore him.

* DID YOU NOTICE? The title of this post is 42 Advanced Phrasal Verbs but the last verb on this list is numbered 43.  There was an error when my word processing software numbered the Phrasal Verbs because I had to change the formatting. Some phrasal verbs have several meanings. This caused a problem in counting and somehow my list of Phrasal Verbs lost the number 19. Without number 19 on the list, the total is really 42! I left it in as a challenge to see who could find it.

Which Phrasal Verbs from this post were new for you? Which Phrasal Verbs have you already heard? Tell me in the comments .

  • Learn 50 Phrasal Verbs (List, Examples, Video, 42-page PDF) May 13, 2024
  • 42 Advanced Phrasal Verbs (That You Need to Know) February 16, 2024
  • GET and TAKE Phrasal Verbs and Collocations (More than 50) November 26, 2022
  • Phrasal Verbs With Stop (Compound Nouns and Adjectives too) September 30, 2022
  • How to Learn Phrasal Verbs – Tips from an ESL Teacher (PDF) September 26, 2022

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phrasal verb

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“Phrasal verb.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phrasal%20verb. Accessed 17 Jul. 2024.

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English phrasal verbs , English vocabulary

30+1 phrasal verbs for daily conversations + video.

What are the most common English phrasal verbs for daily conversations ? How and when should you use them? Stay with us in this lesson to get the answers to these questions!

First, let’s review what phrasal verbs are:

Phrasal verbs are like special pairs of words that work together to create a new meaning. They usually have two parts:

  • A verb (an action word, like “run” or “look”).
  • A little word called a particle (like “up,” “out,” or “in”).

When you put these two parts together, they often make a whole new meaning that’s different from the original verb. For example:

  • “Give up” means to stop trying.
  • “Look after” means to take care of someone.

The importance of using English phrasal verbs for daily conversations are as follows:

  • Express More Ideas : Phrasal verbs let you say things in a more interesting way. Instead of just “stop,” you can say “give up,” which sounds more vivid.
  • Understand Others : Many people use phrasal verbs in everyday conversations. If you know them, you’ll understand what people mean when they say things like “hang out” (spend time together) or “run into” (meet by chance).
  • Sound Natural : Using phrasal verbs makes your speech sound more natural and fluent, like a native speaker. For example, “turn on” sounds more natural than “activate” when talking about a light or a TV.
  • Be More Specific : Phrasal verbs can be more precise. “Turn off” specifically tells you to stop something from working, like a device, which is clearer than just saying “stop.

In this lesson, we are going to learn 21 phrasal verbs used in our daily conversations:

Bring sth up

Meaning : To start talking about something.

Example: He’s always bringing up the past.

Cheer on: Of phrasal verbs for daily conversations

Meaning : To encourage or support someone, usually with shouts.

Example:  We arrived to cheer on the baseball team from our town in the championship game.

Bring sth up

Meaning : To improve one’s mood, especially when someone is sad.

Example: Cheer up! Tomorrow’s another day!

Cheer up

Get across is also in the list of phrasal verbs for daily conversations that means:

Meaning : To manage to make someone understand or believe something.

Example: We tried to get our point across, but he just wouldn’t listen.

Meaning : To tell other people about something that you know, especially when it is a secret.

Example: If you know an important secret, you shouldn’t let on.

Jump in : Of phrasal verbs for daily conversations

Meaning : To interrupt when someone else is speaking.

Example: Why are you constantly jumping in my speech? Would you please let me finish my sentences?

Meaning : To interrupt a conversation or discussion or someone who is talking.

Example: He kept on butting in with silly comments.

Meaning : To meet someone you know when you have not planned to meet them.

Example: We bumped into Amy when we were downtown last week.

Bump into: Of phrasal verbs used in daily conversations

Read more: What are the traveling phrasal verbs in English?

Grapple with something

Meaning : To try to deal with or understand a difficult problem or subject.

Example: Today, many Americans are still grappling with poverty.

Grapple with something

Pull sth off

Another item of the phrasal verbs for daily conversations is pulls sth of that means:

Meaning : To succeed in doing something difficult or unexpected.

Example: The company has pulled off one of the biggest financial problems of recent years.

Now let’s review these phrasal verbs in this conversation

Alex: Hey, Sam, have you heard about the new policy changes at work?

