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: Verbs : Phrasal Verbs

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Phrasal Verbs List

200 common phrasal verbs, with meanings and example sentences

phrasal verb meaning example sentence

Brian asked Judy out to dinner and a
ask somebody out invite on a date
movie.
ask many people the same I asked around but nobody has seen
ask around
question my wallet.
add up to
equal Your purchases add up to $205.32.
something
You'll have to back up your car so
back something up reverse
that I can get out.
My wife backed me up over my
back somebody up support
decision to quit my job.
The racing car blew up after it
blow up explode
crashed into the fence.
We have to blow 50 balloons up for
blow something up add air
the party.
stop functioning (vehicle, Our car broke down at the side of the
break down
machine) highway in the snowstorm.
The woman broke down when the
break down get upset
police told her that her son had died.
break something Our teacher broke the final project
divide into smaller parts
down down into three separate parts.
Somebody broke in last night and
break in force entry to a building
stole our stereo.
break into The firemen had to break into the
enter forcibly
something room to rescue the children.
break something wear something a few times so I need to break these shoes in before
in that it doesn't look/feel new we run next week.
The TV station broke in to report the
break in interrupt
news of the president's death.
My boyfriend and I broke up before I
break up end a relationship
moved to America.
The kids just broke up as soon as the
break up start laughing (informal)
clown started talking.
The prisoners broke out of jail when
break out escape
the guards weren't looking.
break out in develop a skin condition I broke out in a rash after our
 phrasal verb meaning example sentence
something camping trip.
bring somebody
make unhappy This sad music is bringing me down.
down
bring somebody My grandparents brought me up after
raise a child
up my parents died.
bring something My mother walks out of the room
start talking about a subject
up when my father brings up sports.
bring something He drank so much that he brought his
vomit
up dinner up in the toilet.
phone many different We called around but we weren't
call around
places/people able to find the car part we needed.
call somebody I called the company back but the
return a phone call
back offices were closed for the weekend.
Jason called the wedding off because
call something off cancel
he wasn't in love with his fiancé.
The professor called on me for
call on somebody ask for an answer or opinion
question 1.
We called on you last night but you
call on somebody visit somebody
weren't home.
Give me your phone number and I
call somebody up phone
will call you up when we are in town.
You are still mad. You need to calm
calm down relax after being angry
down before you drive the car.
not care for
somebody/ not like (formal) I don't care for his behaviour.
something
get to the same point as You'll have to run faster than that if
catch up
somebody else you want to catch up with Marty.
arrive and register at a hotel or We will get the hotel keys when we
check in
airport check in.
You have to check out of the hotel
check out leave a hotel
before 11:00 AM.
check somebody/ The company checks out all new
look at carefully, investigate
something out employees.
check out
somebody/ look at (informal) Check out the crazy hair on that guy!
something
She cheered up when she heard the
cheer up become happier
good news.
cheer somebody I brought you some flowers to cheer
make happier
up you up.
If everyone chips in we can get the
chip in help
kitchen painted by noon.
 phrasal verb meaning example sentence
clean something Please clean up your bedroom before
tidy, clean
up you go outside.
come across I came across these old photos when I
find unexpectedly
something was tidying the closet.
The top and bottom come apart if
come apart separate
you pull hard enough.
come down with My nephew came down with chicken
become sick
something pox this weekend.
volunteer for a task or to give The woman came forward with her
come forward
evidence husband's finger prints.
come from some
originate in The art of origami comes from Asia.
place
count on
I am counting on you to make dinner
somebody/ rely on
while I am out.
something
cross something Please cross out your old address and
draw a line through
out write your new one.
cut back on My doctor wants me to cut back on
consume less
something sweets and fatty foods.
cut something make something fall to the We had to cut the old tree in our yard
down ground down after the storm.
Your father cut in while I was
cut in interrupt
dancing with your uncle.
pull in too closely in front of The bus driver got angry when that
cut in
another vehicle car cut in.
start operating (of an engine or The air conditioner cuts in when the
cut in
electrical device) temperature gets to 22°C.
The doctors cut off his leg because it
cut something off remove with something sharp
was severely injured.
The phone company cut off our phone
cut something off stop providing
because we didn't pay the bill.
