Phrasal Verbs List

Phrasal verbs are usually two-word phrases consisting of verb + adverb or verb +
preposition. Think of them as you would any other English vocabulary. Study them as
you come across them, rather than trying to memorize many at once. Use the list below
as a reference guide when you find an expression that you don't recognize. The
examples will help you understand the meanings. If you think of each phrasal verb as a
separate verb with a specific meaning, you will be able to remember it more easily. Like
many other verbs, phrasal verbs often have more than one meaning.

This list shows about 200 common phrasal verbs, with meanings and examples. Only
the most usual meanings are given. Some phrasal verbs may have additional meanings.

As well as learning their meanings, you need to learn how to use phrasal verbs properly.
Some phrasal verbs require a direct object (someone/something), while others do not.
Some phrasal verbs can be separated by the object, while others cannot. Review this
phrasal verbs grammar from time to time so that you don't forget the rules!

Verb Meaning Example

Brian asked Judy out to

ask someone out invite on a date
dinner and a movie.

ask many people the same I asked around but nobody

ask around
question has seen my wallet.

Your purchases add up to

add up to something equal
$205.32.

You'll have to back up your

back something up reverse
car so that I can get out.

My wife backed me up over

back someone up support
my decision to quit my job.

The racing car blew up after

blow up explode
it crashed into the fence.

We have to blow 50 balloons

blow something up add air
up for the party.

Our car broke down at the

stop functioning (vehicle,
break down side of the highway in the
machine)
snowstorm.

The woman broke down

break down get upset when the police told her that
her son had died.

break something down divide into smaller parts Our teacher broke the final
 project down into three
separate parts.

Somebody broke in last

break in force entry to a building
night and stole our stereo.

The firemen had to break

break into something enter forcibly into the room to rescue the
children.

wear something a few times

I need to break these shoes
break something in so that it doesn't look/feel
in before we run next week.
new

The TV station broke in to

break in interrupt report the news of the
president's death.

My boyfriend and I broke

break up end a relationship up before I moved to
America.

The kids just broke up as

break up start laughing (informal) soon as the clown started
talking.

The prisoners broke out of

break out escape jail when the guards weren't
looking.

I broke out in a rash after

break out in something develop a skin condition
our camping trip.

This sad music is bringing

bring someone down make unhappy
me down.

My grandparents brought
bring someone up raise a child
me up after my parents died.

My mother walks out of the

bring something up start talking about a subject room when my father brings
up sports.

He drank so much that he

bring something up vomit brought his dinner up in the
toilet.

We called around but we

phone many different
call around weren't able to find the car
places/people
part we needed.
 I called the company back
call someone back return a phone call but the offices were closed
for the weekend.

Jason called the wedding off

call something off cancel because he wasn't in love
with his fiancé.

The professor called on me

call on someone ask for an answer or opinion
for question 1.

We called on you last night

call on someone visit someone
but you weren't home.

Give me your phone number

call someone up phone and I will call you up when
we are in town.

You are still mad. You need

calm down relax after being angry to calm down before you
drive the car.

not care for I don't care for his

not like (formal)
someone/something behaviour.

You'll have to run faster than

get to the same point as
catch up that if you want to catch up
someone else
with Marty.

arrive and register at a hotel We will get the hotel keys

check in
or airport when we check in.

You have to check out of the

check out leave a hotel
hotel before 11:00 AM.

check The company checks out all

look at carefully, investigate
someone/something out new employees.

check out Check out the crazy hair on

look at (informal)
someone/something that guy!

She cheered up when she

cheer up become happier
heard the good news.

I brought you some flowers

cheer someone up make happier
to cheer you up.

If everyone chips in we can

chip in help get the kitchen painted by
noon.
 Please clean up your
clean something up tidy, clean bedroom before you go
outside.

I came across these old

come across something find unexpectedly photos when I was tidying
the closet.

The top and bottom come

come apart separate apart if you pull hard
enough.

My nephew came down

come down with
become sick with chicken pox this
something
weekend.

The woman came forward

volunteer for a task or to
come forward with her husband's finger
give evidence
prints.

The art of origami comes

come from somewhere originate in
from Asia.

count on I am counting on you to

rely on
someone/something make dinner while I am out.

Please cross out your old

cross something out draw a line through address and write your new
one.