Sam: No, I haven’t. Can you bring it up during our meeting later? I’m curious.

Alex: Sure. Also, did you bump into Jerry this morning? He seemed upset.

Sam: Yeah! He’s grappling with some project issues, it seems.

Alex: That’s tough. We should cheer him on ; he might need some encouragement to get through this.

Sam: Good idea. Oh, and about the charity marathon, are you still planning to run?

Alex: Absolutely, I hope to pull it off ! I’ve been training every weekend.

Sam: I admire your dedication. Running isn’t really my thing.

Alex: Come on, it might cheer you up to participate. Plus, it’s for a good cause.

Sam: Maybe you’re right. I’ll think about it.

Meaning : To say something suddenly and without thinking, usually because you are excited or nervous.

Example: He blurted out everything out about our secret plan.

Meaning : To stop being available.

Example: Our main source of money has dried up and we will face a lot of problems.

Throw away: Of phrasal verbs for daily conversations

Meaning : To get rid of something that you no longer need.

Example: Let’s throw away all broken toys to clear a space for new ones.

Throw away: Of phrasal verbs for daily conversations

Get (something) through (to someone)

Meaning : To succeed in making someone understand or believe something.

Example: We can’t get through to the manager just how serious the problem is!

Talk sth over (talk an issue/a plan over)

Meaning : To discuss a problem or situation with someone, often to find out their opinion or to get advice before making a decision.

Example: Employees had two weeks to talk the proposal over with their families before making a decision.

Talk someone around

Meaning : To persuade someone to agree or to be persuaded.

Example: He just kept talking around the subject and didn’t discuss the main issues.

Meaning : To continue or proceed.

Example: Sorry for the interruptions, please carry on with your story.

Meaning : If a business or a large piece of equipment stops operating.

Example: The manager has a plan to shut down four factories and cut 10,000 jobs.

Meaning : To support.

Example: Our plan is completely backed up by the manager.

Fall back on sth

Meaning : To use something to help when other things have failed.

Example:  Jacob always has his professional experience to fall back on.

Give away: Of phrasal verbs for daily conversations

Meaning : To give something to someone for free.

Example: The company gave away a lot of coupons that could be used at any store.

Read more: What are the relationship phrasal verbs in English?

Let’s review the other mentioned phrasal verbs for daily conversations in this conversation:

Mia: I heard the café down the street is going to shut down . Have you heard about it?

Jake: Really? No, that’s news to me. It’s always dried up by the time I get there after work, but I didn’t think they’d close for good.

Mia: Yeah, it’s a shame. But on a brighter note, did you manage to get through to the customer service about the refund?

Jake: Oh, yes, finally. After several attempts, they understood the issue and processed it. By the way, have you seen the new fitness app? It’s backed up by some impressive research.

Mia: No, I haven’t. Sounds interesting . I need something new to fall back on now that my gym membership is ending.

Jake: I’ll send it across to you. It might give away some free subscription codes if you sign up now.

Mia: That would be great, thanks! Oh, and speaking of giving away , are you still giving away those old books?

Jake: Yes, I’m planning to. I thought it would be better than just throwing them away . Want to come over and see if there’s anything you’d like?

Mia: Absolutely, I might find a quick snack for my brain among those books. And, hey, we should talk over our plans for the hiking trip this weekend. I’m all for a slap-up meal afterwards.

Jake: Agreed, nothing like a good meal to cheer up after a day’s hike. Let’s plan it out.

Now let’s learn other useful phrasal verbs for speaking :

One of the common and useful phrasal verbs for speaking is “catch up” that means:

Meaning: To get up to date with someone or something.

When you’ve been away on vacation and you have a lot of emails waiting for you, you need to “catch up” on your emails.

Example: I need to catch up on my emails after being on vacation.

Turn down (Of useful phrasal verbs for speaking)

Meaning: To refuse or reject something.

If someone offers you a job but you don’t accept it because the salary isn’t enough, you “turn down” the job offer. You’re refusing or saying no to the job opportunity.

Example: She turned down the job offer because it didn’t pay enough.

Meaning: To unexpectedly encounter someone or something.

If you unexpectedly see an old friend while you’re shopping, you “run into” them. you didn’t plan to meet them.

Example: I ran into an old friend at the grocery store yesterday.

Come across

Another useful phrasal verbs for speaking is come across. This phrasal verb means:

Meaning: To find or meet by chance.

