Phrasal Verbs List

200 common phrasal verbs, with meanings and example sentences

phrasal verb meaning example sentence

Brian asked Judy out to dinner and a

ask somebody out invite on a date
movie.

I asked around but nobody has seen my

ask around ask many people the same question
wallet.

add up to something equal Your purchases add up to $205.32.

You'll have to back up your car so that I can

back something up reverse
get out.

My wife backed me up over my decision to

back somebody up support
quit my job.

The racing car blew up after it crashed into

blow up explode
the fence.

We have to blow 50 balloons up for the

blow something up add air
party.

Our car broke down at the side of the

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

The woman broke down when the police

break down get upset
told her that her son had died.

break something Our teacher broke the final project down

divide into smaller parts
down into three separate parts.

Somebody broke in last night and stole our

break in force entry to a building
stereo.

break into The firemen had to break into the room to

enter forcibly
something rescue the children.

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

The TV station broke in to report the news

break in interrupt
of the president's death.
phrasal verb meaning example sentence

My boyfriend and I broke up before I

break up end a relationship
moved to America.

The kids just broke up as soon as the clown

break up start laughing (informal)
started talking.

The prisoners broke out of jail when the

break out escape
guards weren't looking.

break out in
develop a skin condition I broke out in a rash after our camping trip.
something

bring somebody
make unhappy This sad music is bringing me down.
down

My grandparents brought me up after my

bring somebody up raise a child
parents died.

My mother walks out of the room when my

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

He drank so much that he brought his

bring something up vomit
dinner up in the toilet.

We called around but we weren't able to

call around phone many different places/people
find the car part we needed.

I called the company back but the offices

call somebody back return a phone call
were closed for the weekend.

Jason called the wedding off because he

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

call on somebody ask for an answer or opinion The professor called on me for question 1.

We called on you last night but you weren't

call on somebody visit somebody
home.

Give me your phone number and I will call

call somebody up phone
you up when we are in town.

You are still mad. You need to calm down

calm down relax after being angry
before you drive the car.
phrasal verb meaning example sentence

not care for

somebody/ not like (formal) I don't care for his behaviour.
something

get to the same point as somebody You'll have to run faster than that if you
catch up
else want to catch up with Marty.

arrive and register at a hotel or We will get the hotel keys when we check
check in
airport in.

You have to check out of the hotel before

check out leave a hotel
11:00 AM.

check somebody/ The company checks out all new

look at carefully, investigate
something out employees.

check out
somebody/ look at (informal) Check out the crazy hair on that guy!
something

She cheered up when she heard the good

cheer up become happier
news.

I brought you some flowers to cheer you

cheer somebody up make happier
up.

If everyone chips in we can get the kitchen

chip in help
painted by noon.

Please clean up your bedroom before you

clean something up tidy, clean
go outside.

come across I came across these old photos when I was

find unexpectedly
something tidying the closet.

The top and bottom come apart if you pull

come apart separate
hard enough.

come down with My nephew came down with chicken pox

become sick
something this weekend.

volunteer for a task or to give The woman came forward with her
come forward
evidence husband's finger prints.
phrasal verb meaning example sentence

come from some

originate in The art of origami comes from Asia.
place

count on somebody/ I am counting on you to make dinner while

rely on
something I am out.

Please cross out your old address and write

cross something out draw a line through
your new one.

cut back on My doctor wants me to cut back on sweets

consume less
something and fatty foods.

We had to cut the old tree in our yard

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

Your father cut in while I was dancing with

cut in interrupt
your uncle.

pull in too closely in front of another The bus driver got angry when that car cut
cut in
vehicle in.

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

The doctors cut off his leg because it was

cut something off remove with something sharp
severely injured.

The phone company cut off our phone

cut something off stop providing
because we didn't pay the bill.

My grandparents cut my father off when

cut somebody off take out of a will
he remarried.

remove part of something (usually

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

do somebody/ He's lucky to be alive. His shop was done

beat up, ransack (BrE, informal)
something over over by a street gang.

My teacher wants me to do my essay over

do something over do again (AmE)
because she doesn't like my topic.

do away with It's time to do away with all of these old

discard
something tax records.
phrasal verb meaning example sentence

Do your coat up before you go outside. It's

do something up fasten, close
snowing!

It's a fancy restaurant so we have to dress

dress up wear nice clothing
up.

Andrea dropped back to third place when

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

I might drop in/by/over for tea sometime

drop in/ by/ over come without an appointment
this week.

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

I dropped out of Science because it was too

drop out quit a class, school etc
difficult.

I don't feel like cooking tonight. Let's eat

eat out eat at a restaurant
out.

We ended up renting a movie instead of

end up eventually reach/do/decide
going to the theatre.

My new dress fell apart in the washing

fall apart break into pieces
machine.

