Phrasal Verbs
What is a Phrasal Verb?
A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb + one or more particles (a preposition or adverb) that together create a new meaning. Learn common English phrasal verbs with simple meanings and examples to improve your speaking and writing skills
Come around
Meaning: Change one’s opinion or visit someone.
Example: She didn’t like the idea at first, but she came around.
Ask out
Meaning: Invite someone on a date.
Example: He asked her out to dinner.
Back up
Meaning: Support or make a copy.
Example: Make sure to back up your files.
Break down
Meaning: Stop working or become emotional.
Example: My car broke down on the way home.
Break up
Meaning: End a relationship.
Example: They broke up after two years together.
Bring up
Meaning: Start talking about something.
Example: Don’t bring up politics at dinner.
Call around
Meaning: Phone many people or places.
Example: I called around to find a good hotel.
Call off
Meaning: Cancel something.
Example: They called off the wedding.
Calm down
Meaning: Relax after being angry or upset.
Example: Please calm down and explain what happened.
Carry on
Meaning: Continue doing something.
Example: Carry on with your work.
Catch up
Meaning: Reach the same level as others.
Example: I need to catch up on my homework.
Check in
Meaning: Register at a hotel or airport.
Example: We checked in at 3 p.m.
Check out
Meaning: Leave a hotel / look at something.
Example: Check out this new restaurant!
Cheer up
Meaning: Become happier.
Example: Cheer up! Things will get better.
Clean up
Meaning: Make something clean and tidy.
Example: Let’s clean up the kitchen.
Come across
Meaning: Find something by chance.
Example: I came across an old photo of us.
Come back
Meaning: Return.
Example: He came back from vacation yesterday.
Come between
Meaning: Cause a disagreement or separation.
Example: Don’t let money come between you and your friends.
Come down with
Meaning: Become sick.
Example: I think I’m coming down with a cold.
Come in
Meaning: Enter.
Example: Please come in and sit down.
Come out of
Meaning: Emerge from a situation or place.
Example: She came out of the meeting looking happy.
Come up with
Meaning: Think of an idea or solution.
Example: He came up with a great plan.
Count on
Meaning: Rely on someone or something.
Example: You can count on me for help.
Crack down on
Meaning: Enforce rules or laws strictly.
Example: The school is cracking down on cheating.
Cut down (on)
Meaning: Reduce the amount of something.
Example: I need to cut down on sugar.
Dive into
Meaning: Start something with enthusiasm.
Example: She dove into her new project right away.
Do over
Meaning: Do again.
Example: I made a mistake and had to do the report over.
Dress up
Meaning: Wear formal or fancy clothes.
Example: We dressed up for the wedding.
Drop off
Meaning: Deliver someone or something.
Example: I’ll drop you off at school.
Eat out
Meaning: Eat at a restaurant.
Example: We usually eat out on Fridays.
Figure out
Meaning: Understand or solve something.
Example: I can’t figure out this math problem.
Fill in
Meaning: Write information on a form.
Example: Please fill in this application.
Fill up
Meaning: Make something full.
Example: He filled up the tank with gas.
Find out
Meaning: Discover information.
Example: I just found out she’s moving.
Get across
Meaning: Communicate an idea clearly.
Example: He tried to get his point across.
Get along (with)
Meaning: Have a good relationship.
Example: I get along well with my coworkers.
Get around to
Meaning: Finally do something.
Example: I haven’t gotten around to cleaning yet.
Get at
Meaning: Suggest or imply something.
Example: What are you getting at?
Get away
Meaning: Escape or take a vacation.
Example: We’re hoping to get away this weekend.
Get away with
Meaning: Do something bad without punishment.
Example: He got away with cheating on the test.
Get back
Meaning: Return.
Example: I’ll get back home by 7 p.m.
Get back at
Meaning: Take revenge.
Example: She got back at him for the prank.
Get down
Meaning: Feel sad or depressed.
Example: Rainy days really get me down.
Get down to
Meaning: Start focusing on something serious.
Example: Let’s get down to business.
Get in on
Meaning: Become involved in something.
Example: I want to get in on that deal.
Get into
Meaning: Become interested in or enter a place.
Example: She’s really getting into yoga.
Get out of
Meaning: Avoid doing something.
Example: He got out of doing the dishes.
Get over
Meaning: Recover from something (illness or emotion).
Example: It took her weeks to get over the flu.
Get through
Meaning: Finish or survive something difficult.