When you’re browsing the internet and you find an interesting article, you “come across” it. You look for something but find something else!

Example: I came across this interesting article while browsing the internet.

Bring up (Of useful phrasal verbs for speaking)

Meaning: To introduce a topic into conversation.  

If there’s an important issue that needs to be discussed during a meeting, you should bring it up!

Example: I didn’t want to bring up the issue during the meeting.

Yesterday, I decided to catch up on my emails after being on vacation for a week. While going through my inbox, I ran into an old friend’s email, which I hadn’t seen in years. It was unexpected to come across his message among the others. Feeling nostalgic, I decided to bring up the idea of meeting for coffee!

Look forward to

This phrasal verb also in the list of useful phrasal verbs for speaking that means:

Meaning: To anticipate with pleasure.

When you’re excited about seeing someone again, like a friend you haven’t met in a long time, you “look forward to” meeting them. you feel happy about the upcoming event.

Example: I’m looking forward to seeing you again next week.

Meaning: To talk louder or express your opinion more clearly.

Imagine sitting in a noisy classroom, and your teacher is asking a question. You want to answer, but your voice is quiet. You need to “speak up” so everyone can hear you.

Example: Can you speak up? I can’t hear you very well.

Meaning: To postpone or delay something.

Picture having homework to do, but you want to play outside instead. You decide to play first and do your homework later. You “put off” doing your homework.

Example: They decided to put off their vacation until next year.

Meaning: To spend time relaxing or socializing with friends.

Think about spending time with your friends at the park. You laugh, play games, and have fun together. This is what it means to “hang out” with friends.

Example: Let’s hang out at the park this weekend.

Meaning: To experience or endure a difficult situation.

Imagine feeling sad because your favorite toy broke. You’re feeling upset, but you know you’ll feel better soon. You’re experiencing the emotions of being sad and then feeling better. This is what it means to “go through” a tough time.

Example: She’s going through a tough time right now.

I’m really looking forward to the weekend when I can hang out with my friends at the park. Last time, we had to put off our gathering due to bad weather and I didn’t say anything, but this time I’ll speak up !

Watch this video and review the last phrasal verbs mentioned in this article

Don’t forget to review all these phrasal verbs and use them in your daily conversations. If you want to learn more about phrasal verbs in English, we recommend that you take our online general English course . Level up your English and speak like a native!

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COMMENTS

  1. Phrasal Verbs: Explanation and Examples

    A phrasal verb is a multi-word verb made up of a main verb and at least one preposition or a particle that changes the meaning of the verb from the original verb. 'To give up' and 'to run down' are examples of phrasal verbs. ... (parts of speech) hundreds more games and tests. read: parts-of-speech lists.

  2. Phrasal verbs and multi-word verbs

    Phrasal verbs and multi-word verbs - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary

  3. Phrasal Verbs

    Phrasal Verbs | List, Definition, Examples & Tips. Published on April 23, 2015 by Shane Bryson. Revised on November 7, 2022. ... Phrasal verbs are very common in everyday speech, but in academic writing, it's best to replace them with one-word alternatives where possible. 47 phrasal verbs and one-word alternatives.

  4. Phrasal Verbs

    For example: We passed out two hours after the social event. The phrasal verb in this sentence is passed out, which means become unconscious, sleep, or blackout. But the base verb, pass, takes on a different meaning. This single-word verb means to move or cause to move in a specified direction. Here's another example.

  5. PHRASAL VERB

    PHRASAL VERB definition: 1. a phrase that consists of a verb with a preposition or adverb or both, the meaning of which is…. Learn more.

  6. Phrasal Verbs

    A phrasal verb is a verb like pick up, turn on or get on with. These verbs consists of a basic verb + another word or words. The two or three words that make up a phrasal verb form a short "phrase" - which is why we call them "phrasal verbs". But a phrasal verb is still a verb. Look is a verb.

  7. What are Phrasal Verbs?

    A phrasal verb is a phrase or expression that consists of a verb plus another word or two, like this: [verb + adverb] e.g: look up. [verb + preposition] e.g: look after. [verb + adverb + preposition] e.g: look forward to. The whole phrase acts as a verb, and has a different meaning to the original verb. For example, look up, look after and look ...