My grandparents cut my father off
cut somebody off take out of a will
when he remarried.
remove part of something
cut something out I cut this ad out of the newspaper.
(usually with scissors and paper)
do somebody/ He's lucky to be alive. His shop was
beat up, ransack (BrE, informal)
something over done over by a street gang.
My teacher wants me to do my essay
do something over do again (AmE) over because she doesn't like my
topic.
do away with It's time to do away with all of these
discard
something old tax records.
do something up fasten, close Do your coat up before you go
 phrasal verb meaning example sentence
outside. It's snowing!
It's a fancy restaurant so we have to
dress up wear nice clothing
dress up.
Andrea dropped back to third place
drop back move back in a position/group
when she fell off her bike.
I might drop in/by/over for tea
drop in/ by/ over come without an appointment
sometime this week.
take somebody/ something
drop somebody/ I have to drop my sister off at work
somewhere and leave them/it
something off before I come over.
there
I dropped out of Science because it
drop out quit a class, school etc
was too difficult.
I don't feel like cooking tonight. Let's
eat out eat at a restaurant
eat out.
We ended up renting a movie instead
end up eventually reach/do/decide
of going to the theatre.
My new dress fell apart in the
fall apart break into pieces
washing machine.
The picture that you hung up last
fall down fall to the ground
night fell down this morning.
The money must have fallen out of
fall out separate from an interior
my pocket.
(of hair, teeth) become loose His hair started to fall out when he
fall out
and unattached was only 35.
figure something I need to figure out how to fit the
understand, find the answer
out piano and the bookshelf in this room.
to write information in blanks, Please fill in the form with your
fill something in
as on a form (BrE) name, address, and phone number.
to write information in blanks, The form must be filled out in capital
fill something out
as on a form (AmE) letters.
I always fill the water jug up when it
fill something up fill to the top
is empty.
We don't know where he lives. How
find out discover
can we find out?
We tried to keep the time of the party
find something out discover
a secret, but Samantha found it out.
get something communicate, make I tried to get my point across/over to
across/ over understandable the judge but she wouldn't listen.
I was surprised how well my new
get along/on like each other
girlfriend and my sister got along/on.
My grandfather can get around fine
get around have mobility
in his new wheelchair.
get away go on a vacation We worked so hard this year that we
 phrasal verb meaning example sentence
had to get away for a week.
get away with do without being noticed or Jason always gets away with cheating
something punished in his maths tests.
We got back from our vacation last
get back return
week.
get something receive something you had Liz finally got her Science notes back
back before from my room-mate.
get back at My sister got back at me for stealing
retaliate, take revenge
somebody her shoes. She stole my favourite hat.
get back into become interested in something I finally got back into my novel and
something again finished it.
We're going to freeze out here if you
get on something step onto a vehicle
don't let us get on the bus.
get over recover from an illness, loss, I just got over the flu and now my
something difficulty sister has it.
get over The company will have to close if it
overcome a problem
something can't get over the new regulations.
get round to finally find time to do (AmE: I don't know when I am going to get
something get around to something) round to writing the thank you cards.
Let's get together for a BBQ this
get together meet (usually for social reasons)
weekend.
I got up early today to study for my
get up get out of bed
exam.
You should get up and give the
get up stand
elderly man your seat.
give somebody reveal hidden information about
His wife gave him away to the police.
away somebody
give somebody My father gave me away at my
take the bride to the altar
away wedding.
give something My little sister gave the surprise party
ruin a secret
away away by accident.
give something give something to somebody for The library was giving away old
away free books on Friday.
give something I have to give these skates back to
return a borrowed item
back Franz before his hockey game.
reluctantly stop fighting or My boyfriend didn't want to go to the
give in
arguing ballet, but he finally gave in.
give to many people (usually at They were giving out free perfume
give something out
no cost) samples at the department store.
I am giving up smoking as of January
give something up quit a habit
1st.
My maths homework was too difficult
give up stop trying
so I gave up.
 phrasal verb meaning example sentence
My brother tried to go after the thief
go after somebody follow somebody
in his car.
I went after my dream and now I am
go after something try to achieve something
a published writer.
go against We are going against the best soccer
compete, oppose
somebody team in the city tonight.