The picture that you hung up last night fell

fall down fall to the ground
down this morning.

The money must have fallen out of my

fall out separate from an interior
pocket.

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

I need to figure out how to fit the piano

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

to write information in blanks, as on Please fill in the form with your name,
fill something in
a form (BrE) address, and phone number.

to write information in blanks, as on The form must be filled out in capital

fill something out
a form (AmE) letters.
phrasal verb meaning example sentence

I always fill the water jug up when it is

fill something up fill to the top
empty.

We don't know where he lives. How can we

find out discover
find out?

We tried to keep the time of the party a

find something out discover
secret, but Samantha found it out.

get something I tried to get my point across/over to the

communicate, make understandable
across/ over judge but she wouldn't listen.

I was surprised how well my new girlfriend

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

My grandfather can get around fine in his

get around have mobility
new wheelchair.

We worked so hard this year that we had

get away go on a vacation
to get away for a week.

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

get back return We got back from our vacation last week.

Liz finally got her Science notes back from

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

get back at My sister got back at me for stealing her

retaliate, take revenge
somebody shoes. She stole my favourite hat.

get back into become interested in something I finally got back into my novel and finished
something again it.

We're going to freeze out here if you don't

get on something step onto a vehicle
let us get on the bus.

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

The company will have to close if it can't

get over something overcome a problem
get over the new regulations.
phrasal verb meaning example sentence

get round to finally find time to do (AmE: get I don't know when I am going to get round
something around to something) to writing the thank you cards.

get together meet (usually for social reasons) Let's get together for a BBQ this weekend.

get up get out of bed I got up early today to study for my exam.

You should get up and give the elderly man

get up stand
your seat.

reveal hidden information about

give somebody away His wife gave him away to the police.
somebody

give somebody away take the bride to the altar My father gave me away at my wedding.

My little sister gave the surprise party

give something away ruin a secret
away by accident.

The library was giving away old books on

give something away give something to somebody for free
Friday.

I have to give these skates back to Franz

give something back return a borrowed item
before his hockey game.

My boyfriend didn't want to go to the

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

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

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

My maths homework was too difficult so I

give up stop trying
gave up.

My brother tried to go after the thief in his

go after somebody follow somebody
car.

I went after my dream and now I am a

go after something try to achieve something
published writer.

We are going against the best soccer team

go against somebody compete, oppose
in the city tonight.

Please go ahead and eat before the food

go ahead start, proceed
gets cold.
phrasal verb meaning example sentence

go back return to a place I have to go back home and get my lunch.

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

go out with Jesse has been going out with Luke since
date
somebody they met last winter.

Please go over your answers before you

go over something review
submit your test.

I haven't seen Tina for a long time. I think

go over visit somebody nearby
I'll go over for an hour or two.

go without When I was young, we went without

suffer lack or deprivation
something winter boots.

My best friend and I grew apart after she

grow apart stop being friends over time
changed schools.

grow back regrow My roses grew back this summer.

This bike is too big for him now, but he

grow into something grow big enough to fit
should grow into it by next year.

grow out of Elizabeth needs a new pair of shoes

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

When Jack grows up he wants to be a

grow up become an adult
fireman.

hand something give something used to somebody I handed my old comic books down to my
down else little cousin.

hand something in submit I have to hand in my essay by Friday.

We will hand out the invitations at the

hand something out to distribute to a group of people
door.

hand something The police asked the man to hand over his
give (usually unwillingly)
over wallet and his weapons.

Hang in there. I'm sure you'll find a job very

hang in stay positive (informal)
soon.

hang on wait a short time (informal) Hang on while I grab my coat and shoes!
phrasal verb meaning example sentence

Instead of going to the party we are just

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

hang up end a phone call He didn't say goodbye before he hung up.

hold somebody/ I had to hold my dog back because there

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

Jamie held back his tears at his

hold something back hide an emotion
grandfather's funeral.

Please hold on while I transfer you to the

hold on wait a short time
Sales Department.

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

hold somebody/ A man in a black mask held the bank up

rob
something up this morning.

keep on doing Keep on stirring until the liquid comes to a

continue doing
something boil.

keep something We kept our relationship from our parents

not tell
from somebody for two years.

keep somebody/ Try to keep the wet dog out of the living
stop from entering
something out room.

If you keep those results up you will get

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

I need you to be on time. Don't let me

let somebody down fail to support or help, disappoint
down this time.

Can you let the cat in before you go to

let somebody in allow to enter
school?

I can't log in to Facebook because I've

log in (or on) sign in (to a website, database etc)
forgotten my password.

If you don't log off somebody could get

log out (or off) sign out (of a website, database etc)
into your account.
phrasal verb meaning example sentence

look after
somebody/ take care of I have to look after my sick grandmother.
something

look down on Ever since we stole that chocolate bar your

think less of, consider inferior
somebody dad has looked down on me.

look for somebody/

try to find I'm looking for a red dress for the wedding.
something

look forward to I'm looking forward to the Christmas

be excited about the future
something break.