Example: I got through the exam somehow.
Get to
Meaning: Reach or affect someone.
Example: His rude comments really got to me.
Get up
Meaning: Rise from bed.
Example: I get up at 7 every morning.
Give away
Meaning: Give something for free.
Example: They gave away free samples.
Give up
Meaning: Stop trying.
Example: Never give up on your dreams.
Go against
Meaning: Oppose or resist.
Example: That goes against our company rules.
Go along with
Meaning: Agree or follow a plan.
Example: I’ll go along with your idea.
Go for
Meaning: Try to achieve something.
Example: You should go for that job!
Go on
Meaning: Continue or happen.
Example: Go on with your story.
Go out
Meaning: Leave home for fun.
Example: We went out dancing last night.
Go over
Meaning: Review or examine something.
Example: Let’s go over the details again.
Grow up
Meaning: Become an adult or mature.
Example: I grew up in a small town.
Hand in
Meaning: Submit something (like homework).
Example: I handed in my report on time.
Hang out
Meaning: Spend time relaxing.
Example: Let’s hang out at the mall.
Hold back
Meaning: Control or hide emotions.
Example: She held back her tears.
Hold on
Meaning: Wait a moment.
Example: Hold on, I’ll check for you.
Keep on
Meaning: Continue doing something.
Example: He kept on talking during the movie.
Keep up
Meaning: Maintain the same pace.
Example: You run fast—I can’t keep up!
Leave out
Meaning: Exclude or omit something.
Example: Don’t leave out any details.
Let down
Meaning: Disappoint someone.
Example: I promised to help and I won’t let you down.
Let go of
Meaning: Release something.
Example: She let go of his hand.
Let in
Meaning: Allow someone to enter.
Example: They let us in without tickets.
Let know
Meaning: Inform someone.
Example: Let me know if you’re coming.
Look after
Meaning: Take care of someone or something.
Example: I’ll look after your cat this weekend.
Look for
Meaning: Try to find something.
Example: I’m looking for my keys.
Look forward to
Meaning: Feel excited about something.
Example: I look forward to the holidays.
Look up
Meaning: Search for information.
Example: I looked up the word in the dictionary.
Look up to
Meaning: Admire or respect someone.
Example: I’ve always looked up to my older brother.
Make up
Meaning: Invent a story or reconcile.
Example: She made up an excuse for being late.
Mix up
Meaning: Confuse two or more things.
Example: I mixed up the twins again!
Pass out
Meaning: Faint or lose consciousness.
Example: He passed out from the heat.
Pick up
Meaning: Collect someone or something.
Example: I’ll pick you up at 8.
Pull up
Meaning: Stop a vehicle.
Example: A taxi pulled up outside the hotel.
Put off
Meaning: Delay or postpone.
Example: We put off the meeting until tomorrow.
Put on
Meaning: Wear clothing.
Example: She put on her jacket.
Put up with
Meaning: Tolerate something unpleasant.
Example: I can’t put up with the noise anymore.
Run out (of)
Meaning: Use all of something.
Example: We ran out of milk this morning.
See to
Meaning: Take care of or handle.
Example: I’ll see to the arrangements.
Set up
Meaning: Arrange or organize something.
Example: They set up a new company.
Show up
Meaning: Arrive or appear.
Example: He didn’t show up for the meeting.
Shut down
Meaning: Turn off or close completely.
Example: The factory shut down last year.
Shut off
Meaning: Stop a machine or device.
Example: She shut off the TV.
Take after
Meaning: Resemble a family member.
Example: He takes after his father in looks and personality.
Take care of
Meaning: Look after someone or something.
Example: She takes care of her younger siblings.
Take off
Meaning: Remove something or rise into the air.
Example: The plane took off at 9 a.m.
Take out
Meaning: Remove or bring someone somewhere.
Example: I’ll take you out to dinner.
Think over
Meaning: Consider something carefully.
Example: I need to think over your offer.
Throw away
Meaning: Discard something.
Example: Don’t throw away that paper!
Top off
Meaning: Fill something completely.
Example: He topped off my glass with water.
Turn down
Meaning: Refuse an offer or lower volume.
Example: She turned down the job offer.
Turn on / Turn off
Meaning: Start or stop a machine/device.
Example: Please turn off the lights.
Wait on
Meaning: Serve someone (in a restaurant, etc.).
Example: The waiter waited on us quickly.
Wake up
Meaning: Stop sleeping.
Example: I wake up at 6 every day.
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