211 Common Phrasal Verbs: List With Meanings & Examples
List of common phrasal verbs with clear meanings and examples to help you understand common expressions and boost your English skills.
Phrasal verbs are widely used in everyday English, especially in casual conversation, and can be both formal and informal. They can add nuance and context to conversations, and help your speech more natural. However, they often confuse learners because their meanings aren’t always clear from the individual words.
Many common verbs, like get, take, and put, appear in dozens of phrasal verbs, each with a different meaning. This variety can make mastering them feel overwhelming, particularly for non-native speakers.
To make learning phrasal verbs easier, this guide explains how they work and provides a collection of over 200 common examples. Learning them will help you communicate more effectively and understand their meaning in various contexts.
What is a Phrasal Verb?
A phrasal verb is a verb combined with a preposition or adverb (often called a particle in a phrasal verb) that changes the verbs meaning. The verb provides the action, while the preposition or adverb changes or extends the meaning.
Take these phrasal verbs, for example:
- Turn on: to start something (You turn on the light.) – “Turn” is the action (verb), “on” is the particle that means activate.
- Look after: to take care of someone (You look after your brother.) – “Look” is the action, “after” shifts the meaning to caring for someone.
- Give up: to stop trying (You give up too soon.) – “Give” is the action, “up” changes it to mean quit or stop.
As you can see, the meaning of a phrasal verb is often different from the meaning of the verb alone.
To help you learn the different phrasal verbs, we’ve created an extensive list of common phrasal verbs, along with their meanings and example sentences, below.
List of Phrasal Verbs
Here is a list of phrasal verbs with their meanings and examples. In some cases, the words “something” or “somebody” have been added to provide context for the phrasal verb. For example, the phrasal verb “back up” can be used with both something and somebody.
Read on for the full list:
Add up to something
Definition: Equal/total
Example: Your purchases add up to $24.
Ask around
Definition: Ask many people the same question
Example: I asked around but nobody has seen my wallet.
Ask somebody out
Definition: Invite on a date
Example: Brian asked Judy out to dinner.
Back something up
Definition: Reverse
Example: You’ll have to back up your car so that I can get out.
Back somebody up
Definition: Support someone
Example: My wife backed me up over my decision to quit my job.
Blow up
Definition: Explode
Example: The racing car blew up after it crashed into the fence.
Blow something up
Definition: Add air
Example: We have to blow 50 balloons up for the party.
Break down
Definition: Stop functioning (vehicle, machine)
Example: Our car broke down at the side of the highway in the snowstorm.
Break down
Definition: Get upset
Example: The woman broke down when the police told her that her son had died.
Break something down
Definition: Divide into smaller parts
Example: Our teacher broke the final project down into three separate parts.
Break in
Definition: Force entry to a building
Example: Somebody broke in last night and stole our stereo.
Break into something
Definition: Enter forcibly
Example: The firemen had to break into the room to rescue the children.
Break something in
Definition: Wear something a few times so that it doesn’t look/feel new
Example: I need to break these shoes in before we run next week.
Break in
Definition: interrupt
Example: The TV station broke in to report the news of the president’s death.
Break up
Definition: End a relationship
Example: My boyfriend and I broke up before I moved to America.
Break up
Definition: Start laughing (informal)
Example: The kids just broke up as soon as the clown started talking.
Break out
Definition: Escape
Example: The prisoners broke out of jail when the guards weren’t looking.
Break out in something
Definition: develop a skin condition
Example: I broke out in a rash after our camping trip.
Bring somebody down
Definition: Make unhappy
Example: This sad music is bringing me down.
Bring somebody up
Definition: Raise a child
Example: My grandparents brought me up after my parents died.
Bring something up
Definition: Start talking about a subject
Example: My mother walks out of the room when my father brings up sports.
Bring something up
Definition: Vomit
Example: He drank so much that he brought his dinner up in the toilet.
Call around
Definition: phone many different places/people
Example: We called around but we weren’t able to find the car part we needed.