My doctor wants me to cut

cut back on something consume less back on sweets and fatty
foods.

We had to cut the old tree in

make something fall to the
cut something down our yard down after the
ground
storm.

Your father cut in while I

cut in interrupt
was dancing with your uncle.

pull in too closely in front of The bus driver got angry

cut in
another vehicle when that car cut in.

The air conditioner cuts in

start operating (of an engine
cut in when the temperature gets to
or electrical device)
22°C.

The doctors cut off his leg

remove with something
cut something off because it was severely
sharp
injured.
 The phone company cut off
cut something off stop providing our phone because we didn't
pay the bill.

My grandparents cut my
cut someone off take out of a will
father off when he remarried.

remove part of something

I cut this ad out of the
cut something out (usually with scissors and
newspaper.
paper)

He's lucky to be alive. His

do someone/something beat up, ransack (Br.E.,
shop was done over by a
over informal)
street gang.

My teacher wants me to do
do something over do again (N.Amer.) my essay over because she
doesn't like my topic.

do away with It's time to do away with all

discard
something of these old tax records.

Do your coat up before you

do something up fasten, close
go outside. It's snowing!

It's a fancy restaurant so we

dress up wear nice clothing
have to dress up.

Andrea dropped back to

move back in a
drop back third place when she fell off
position/group
her bike.

come without an I might drop in/by/over for

drop in/by/over
appointment tea sometime this week.

take someone/something
drop I have to drop my sister off
somewhere and leave them/it
someone/something off at work before I come over.
there

I dropped out of Science

drop out quit a class, school etc
because it was too difficult.

I don't feel like cooking

eat out eat at a restaurant
tonight. Let's eat out.

We ended up renting a
end up eventually reach/do/decide movie instead of going to the
theatre.

My new dress fell apart in

fall apart break into pieces
the washing machine.
 The picture that you hung up
fall down fall to the ground last night fell down this
morning.

The money must have fallen

fall out separate from an interior
out of my pocket.

(of hair, teeth) become loose His hair started to fall out
fall out
and unattached when he was only 35.

I need to figure out how to

figure something out understand, find the answer fit the piano and the
bookshelf in this room.

Please fill in the form with

to write information in
fill something in your name, address, and
blanks (Br.E.)
phone number.

to write information in The form must be filled out

fill something out
blanks (N.Amer.) in capital letters.

I always fill the water jug up

fill something up fill to the top
when it is empty.

We don't know where he

find out discover
lives. How can we find out?

We tried to keep the time of

find something out discover the party a secret, but
Samantha found it out.

I tried to get my point

get something communicate, make
across/over to the judge but
across/over understandable
she wouldn't listen.

I was surprised how well my

get along/on like each other new girlfriend and my sister
got along/on.

My grandfather can get

get around have mobility around fine in his new
wheelchair.

We worked so hard this year

get away go on a vacation that we had to get away for a
week.

get away with do without being noticed or Jason always gets away with
something punished cheating in his maths tests.

get back return We got back from our

 vacation last week.

Liz finally got her Science

receive something you had
get something back notes back from my room-
before
mate.

My sister got back at me for

get back at someone retaliate, take revenge stealing her shoes. She stole
my favourite hat.

become interested in I finally got back into my

get back into something
something again novel and finished it.

We're going to freeze out

get on something step onto a vehicle here if you don't let us get on
the bus.

recover from an illness, loss, I just got over the flu and
get over something
difficulty now my sister has it.

The company will have to

get over something overcome a problem close if it can't get over the
new regulations.

finally find time to do I don't know when I am

get round to something (N.Amer.: get around to going to get round to
something) writing the thank you cards.

meet (usually for social Let's get together for a BBQ

get together
reasons) this weekend.

I got up early today to study

get up get out of bed
for my exam.

You should get up and give

get up stand
the elderly man your seat.

reveal hidden information His wife gave him away to

give someone away
about someone the police.

My father gave me away at

give someone away take the bride to the altar
my wedding.

My little sister gave the

give something away ruin a secret surprise party away by
accident.

give something to someone The library was giving away

give something away
for free old books on Friday.

give something back return a borrowed item I have to give these skates
 back to Franz before his
hockey game.