Please go ahead and eat before the
go ahead start, proceed
food gets cold.
I have to go back home and get my
go back return to a place
lunch.
leave home to go on a social
go out We're going out for dinner tonight.
event
go out with Jesse has been going out with Luke
date
somebody since they met last winter.
Please go over your answers before
go over something review
you submit your test.
I haven't seen Tina for a long time. I
go over visit somebody nearby
think I'll go over for an hour or two.
go without When I was young, we went without
suffer lack or deprivation
something winter boots.
My best friend and I grew apart after
grow apart stop being friends over time
she changed schools.
grow back regrow My roses grew back this summer.
grow into This bike is too big for him now, but
grow big enough to fit
something he should grow into it by next year.
Elizabeth needs a new pair of shoes
grow out of
get too big for because she has grown out of her old
something
ones.
When Jack grows up he wants to be a
grow up become an adult
fireman.
hand something give something used to I handed my old comic books down
down somebody else to my little cousin.
hand something in submit I have to hand in my essay by Friday.
hand something We will hand out the invitations at
to distribute to a group of people
out the door.
hand something The police asked the man to hand
give (usually unwillingly)
over over his wallet and his weapons.
Hang in there. I'm sure you'll find a
hang in stay positive (informal)
job very soon.
Hang on while I grab my coat and
hang on wait a short time (informal)
shoes!
Instead of going to the party we are
hang out spend time relaxing (informal)
just going to hang out at my place.
 phrasal verb meaning example sentence
He didn't say goodbye before he hung
hang up end a phone call
up.
hold somebody/ I had to hold my dog back because
prevent from doing/going
something back there was a cat in the park.
hold something Jamie held back his tears at his
hide an emotion
back grandfather's funeral.
Please hold on while I transfer you to
hold on wait a short time
the Sales Department.
hold onto
hold firmly using your hands or Hold onto your hat because it's very
somebody/
arms windy outside.
something
hold somebody/ A man in a black mask held the bank
rob
something up up this morning.
keep on doing Keep on stirring until the liquid
continue doing
something comes to a boil.
keep something We kept our relationship from our
not tell
from somebody parents for two years.
keep somebody/ Try to keep the wet dog out of the
stop from entering
something out living room.
If you keep those results up you will
keep something up continue at the same rate
get into a great college.
let somebody fail to support or help, I need you to be on time. Don't let me
down disappoint down this time.
Can you let the cat in before you go to
let somebody in allow to enter
school?
sign in (to a website, database I can't log in to Facebook because I've
log in (or on)
etc) forgotten my password.
sign out (of a website, database If you don't log off somebody could
log out (or off)
etc) get into your account.
look after
I have to look after my sick
somebody/ take care of
grandmother.
something
look down on Ever since we stole that chocolate bar
think less of, consider inferior
somebody your dad has looked down on me.
look for
I'm looking for a red dress for the
somebody/ try to find
wedding.
something
look forward to I'm looking forward to the Christmas
be excited about the future
something break.
look into We are going to look into the price of
investigate
something snowboards today.
be careful, vigilant, and take
look out Look out! That car's going to hit you!
notice
 phrasal verb meaning example sentence
look out for
Don't forget to look out for snakes on
somebody/ be especially vigilant for
the hiking trail.
something
look something Can you look over my essay for
check, examine
over spelling mistakes?
search and find information in a We can look her phone number up on
look something up
reference book or database the Internet.
look up to My little sister has always looked up
have a lot of respect for
somebody to me.
make something Josie made up a story about why we
invent, lie about something
up were late.
We were angry last night, but we
make up forgive each other
made up at breakfast.
make somebody My sisters made me up for my
apply cosmetics to
up graduation party.
mix something up confuse two or more things I mixed up the twins' names again!
His uncle passed away last night after
pass away die
a long illness.
It was so hot in the church that an
pass out faint
elderly lady passed out.
pass something give the same thing to many The professor passed the textbooks
out people out before class.
decline (usually something I passed up the job because I am
pass something up
good) afraid of change.
pay somebody Thanks for buying my ticket. I'll pay
return owed money
back you back on Friday.
be punished for doing That bully will pay for being mean to
pay for something
something bad my little brother.
pick something I picked out three sweaters for you to
choose
out try on.
point somebody/ I'll point my boyfriend out when he
indicate with your finger
something out runs by.
put something put what you are holding on a You can put the groceries down on
down surface or floor the kitchen counter.