Call somebody back
Definition: Return a phone call
Example: I called the company back but the offices were closed for the weekend.
Call something off
Definition: Cancel
Example: Jason called the wedding off because he wasn’t in love with his fiancé.
Call on somebody
Definition: Ask for an answer or opinion
Example: The professor called on me for question 1.
Call on somebody
Definition: Visit somebody
Example: We called on you last night but you weren’t home.
Call somebody up
Definition: Phone
Example: Give me your phone number and I will call you up when we are in town.
Calm down
Definition: Relax after being angry
Example: You are still mad. You need to calm down before you drive the car.
Catch up
Definition: Get to the same point as somebody else
Example: You’ll have to run faster than that if you want to catch up with Marty.
Check in
Definition: Arrive and register at a hotel or airport
Example: We will get the hotel keys when we check in.
Check out
Definition: Leave a hotel
Example: You have to check out of the hotel before 11:00 AM.
Check somebody/something out
Definition: Look at carefully, investigate
Example: The company checks out all new employees.
Check out somebody/something
Definition: Look at (informal)
Example: Check out the crazy hair on that guy!
Cheer up
Definition: Become happier
Example: She cheered up when she heard the good news.
Cheer somebody up
Definition: Make somebody happier
Example: I brought you some flowers to cheer you up.
Chip in
Definition: Help
Example: If everyone chips in we can get the kitchen painted by noon.
Clean something up
Definition: Tidy, clean
Example: Please clean up your bedroom before you go outside.
Come across something
Definition: Find unexpectedly
Example: I came across these old photos when I was tidying the closet.
Come apart
Definition: Separate
Example: The top and bottom come apart if you pull hard enough.
Come down with something
Definition: become sick
Example: My nephew came down with chicken pox this weekend.
Come forward
Definition: Volunteer for a task or to give evidence
Example: The woman came forward with her husband’s fingerprints.
Come from some place
Definition: Originate in
Example: The art of origami comes from Asia.
Come up with something
Definition: Think of an idea, especially as the first person to do so, or to produce a solution
Example: James comes up with his best story ideas at night, so he writes them down before he forgets them.
Count on somebody/something
Definition: Rely on
Example: I am counting on you to make dinner while I am out.
Cross something out
Definition: Draw a line through
Example: Please cross out your old address and write your new one.
Cut back on something
Definition: Consume less
Example: My doctor wants me to cut back on sweets and fatty foods.
Cut something down
Definition: Make something fall to the ground
Example: We had to cut the old tree in our yard down after the storm.
Cut in
Definition: Interrupt
Example: Your father cut in while I was dancing with your uncle.
Cut in
Definition: Pull in too closely in front of another vehicle
Example: The bus driver got angry when that car cut in.
Cut in
Definition: Start operating (of an engine or electrical device)
Example: The air conditioner cuts in when the temperature gets to 22°C.
Cut something off
Definition: Remove with something sharp
Example: The doctors cut off his leg because it was severely injured.
Cut something off
Definition: Stop providing
Example: The phone company cut off our phone because we didn’t pay the bill.
Cut somebody off
Definition: Take out of a will
Example: My grandparents cut my father off when he remarried.
Cut something out
Definition: Remove part of something (usually with scissors and paper)
Example: I cut this ad out of the newspaper.
Dive into something
Definition: Eagerly begin a pursuit or activity
Example: I’ll dive into that new TV show later tonight.
Do somebody/something over
Definition: Beat up, ransack (informal)
Example: He’s lucky to be alive. His shop was done over by a street gang.
Do something over
Definition: Do again
Example: My teacher wants me to do my essay over because she doesn’t like my topic.
Do away with something
Definition: Discard
Example: It’s time to do away with all of these old tax records.
Do something up
Definition: Fasten, close
Example: Do your coat up before you go outside. It’s snowing!
Dress up
Definition: Wear nice clothing
Example: It’s a fancy restaurant so we have to dress up.