My boyfriend didn't want to

reluctantly stop fighting or
give in go to the ballet, but he
arguing
finally gave in.

They were giving out free

give to many people (usually
give something out perfume samples at the
at no cost)
department store.

I am giving up smoking as
give something up quit a habit
of January 1st.

My maths homework was

give up stop trying
too difficult so I gave up.

My brother tried to go after

go after someone follow someone
the thief in his car.

I went after my dream and

go after something try to achieve something
now I am a published writer.

We are going against the

go against someone compete, oppose best soccer team in the city
tonight.

Please go ahead and eat

go ahead start, proceed
before the food gets cold.

I have to go back home and

go back return to a place
get my lunch.

leave home to go on a social We're going out for dinner

go out
event tonight.

Jesse has been going out

go out with someone date with Luke since they met
last winter.

Please go over your answers

go over something review
before you submit your test.

I haven't seen Tina for a long

go over visit someone nearby time. I think I'll go over for
an hour or two.

When I was young, we went

go without something suffer lack or deprivation
without winter boots.

grow apart stop being friends over time My best friend and I grew
 apart after she changed
schools.

My roses grew back this

grow back regrow
summer.

When Jack grows up he

grow up become an adult
wants to be a fireman.

Elizabeth needs a new pair

grow out of something get too big for of shoes because she has
grown out of her old ones.

This bike is too big for him

grow into something grow big enough to fit now, but he should grow
into it by next year.

I handed my old comic

give something used to
hand something down books down to my little
someone else
cousin.

I have to hand in my essay

hand something in submit
by Friday.

to distribute to a group of We will hand out the

hand something out
people invitations at the door.

The police asked the man to

hand something over give (usually unwillingly) hand over his wallet and his
weapons.

stay positive (N.Amer., Hang in there. I'm sure

hang in
informal) you'll find a job very soon.

Hang on while I grab my

hang on wait a short time (informal)
coat and shoes!

Instead of going to the party

spend time relaxing
hang out we are just going to hang
(informal)
out at my place.

He didn't say goodbye before

hang up end a phone call
he hung up.

hold I had to hold my dog back

someone/something prevent from doing/going because there was a cat in
back the park.

Jamie held back his tears at

hold something back hide an emotion
his grandfather's funeral.
 Please hold on while I
hold on wait a short time transfer you to the Sales
Department.

hold onto hold firmly using your hands Hold onto your hat because
someone/something or arms it's very windy outside.

hold A man in a black mask held

rob
someone/somethingup the bank up this morning.

keep on doing Keep on stirring until the

continue doing
something liquid comes to a boil.

We kept our relationship

keep something from
not tell from our parents for two
someone
years.

keep Try to keep the wet dog out

stop from entering
someone/something out of the living room.

If you keep those results up

keep something up continue at the same rate you will get into a great
college.

fail to support or help, I need you to be on time.

let someone down
disappoint Don't let me down this time.

Can you let the cat in before

let someone in allow to enter
you go to school?

look after I have to look after my sick

take care of
someone/something grandmother.

Ever since we stole that

think less of, consider
look down on someone chocolate bar your dad has
inferior
looked down on me.

look for I'm looking for a red dress

try to find
someone/something for the wedding.

look forward to I'm looking forward to the

be excited about the future
something Christmas break.

We are going to look into

look into something investigate the price of snowboards
today.

be careful, vigilant, and take Look out! That car's going to

look out
notice hit you!

look out for be especially vigilant for Don't forget to look out for
someone/something snakes on the hiking trail.

Can you look over my essay

look something over check, examine
for spelling mistakes?

search and find information

We can look her phone
look something up in a reference book or
number up on the Internet.
database

My little sister has always

look up to someone have a lot of respect for
looked up to me.

Josie made up a story about

make something up invent, lie about something
why we were late.

We were angry last night,

make up forgive each other
but we made up at breakfast.

My sisters made me up for

make someone up apply cosmetics to
my graduation party.

I mixed up the twins' names

mix something up confuse two or more things
again!

His uncle passed away last

pass away die
night after a long illness.

It was so hot in the church

pass out faint that an elderly lady passed
out.

give the same thing to many The professor passed the

pass something out
people textbooks out before class.

decline (usually something I passed up the job because I

pass something up
good) am afraid of change.