The students put the substitute teacher
put somebody insult, make somebody feel
down because his pants were too
down stupid
short.
We are putting off our trip until
put something off postpone
January because of the hurricane.
The neighbours put the fire out
put something out extinguish
before the firemen arrived.
put something I have to put the crib together before
assemble
together the baby arrives.
 phrasal verb meaning example sentence
put up with
I don't think I can put up with three
somebody/ tolerate
small children in the car.
something
put clothing/ accessories on Don't forget to put on your new
put something on
your body earrings for the party.
run into
I ran into an old school-friend at the
somebody/ meet unexpectedly
mall.
something
run over
drive a vehicle over a person or I accidentally ran over your bicycle
somebody/
thing in the driveway.
something
run over/ through Let's run over/through these lines
rehearse, review
something one more time before the show.
The child ran away from home and
run away leave unexpectedly, escape
has been missing for three days.
We ran out of shampoo so I had to
run out have none left
wash my hair with soap.
send something My letter got sent back to me because
return (usually by mail)
back I used the wrong stamp.
Our boss set a meeting up with the
set something up arrange, organize
president of the company.
The police set up the car thief by
set somebody up trick, trap
using a hidden camera.
I want to shop around a little before I
shop around compare prices
decide on these boots.
act extra special for people He always shows off on his
show off
watching (usually boastfully) skateboard
stay somewhere for the night You should sleep over tonight if the
sleep over
(informal) weather is too bad to drive home.
We need to sort the bills out before
sort something out organize, resolve a problem
the first of the month.
continue doing something, limit You will lose weight if you stick to
stick to something
yourself to one particular thing the diet.
switch something The light's too bright. Could you
stop the energy flow, turn off
off switch it off.
switch something We heard the news as soon as we
start the energy flow, turn on
on switched on the car radio.
take after I take after my mother. We are both
resemble a family member
somebody impatient.
take something He took the car brakes apart and
purposely break into pieces
apart found the problem.
take something I have to take our new TV back
return an item
back because it doesn't work.
 phrasal verb meaning example sentence
take off start to fly My plane takes off in five minutes.
remove something (usually Take off your socks and shoes and
take something off
clothing) come in the lake!
take something Can you take the garbage out to the
remove from a place or thing
out street for me?
pay for somebody to go My grandparents took us out for
take somebody out
somewhere with you dinner and a movie.
I tore up my ex-boyfriend's letters
tear something up rip into pieces
and gave them back to him.
remember (often + to, When I think back on my youth, I
think back
sometimes + on) wish I had studied harder.
think something I'll have to think this job offer over
consider
over before I make my final decision.
throw something We threw our old furniture away
dispose of
away when we won the lottery.
turn something decrease the volume or strength Please turn the TV down while the
down (heat, light etc) guests are here.
turn something I turned the job down because I don't
refuse
down want to move.
Your mother wants you to turn the
turn something off stop the energy flow, switch off
TV off and come for dinner.
It's too dark in here. Let's turn some
turn something on start the energy, switch on
lights on.
increase the volume or strength Can you turn the music up? This is
turn something up
(heat, light etc) my favourite song.
Our cat turned up after we put
turn up appear suddenly
posters up all over the neighbourhood.
I'm going to try these jeans on, but I
try something on sample clothing
don't think they will fit.
I am going to try this new brand of
try something out test
detergent out.
The kids used all of the toothpaste up
use something up finish the supply
so we need to buy some more.
We have to wake up early for work
wake up stop sleeping
on Monday.
warm somebody/ You can warm your feet up in front
increase the temperature
something up of the fireplace.
I always warm up by doing sit-ups
warm up prepare body for exercise
before I go for a run.
Most of my make-up wore off before
wear off fade away
I got to the party.
I work out at the gym three times a
work out exercise
week.
 phrasal verb meaning example sentence
work out be successful Our plan worked out fine.
work something We have to work out the total cost
make a calculation
out before we buy the house.