Drop back
Definition: Move back in a position/group
Example: Andrea dropped back to third place when she fell off her bike.
Drop in/by/over
Definition: Come without an appointment
Example: I might drop in/by/over for tea sometime this week.
Drop somebody/something off
Definition: Take somebody/something somewhere and leave them/it there
Example: I have to drop my sister off at work before I come over.
Drop out
Definition: Quit a class, school, etc.
Example: I dropped out of Science because it was too difficult.
Eat Out
Definition: Eat at a restaurant
Example: I don’t feel like cooking tonight. Let’s eat out.
End Up
Definition: Eventually reach/do/decide
Example: We ended up renting a movie instead of going to the theatre.
Fall Apart
Definition: Break into pieces
Example: My new dress fell apart in the washing machine.
Fall Down
Definition: Fall to the ground
Example: The picture you hung up last night fell down this morning.
Fall Out (Separation)
Definition: Separate from an interior
Example: The money must have fallen out of my pocket.
Fall Out (Hair/Teeth)
Definition: Become loose and unattached
Example: His hair started to fall out when he was only 35.
Figure Something Out
Definition: Understand, find the answer
Example: I need to figure out how to fit the piano and the bookshelf in this room.
Fill Something In
Definition: Write information in blanks, as on a form
Example: Please fill in the form with your name, address, and phone number.
Fill Something Out
Definition: Write information in blanks, as on a form
Example: The form must be filled out in capital letters.
Fill Something Up
Definition: Fill to the top
Example: I always fill the water jug up when it is empty.
Find Out
Definition: Discover
Example: We don’t know where he lives. How can we find out?
Find Something Out
Definition: Discover
Example: We tried to keep the time of the party a secret, but Samantha found it out.
Get Something Across/Over
Definition: Communicate, make understandable
Example: I tried to get my point across to the judge, but she wouldn’t listen.
Get Along/On
Definition: Like each other
Example: I was surprised how well my new girlfriend and my sister got along.
Get Around
Definition: Have mobility
Example: My grandfather can get around fine in his new wheelchair.
Get Away
Definition: Go on a vacation
Example: We worked so hard this year that we had to get away for a week.
Get Away with Something
Definition: Do without being noticed or punished
Example: Jason always gets away with cheating in his maths tests.
Get Back
Definition: Return
Example: We got back from our vacation last week.
Get Something Back
Definition: Receive something you had before
Example: Liz finally got her Science notes back from my roommate.
Get Back at Somebody
Definition: Retaliate, take revenge
Example: My sister got back at me for stealing her shoes. She stole my favorite hat.
Get Back into Something
Definition: Become interested in something again
Example: I finally got back into my novel and finished it.
Get By
Definition: To survive or manage at a minimum level
Example: When Sheila lost her job, the family got by with only their savings.
Get On Something
Definition: Step onto a vehicle
Example: We’re going to freeze out here if you don’t let us get on the bus.
Get Over Something (Illness/Loss)
Definition: Recover from an illness, loss, difficulty
Example: I just got over the flu, and now my sister has it.
Get Over Something (Problem)
Definition: Overcome a problem
Example: The company will have to close if it can’t get over the new regulations.
Get Round to Something
Definition: Finally find time to do
Example: I don’t know when I’m going to get round to writing the thank-you cards.
Get Together
Definition: Meet (usually for social reasons)
Example: Let’s get together for a BBQ this weekend.
Get Up (Out of Bed)
Definition: Get out of bed
Example: I got up early today to study for my exam.
Get Up (Stand)
Definition: Stand
Example: You should get up and give the elderly man your seat.
Give Somebody Away
Meaning: Reveal hidden information about somebody
Example: His wife gave him away to the police.
Give Somebody Away
Meaning: Take the bride to the altar
Example: My father gave me away at my wedding.
Give Something Away
Meaning: Ruin a secret
Example: My little sister gave the surprise party away by accident.