  8. Phrasal Verbs In English Grammar: Definition, Forms, Meanings, And

    Phrasal verbs that consist of more than one particle are inseparable. For instance, verbs like 'put up with,' 'come up with,' 'get rid of,' 'run out of,' and others, are always inseparable. Here's a table with 10 inseparable phrasal verbs and examples: "She always looks after her younger brother.".

  9. Phrasal Verbs: Understanding and Using Them Correctly

    Phrasal verbs are a type of compound verb that consists of a verb and one or more particles. The particles can be prepositions or adverbs, or a combination of both. When combined with a verb, the meaning of the phrasal verb is often different from the meaning of the individual words. Phrasal verbs are commonly used in spoken and informal English.

  10. Phrasal verbs

    A phrasal verb is a verb that is made up of a base verb and one or two particles, such as off, up, or on. These particles change the meaning of the base verb in various ways. Phrasal verbs are an important part of the English language, and they are often used in everyday conversation and writing.

  11. Phrasal Verbs

    Phrasal verbs do have their uses, after all. For example, they convey a casual tone, and while this is not usually desirable in academic writing, the best academic writers can vary their tone at will. Accordingly, you should think of phrasal verbs as a stylistic option, even though you will often be best advised to eliminate them rather than ...

  12. Phrasal Verbs

    Phrasal Verbs: In this article, you will learn what is a phrasal verb, the definition of a phrasal verb and how it is used in sentences. Check out the list of phrasal verbs and try out the practice questions to find out how far you have understood. ... it is a combination of all the three parts of speech - verb, adverb and preposition. Though ...

  13. 210+ Most Common English Phrasal Verbs

    210+ Most Common English Phrasal Verbs. Phrasal verbs are when we combine a verb with a preposition of another grammatical element, and end up with a completely new meaning.. They're used constantly by native speakers in spoken and written English, which makes them important to know.. In this English phrasal verbs list, we'll show you 210+ of the most common phrasal verbs, with audio and ...

  14. 100 Phrasal Verbs, Meanings and Example Sentences

    Phrasal verbs can be challenging for non-native English speakers to master, but with practice and familiarity, they can become an essential part of your language skills. We hope this list of 100 phrasal verbs, meanings, and example sentences has been helpful in expanding your understanding and usage of these important language structures.

  15. 100+ Phrasal Verbs Meaning and Examples with Sentences

    Phrasal Verbs are the combinations of Verbs and adverbs or prepositions or both with completely new meanings and they consist of more than one word. Most phrasal verbs consist of two words ; the first word is a simple monosyllabic Verb, and the second word is a particle i.e., a preposition or an adverb .

  16. Phrasal Verbs

    Phrasal verbs that can be divided by objects are commonly referred to as being separable; those that cannot be divided are known as being inseparable. "Please look overthe proposal and let me know what you think.". It might seem as though over does in fact introduce a prepositional phrase: over the proposal.

  17. 100 Most Common Phrasal Verbs List With Meaning and Examples

    However, they are acceptable in informal writing and speech. Conclusion. Phrasal verbs can be challenging to understand and remember, but they are an essential part of the English language. ... By learning the 100 most common phrasal verbs list with meanings and examples, you can improve your communication skills and understanding of English ...

  18. 42 Advanced Phrasal Verbs (That You Need to Know)

    Phrasal verbs are very common in English conversation. Learning phrasal verbs is a great way to make your English sound more natural. Some phrasal verbs are literal, which means the meaning is exactly what the words say. Some phrasal verbs are metaphorical, this means they have a completely different meaning than you would associate with the verb by itself. literal - look aroundmetaphorical ...

  19. Phrasal verb Definition & Meaning

    phrasal verb: [noun] a phrase (such as take off or look down on) that combines a verb with a preposition or adverb or both and that functions as a verb whose meaning is different from the combined meanings of the individual words.

  20. 30+1 phrasal verbs for daily conversations + video

    First, let's review what phrasal verbs are: Phrasal verbs are like special pairs of words that work together to create a new meaning. They usually have two parts: A verb (an action word, like "run" or "look"). A little word called a particle (like "up," "out," or "in"). When you put these two parts together, they often ...

  21. Phrasal Verbs- Meaning, Definition, Examples, Types, List

    Phrasal verbs are formed by the combination of two words, a verb and an adverb or a preposition, whose meaning is different from individual words. Check Phrasal verb definition, examples, types, list