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.
Our teacher broke the final
break something down divide into smaller parts project down into three
separate parts.
Somebody broke in last night
break in force entry to a building
and stole our stereo.
break into something enter forcibly The firemen had to break
 into the room to rescue the
children.
wear something a few times
I need to break these shoes in
break something in so that it doesn't look/feel
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 up
break up end a relationship
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 our
break out in something develop a skin condition
camping trip.
This sad music is bringing
bring someone down make unhappy
me down.
My grandparents brought me
bring someone up raise a child
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.
calm down relax after being angry You are still mad. You need
 to calm down before you
drive the car.
not care for
not like (formal) I don't care for his behaviour.
someone/something
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 to
cheer someone up make happier
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.
come down with My nephew came down with
become sick
something chicken pox this weekend.
The woman came forward
volunteer for a task or to give
come forward with her husband's finger
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.
cut back on something consume less My doctor wants me to cut
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 was
cut in interrupt
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
cut something off remove with something sharp because it was severely
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.
I might drop in/by/over for
drop in/by/over come without an appointment
tea sometime this week.
take someone/something
drop I have to drop my sister off at
somewhere and leave them/it
someone/something off work before I come over.
there
I dropped out of Science
drop out quit a class, school etc
because it was too difficult.
eat out eat at a restaurant I don't feel like cooking
 tonight. Let's eat out.
We ended up renting a movie
end up eventually reach/do/decide
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 fit
figure something out understand, find the answer the piano and the bookshelf in
this room.
Please fill in the form with
to write information in blanks
fill something in your name, address, and
(Br.E.)
phone number.
to write information in blanks The form must be filled out
fill something out
(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.
We got back from our
get back return
vacation last week.
get something back receive something you had Liz finally got her Science
before notes back from my room-
 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 here
get on something step onto a vehicle 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 going
get round to something (N.Amer.: get around to to get round to writing the
something) 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.
I have to give these skates
give something back return a borrowed item 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 finally
arguing
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 of
give something up quit a habit
January 1st.
My maths homework was too
give up stop trying
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 best
go against someone compete, oppose 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 with
go out with someone date 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.
My best friend and I grew
grow apart stop being friends over time 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 of
grow out of something get too big for 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.
give something used to I handed my old comic books
hand something down
someone else down to my little 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 you'll
hang in
informal) find a job very soon.
Hang on while I grab my coat
hang on wait a short time (informal)
and shoes!
Instead of going to the party
spend time relaxing
hang out we are just going to hang out
(informal)
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 the
back 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
look down on someone think less of, consider inferior chocolate bar your dad has
looked down on me.
look for I'm looking for a red dress for
try to find
someone/something the wedding.
look forward to I'm looking forward to the
be excited about the future
something Christmas break.
look into something investigate We are going to look into 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 Don't forget to look out for
be especially vigilant 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, but
make up forgive each other
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 a You can put the groceries
put something down
surface or floor down on the kitchen counter.
The students put the
insult, make someone feel substitute teacher down
put someone down
stupid because his pants were too
short.
put something off postpone We are putting off our trip
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 these
run over/through
rehearse, review lines one more time before the
something
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 me
send something back return (usually by mail) because I used the wrong
stamp.
Our boss set a meeting up
set something up arrange, organize with the president of the
company.
The police set up the car thief
set someone up trick, trap
by using a hidden camera.
I want to shop around a little
shop around compare prices 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.
stick to something continue doing something, You will lose weight if you
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 as
switch something on start the energy flow, turn on
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 out
take something out remove from a place or thing
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.
I tore up my ex-boyfriend's
tear something up rip into pieces 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 offer
think something over consider 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 for
off
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 for
wake up stop sleeping
work on Monday.
warm You can warm your feet up
increase the temperature
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 total
work something out make a calculation
cost before we buy the house.

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