Give Something Away
Meaning: Give something to somebody for free
Example: The library was giving away old books on Friday.
Give Something Back
Meaning: Return a borrowed item
Example: I have to give these skates back to Franz before his hockey game.
Give In
Meaning: Reluctantly stop fighting or arguing
Example: My boyfriend didn’t want to go to the ballet, but he finally gave in.
Give Something Out
Meaning: Give to many people (usually at no cost)
Example: They were giving out free perfume samples at the department store.
Give Something Up
Meaning: Quit a habit
Example: I am giving up smoking as of January 1st.
Give Up
Meaning: Stop trying
Example: My maths homework was too difficult, so I gave up.
Go After Somebody
Meaning: Follow somebody
Example: My brother tried to go after the thief in his car.
Go After Something
Meaning: Try to achieve something
Example: I went after my dream and now I am a published writer.
Go Against Somebody
Meaning: Compete, oppose
Example: We are going against the best soccer team in the city tonight.
Go Ahead
Meaning: Start, proceed
Example: Please go ahead and eat before the food gets cold.
Hand Something Down
Meaning: Give something used to somebody else
Example: I handed my old comic books down to my little cousin.
Hand Something In
Meaning: Submit something
Example: I have to hand in my essay by Friday.
Hand Something Out
Meaning: To distribute to a group of people
Example: We will hand out the invitations at the door.
Hand Something Over
Meaning: Give (usually unwillingly)
Example: The police asked the man to hand over his wallet and his weapons.
Hang In
Meaning: Stay positive (informal)
Example: Hang in there. I’m sure you’ll find a job very soon.
Hang On
Meaning: Wait a short time (informal)
Example: Hang on while I grab my coat and shoes!
Hang Out
Meaning: Spend time relaxing (informal)
Example: Instead of going to the party, we are just going to hang out at my place.
Hang Up
Meaning: End a phone call
Example: He didn’t say goodbye before he hung up.
Hold Somebody Back
Meaning: Prevent from doing/going
Example: I had to hold my dog back because there was a cat in the park.
Hold Something Back
Meaning: Hide an emotion
Example: Jamie held back his tears at his grandfather’s funeral.
Hold On
Meaning: Wait a short time
Example: Please hold on while I transfer you to the Sales Department.
Hold Onto Somebody
Meaning: Hold firmly using your hands or arms
Example: Hold onto your hat because it’s very windy outside.
Hold Somebody Up
Meaning: Rob
Example: A man in a black mask held the bank up this morning.
Keep On Doing Something
Meaning: Continue doing
Example: Keep on stirring until the liquid comes to a boil.
Keep Something From Somebody
Meaning: Not tell
Example: We kept our relationship from our parents for two years.
Keep Somebody Out
Meaning: Stop from entering
Example: Try to keep the wet dog out of the living room.
Keep Something Up
Meaning: Continue at the same rate
Example: If you keep those results up, you will get into a great college.
Let Somebody Down
Meaning: Fail to support or help, disappoint
Example: I need you to be on time. Don’t let me down this time.
Let Somebody In
Meaning: Allow to enter
Example: Can you let the cat in before you go to school?
Let Somebody Know
Meaning: To tell someone something
Example: Let me know as soon as Leslie texts back.
Log In (or On)
Meaning: Sign in (to a website, database, etc.)
Example: I can’t log in to the website because I’ve forgotten my password.
Log Out (or Off)
Meaning: Sign out (of a website, database, etc.)
Example: If you don’t log off, somebody could get into your account.
Look After Somebody
Meaning: Take care of
Example: I have to look after my sick grandmother.
Look Down On Somebody
Meaning: Think less of, consider inferior
Example: Ever since we stole that chocolate bar, your dad has looked down on me.
Look For Somebody
Meaning: Try to find
Example: I’m looking for a red dress for the wedding.
Look Forward To Something
Meaning: Be excited about the future
Example: I’m looking forward to the Christmas break.
