Common Phrasal Verbs List and Examples (PDF) ✅

50 Phrasal Verbs List

To stop doing something or admit you were wrong because people oppose you
1. Back down
Party leaders backed down after latest protests.
To explode
2. Blow up
That car crashed into the building and blew up!
To suddenly stop functioning (used for machinery)
3. Break down
They were on our way to the school when our car broke down.
To mention something
4. Bring up
She’s still very sad about her sister’s death, so don’t bring it up.
To see or meet someone unexpectedly
5. Bump into
We bumped into Mary when we were in city last week.
To cancel
6. Call off
Because of their wedding, we had to call off our holiday.
To make sure someone is okay or safe
7. Check on
The doctor had come to check on his patient
To pay your bill and leave (usually a hotel)
8. Check out
Have you packed yet? We have to check out by 12 pm..
To ask someone if something is okay or permitted
9. Check with
I’m pretty sure I can come to party next week. I just have to check with my parents.
To find something unexpectedly
10. Come across
When I was clearing my phone, I came across to our old messages.
To return
11. Come back
I had a great time here. I’ll come back soon!
To enter
12. Come in
You don’t need to wait– just come in!
To think of a plan or an idea
13. Come up with
She keeps coming up with all kinds of lame excuses.
Reduce the size, amount, or quantity of something.
14. Cut down
I should cut down my salt intake.
To go somewhere (usually someone’s home) for a casual visit
15. Drop by
I’ll be in my office all day. You can drop by for coffee whenever you want.
To take something or someone to a specific place
16. Drop off
You forgot your wallet in my room. I’ll drop it off at your office later.
finally be or do something
17. End up
She ended up marrying his high school boyfriend.
To break into pieces
18. Fall apart
I fell apart after her death.
To collapse and fall to the ground
19. Fall down
He fell down at school today.
To discover
20. Find out
He find out a new way to travel between cities.
To have a good, friendly relationship with someone
21. Get along
We are good friends and always got along with each other.
To escape
22. Get away
The police almost caught him, but he got away.
To be able to live through a difficult situation
23. Get by
They don’t have a lot of money, but they’ll get by.
To recover from a negative experience or an illness
24. Get over
I know your wife mad at you now, but she’ll get over it.
To stand
25. Get up
Can you please get up? I think you’re sitting on wallet.
 To give something to others for free
26. Give away
I think I’m going to give them away. I don’t need these shoes anymore.
To finally agree to someone’s requests after refusing for a while
27. Give in
Our kids have been asking us for a new computer. We finally gave in and got them one.
To stop doing something permanently
28. Give up
Her health is getting worse. She need to give up smoking.
To start or continue a planned activity
29. Go ahead
It seems this project will go ahead without you.
To leave home and go somewhere
30. Go out
I just want to go out and have a party!
To develop into adulthood
31. Grow up
When I grow up, I want to be a musician.
To wait for a short period of time
32. Hang on
Can you hang on for a minute?
To spend time relaxing or socializing casually
33. Hang out
Let’s hang out together sometime soon.
To forcefully tell someone to leave a place
34. Kick out
You kick me out from this house.
To allow someone to enter a place
35. Let in
Let me in please! It’s too cold out here!
To take care of something or someone
36. Look after
Can you look after my boys while I’m away?
To try to find something
37. Look for
I have been looking for you everywhere.
To search for information (usually in a book or online)
38. Look up
I didn’t know what ‘meme’ meant and had to look it up in a dictionary.
To become friendly with someone again or forgive them after a disagreement or fight
39. Make up
John still hasn’t made up with Maryam.
To take revenge
40. Pay back
It is pay back time for all your crimes.
To go somewhere and collect something or someone
41. Pick up
Let’s go to the picnic in one car – I’ll pick you up at 6 o’clock.
To delay doing something
42. Put off
I know I should clean my room, but I’ve been putting it off for weeks.
To begin wearing something
43. Put on
If she wants to play outside in the rain, make sure to put on a coat.
To tolerate something
44. Put up with
The neighbor’s dog barks all night long, but I put up with it because they are nice people.
To have no more of something
45. Run out
We ran out of coffee.
To leave somewhere suddenly
46. Take off
Sh didn’t even say goodbye. She just took off!
To cause something to start working; to activate
47. Turn on
It’s getting dark here; let’s turn on the lights.
To increase the volume, heat, or lights
48. Turn up
This is her favorite song! Turn it up!
To stay awake because you are waiting for something or someone
49. Wait up
She’ll be home late today. You don’t have to wait up for her.
To be careful of danger (usually said as a warning)
50. Watch out
Watch out! There’s a hole on the ground!