Thanks for buying my ticket.

pay someone back return owed money
I'll pay you back on Friday.

be punished for doing That bully will pay for being

pay for something
something bad mean to my little brother.

I picked out three sweaters

pick something out choose
for you to try on.

point I'll point my boyfriend out

indicate with your finger
someone/something out when he runs by.

put what you are holding on You can put the groceries
put something down
a surface or floor down on the kitchen counter.

insult, make someone feel
put someone down
stupid
The students put the
substitute teacher down
because his pants were too
short.

We are putting off our trip

put something off postpone until January because of the
hurricane.

The neighbours put the fire

put something out extinguish out before the firemen
arrived.

I have to put the crib

put something together assemble together before the baby
arrives.

I don't think I can put up

put up with
tolerate with three small children in
someone/something
the car.

put clothing/accessories on Don't forget to put on your

put something on
your body new earrings for the party.

run into I ran into an old school-

meet unexpectedly
someone/something friend at the mall.

run over drive a vehicle over a person I accidentally ran over your
someone/something or thing bicycle in the driveway.

Let's run over/through

run over/through
rehearse, review these lines one more time
something
before the show.

The child ran away from

run away leave unexpectedly, escape home and has been missing
for three days.

We ran out of shampoo so I

run out have none left had to wash my hair with
soap.

My letter got sent back to

send something back return (usually by mail) me because I used the wrong
stamp.

Our boss set a meeting up

set something up arrange, organize with the president of the
company.

set someone up trick, trap The police set up the car

 thief by using a hidden
camera.

I want to shop around a

shop around compare prices little before I decide on these
boots.

act extra special for people He always shows off on his

show off
watching (usually boastfully) skateboard

You should sleep over

stay somewhere for the night
sleep over tonight if the weather is too
(informal)
bad to drive home.

We need to sort the bills out

sort something out organize, resolve a problem
before the first of the month.

continue doing something,

You will lose weight if you
stick to something limit yourself to one
stick to the diet.
particular thing

The light's too bright. Could

switch something off stop the energy flow, turn off
you switch it off.

We heard the news as soon

switch something on start the energy flow, turn on as we switched on the car
radio.

I take after my mother. We

take after someone resemble a family member
are both impatient.

He took the car brakes apart

take something apart purposely break into pieces
and found the problem.

I have to take our new TV

take something back return an item back because it doesn't
work.

My plane takes off in five

take off start to fly
minutes.

remove something (usually Take off your socks and

take something off
clothing) shoes and come in the lake!

Can you take the garbage

take something out remove from a place or thing
out to the street for me?

pay for someone to go My grandparents took us out

take someone out
somewhere with you for dinner and a movie.

tear something up rip into pieces I tore up my ex-boyfriend's

 letters and gave them back to
him.

When I think back on my

remember (often + to,
think back youth, I wish I had studied
sometimes + on)
harder.

I'll have to think this job

think something over consider offer over before I make my
final decision.

We threw our old furniture

throw something away dispose of away when we won the
lottery.

decrease the volume or Please turn the TV down

turn something down
strength (heat, light etc) while the guests are here.

I turned the job down

turn something down refuse because I don't want to
move.

Your mother wants you to

stop the energy flow, switch
turn something off turn the TV off and come
off
for dinner.

It's too dark in here. Let's

turn something on start the energy, switch on
turn some lights on.

increase the volume or Can you turn the music up?

turn something up
strength (heat, light etc) This is my favourite song.

Our cat turned up after we

turn up appear suddenly put posters up all over the
neighbourhood.

I'm going to try these jeans

try something on sample clothing on, but I don't think they will
fit.

I am going to try this new

try something out test
brand of detergent out.

The kids used all of the

use something up finish the supply toothpaste up so we need to
buy some more.

We have to wake up early

wake up stop sleeping
for work on Monday.

warm increase the temperature You can warm your feet up

someone/something up in front of the fireplace.

I always warm up by doing

warm up prepare body for exercise
sit-ups before I go for a run.

Most of my make-up wore

wear off fade away
off before I got to the party.

I work out at the gym three

work out exercise
times a week.

work out be successful Our plan worked out fine.

We have to work out the

work something out make a calculation total cost before we buy the
house.

Br.E.: British English; N.Amer.: North American