Look Into Something
Meaning: Investigate
Example: We are going to look into the price of snowboards today.
Look Out
Meaning: Be careful, vigilant, and take notice
Example: Look out! That car’s going to hit you!
Look Out For Somebody
Meaning: Be especially vigilant for
Example: Don’t forget to look out for snakes on the hiking trail.
Look Something Over
Meaning: Check, examine
Example: Can you look over my essay for spelling mistakes?
Look Something Up
Meaning: Search and find information in a reference book or database
Example: We can look her phone number up on the Internet.
Look Up To Somebody
Meaning: Have a lot of respect for
Example: My little sister has always looked up to me.
Make Something Up
Meaning: Invent, lie about something
Example: Josie made up a story about why we were late.
Make Up
Meaning: Forgive each other
Example: We were angry last night, but we made up at breakfast.
Make Somebody Up
Meaning: Apply cosmetics to
Example: My sisters made me up for my graduation party.
Mix Something Up
Meaning: Confuse two or more things
Example: I mixed up the twins’ names again!
Not care for somebody/something
Definition: Not like (formal)
Example: I don’t care for his behaviour.
Pass Away
Meaning: Die
Example: His uncle passed away last night after a long illness.
Pass Out
Meaning: Faint
Example: It was so hot in the church that an elderly lady passed out.
Pass Something Out
Meaning: Give the same thing to many people
Example: The professor passed the textbooks out before class.
Pass Something Up
Meaning: Decline (usually something good)
Example: I passed up the job because I am afraid of change.
Pay Somebody Back
Meaning: Return owed money
Example: Thanks for buying my ticket. I’ll pay you back on Friday.
Pay for Something
Meaning: Be punished for doing something bad
Example: That bully will pay for being mean to my little brother.
Pick Something Out
Meaning: Choose
Example: I picked out three sweaters for you to try on.
Point Somebody/ Something Out
Meaning: Indicate with your finger
Example: I’ll point my boyfriend out when he runs by.
Pull Somebody/ Something Up
Meaning: To retrieve or bring something nearer
Example: Eugene pulled the document up on his computer.
Put Something Down
Meaning: Put what you are holding on a surface or floor
Example: You can put the groceries down on the kitchen counter.
Put Somebody Down
Meaning: Insult, make somebody feel stupid
Example: The students put the substitute teacher down because his pants were too short.
Put Something Off
Meaning: Postpone
Example: We are putting off our trip until January because of the hurricane.
Put Something On
Meaning: To dress oneself in
Example: I always put my backpack on before leaving the house.
Put Something Out
Meaning: Extinguish
Example: The neighbors put the fire out before the firemen arrived.
Put Something Together
Meaning: Assemble
Example: I have to put the crib together before the baby arrives.
Put Up With Somebody/ Something
Meaning: Tolerate
Example: I don’t think I can put up with three small children in the car.
Put Something On
Meaning: Put clothing/accessories on your body
Example: Don’t forget to put on your new earrings for the party.
Run Into Somebody
Meaning: Meet unexpectedly
Example: I ran into an old school-friend at the mall.
Run Over Somebody
Meaning: Drive a vehicle over a person or thing
Example: I accidentally ran over your bicycle in the driveway.
Run Over/Through Something
Meaning: Rehearse, review
Example: Let’s run over/through these lines one more time before the show.
Run Away
Meaning: Leave unexpectedly, escape
Example: The child ran away from home and has been missing for three days.
Run Out
Meaning: Have none left
Example: We ran out of shampoo so I had to wash my hair with soap.
See To Something
Meaning: To make sure something is done
Example: I’ll see to watering the plants while you’re gone.
Send Something Back
Meaning: Return (usually by mail)
Example: My letter got sent back to me because I used the wrong stamp.
Set Something Up
Meaning: Arrange, organize
Example: Our boss set a meeting up with the president of the company.
Set Somebody Up
Meaning: Trick, trap
Example: The police set up the car thief by using a hidden camera.