We are going to look into the price of

look into something investigate
snowboards today.

look out be careful, vigilant, and take notice Look out! That car's going to hit you!

look out for

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

Can you look over my essay for spelling

look something over check, examine
mistakes?

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

look up to somebody have a lot of respect for My little sister has always looked up to me.

Josie made up a story about why we were

make something up invent, lie about something
late.

We were angry last night, but we made up

make up forgive each other
at breakfast.

My sisters made me up for my graduation

make somebody up apply cosmetics to
party.

mix something up confuse two or more things I mixed up the twins' names again!

His uncle passed away last night after a

pass away die
long illness.
phrasal verb meaning example sentence

It was so hot in the church that an elderly

pass out faint
lady passed out.

The professor passed the textbooks out

pass something out give the same thing to many people
before class.

I passed up the job because I am afraid of

pass something up decline (usually something good)
change.

Thanks for buying my ticket. I'll pay you

pay somebody back return owed money
back on Friday.

be punished for doing something That bully will pay for being mean to my
pay for something
bad little brother.

I picked out three sweaters for you to try

pick something out choose
on.

point somebody/ I'll point my boyfriend out when he runs

indicate with your finger
something out by.

put what you are holding on a You can put the groceries down on the
put something down
surface or floor kitchen counter.

The students put the substitute teacher

put somebody down insult, make somebody feel stupid
down because his pants were too short.

We are putting off our trip until January

put something off postpone
because of the hurricane.

The neighbours put the fire out before the

put something out extinguish
firemen arrived.

put something I have to put the crib together before the

assemble
together baby arrives.

put up with
I don't think I can put up with three small
somebody/ tolerate
children in the car.
something

put clothing/ accessories on your Don't forget to put on your new earrings
put something on
body for the party.

run into somebody/

meet unexpectedly I ran into an old school-friend at the mall.
something
phrasal verb meaning example sentence

run over somebody/ I accidentally ran over your bicycle in the

drive a vehicle over a person or thing
something driveway.

run over/ through Let's run over/through these lines one

rehearse, review
something more time before the show.

The child ran away from home and has

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

We ran out of shampoo so I had to wash

run out have none left
my hair with soap.

My letter got sent back to me because I

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

Our boss set a meeting up with the

set something up arrange, organize
president of the company.

The police set up the car thief by using a

set somebody up trick, trap
hidden camera.

I want to shop around a little before I

shop around compare prices
decide on these boots.

act extra special for people watching

show off He always shows off on his skateboard
(usually boastfully)

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

We need to sort the bills out before the

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

continue doing something, limit

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

The light's too bright. Could you switch it

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

We heard the news as soon as we switched

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

I take after my mother. We are both

take after somebody resemble a family member
impatient.
phrasal verb meaning example sentence

take something He took the car brakes apart and found the
purposely break into pieces
apart problem.

I have to take our new TV back because it

take something back return an item
doesn't work.

take off start to fly My plane takes off in five minutes.

Take off your socks and shoes and come in

take something off remove something (usually clothing)
the lake!

Can you take the garbage out to the street

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

pay for somebody to go somewhere My grandparents took us out for dinner

take somebody out
with you and a movie.

I tore up my ex-boyfriend's letters and gave

tear something up rip into pieces
them back to him.

remember (often + to, sometimes + When I think back on my youth, I wish I

think back
on) had studied harder.

think something I'll have to think this job offer over before I
consider
over make my final decision.

throw something We threw our old furniture away when we

dispose of
away won the lottery.

turn something decrease the volume or strength Please turn the TV down while the guests
down (heat, light etc) are here.

turn something I turned the job down because I don't want

refuse
down to move.

Your mother wants you to turn the TV off

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

It's too dark in here. Let's turn some lights

turn something on start the energy, switch on
on.

increase the volume or strength Can you turn the music up? This is my
turn something up
(heat, light etc) favourite song.
phrasal verb meaning example sentence

Our cat turned up after we put posters up

turn up appear suddenly
all over the neighbourhood.

I'm going to try these jeans on, but I don't

try something on sample clothing
think they will fit.

I am going to try this new brand of

try something out test
detergent out.

The kids used all of the toothpaste up so

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

We have to wake up early for work on

wake up stop sleeping
Monday.

warm somebody/ You can warm your feet up in front of the

increase the temperature
something up fireplace.

I always warm up by doing sit-ups before I

warm up prepare body for exercise
go for a run.

Most of my make-up wore off before I got

wear off fade away
to the party.

work out exercise I work out at the gym three times a week.

work out be successful Our plan worked out fine.

We have to work out the total cost before

work something out make a calculation
we buy the house.