Shop Around
Meaning: Compare prices
Example: I want to shop around a little before I decide on these boots.
Show Off
Meaning: Act extra special for people watching (usually boastfully)
Example: He always shows off on his skateboard.
Sleep Over
Meaning: Stay somewhere for the night (informal)
Example: You should sleep over tonight if the weather is too bad to drive home.
Sort Something Out
Meaning: Organize, resolve a problem
Example: We need to sort the bills out before the first of the month.
Stick To Something
Meaning: Continue doing something, limit yourself to one particular thing
Example: You will lose weight if you stick to the diet.
Switch Something Off
Meaning: Stop the energy flow, turn off
Example: The light’s too bright. Could you switch it off?
Switch Something On
Meaning: Start the energy flow, turn on
Example: We heard the news as soon as we switched on the car radio.
Take After Somebody
Meaning: Resemble a family member
Example: I take after my mother. We are both impatient.
Take Something Apart
Meaning: Purposely break into pieces
Example: He took the car brakes apart and found the problem.
Take Something Back
Meaning: Return an item
Example: I have to take our new TV back because it doesn’t work.
Take Off
Meaning: Start to fly
Example: My plane takes off in five minutes.
Take Something Off
Meaning: Remove something (usually clothing)
Example: Take off your socks and shoes and come in the lake!
Take Something Out
Meaning: Remove from a place or thing
Example: Can you take the garbage out to the street for me?
Take Somebody Out
Meaning: Pay for somebody to go somewhere with you
Example: My grandparents took us out for dinner and a movie.
Tear Something Up
Meaning: Rip into pieces
Example: I tore up my ex-boyfriend’s letters and gave them back to him.
Think Back
Meaning: Remember (often + to, sometimes + on)
Example: When I think back on my youth, I wish I had studied harder.
Think Something Over
Meaning: Consider
Example: I’ll have to think this job offer over before I make my final decision.
Throw Something Away
Meaning: Dispose of
Example: We threw our old furniture away when we won the lottery.
Turn Something Down
Meaning: Decrease the volume or strength (heat, light, etc.)
Example: Please turn the TV down while the guests are here.
Turn Something Down
Meaning: Refuse
Example: I turned the job down because I don’t want to move.
Turn Something Off
Meaning: Stop the energy flow, switch off
Example: Your mother wants you to turn the TV off and come for dinner.
Turn Something On
Meaning: Start the energy, switch on
Example: It’s too dark in here. Let’s turn some lights on.
Turn Something Up
Meaning: Increase the volume or strength (heat, light, etc.)
Example: Can you turn the music up? This is my favorite song.
Turn Up
Meaning: Appear suddenly
Example: Our cat turned up after we put posters up all over the neighborhood.
Try Something On
Meaning: Sample clothing
Example: I’m going to try these jeans on, but I don’t think they will fit.
Try Something Out
Meaning: Test
Example: I am going to try this new brand of detergent out.
Use Something Up
Meaning: Finish the supply
Example: The kids used all of the toothpaste up so we need to buy some more.
Wait On Somebody
Meaning: To serve someone, especially at a restaurant
Example: Billie eagerly waited on the table of new customers, hoping for a big tip.
Wait Out
Meaning: To wait until an event or period is over
Example: They decided to wait out the rain before going on a walk.
Wake Up
Meaning: Stop sleeping
Example: We have to wake up early for work on Monday.
Warm Somebody/ Something Up
Meaning: Increase the temperature
Example: You can warm your feet up in front of the fireplace.
Warm Up
Meaning: Prepare the body for exercise
Example: I always warm up by doing sit-ups before I go for a run.
Wear Off
Meaning: Fade away
Example: Most of my make-up wore off before I got to the party.
Work Out
Meaning: Exercise
Example: I work out at the gym three times a week.
Work Out
Meaning: Be successful
Example: Our plan worked out fine.
Work Something Out
Meaning: Make a calculation
Example: We have to work out the total cost before we buy the house.
