Phrasal Verbs List

AcademicWritingSkills:PhrasalVerbs
Phrasal Verbs List

This is a list of about 200 common phrasal verbs, with meanings and examples. 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. 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 the grammar
lesson on phrasal verbs from time to time so that you don't forget the rules!
Most phrasal verbs consist of two words, but a few

consist of three words, which always stay together.
Verb Meaning Example
ask someone out invite on a date Brian asked Judy out to dinner
and a movie.
ask around ask many people the same I asked around but nobody has
question seen my wallet.
add up to something equal Your purchases add up to

$205.32.
back something up reverse You'll have to back up your car

so that I can get out.
back someone up support My wife backed me up over my

decision to quit my job.
blow up explode The racing car blew up after it

crashed into the fence.
blow something up add air We have to blow 50 balloons up

for the party.
break down stop functioning (vehicle, Our car broke down at the side
machine) of the highway in the snowstorm.
break down get upset The woman broke down when

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the police told her that her son
http://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/phrasalverbslist.htm
had died.
break something down divide into smaller parts Our teacher broke the final
project down into three separate
parts.
break in force entry to a building Somebody broke in last night

and stole our stereo.
break into something enter forcibly The firemen had to break into
the room to rescue the children.
break something in wear something a few times so I need to break these shoes in
that it doesn't look/feel new before we run next week.
break in interrupt The TV station broke in to report

the news of the president's death.
break up end a relationship My boyfriend and I broke up

before I moved to America.
break up start laughing (informal) The kids just broke up as soon as

the clown started talking.
break out escape The prisoners broke out of jail

when the guards weren't looking.
break out in something develop a skin condition I broke out in a rash after our
camping trip.
bring someone down make unhappy This sad music is bringing me

down.
bring someone up raise a child My grandparents brought me up

after my parents died.
bring something up start talking about a subject My mother walks out of the room
when my father brings up sports.
bring something up vomit He drank so much that he

brought his dinner up in the
toilet.
call around phone many different We called around but we weren't

places/people able to find the car part we
needed.
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call someone back return a phone call I called the company back but
the offices were closed for the
weekend.
call something off cancel Jason called the wedding off

because he wasn't in love with his
fianc.
call on someone ask for an answer or opinion The professor called on me for
question 1.
call on someone visit someone We called on you last night but

you weren't home.
call someone up phone Give me your phone number 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
catch up get to the same point as You'll have to run faster than that
someone else if you want to catch up with
Marty.
check in arrive and register at a hotel or We will get the hotel keys when
airport we check in.
check out leave a hotel You have to check out of the

hotel before 11:00 AM.
check look at carefully, investigate The company checks out all new
someone/something out employees.
check out look at (informal) Check out the crazy hair on that
someone/something guy!
cheer up become happier She cheered up when she heard

the good news.
cheer someone up make happier I brought you some flowers to

cheer you up.
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chip in help If everyone chips in we can get

the kitchen painted by noon.
clean something up tidy, clean Please clean up your bedroom

before you go outside.
come across something find unexpectedly I came across these old photos
when I was tidying the closet.
come apart separate The top and bottom come apart

if you pull hard enough.
come down with become sick My nephew came down with

something chicken pox this weekend.
come forward volunteer for a task or to give The woman came forward with
evidence her husband's finger prints.
come from somewhere originate in The art of origami comes from

Asia.
count on rely on I am counting on you to make

someone/something dinner while I am out.
cross something out draw a line through Please cross out your old address
and write your new one.
cut back on something consume less My doctor wants me to cut back

on sweets and fatty foods.
cut something down make something fall to the We had to cut the old tree in our
ground yard down after the storm.
cut in interrupt Your father cut in while I was

dancing with your uncle.
cut in pull in too closely in front of The bus driver got angry when
another vehicle that car cut in.
cut in start operating (of an engine or The air conditioner cuts in when
electrical device) the temperature gets to 22C.
cut something off remove with something sharp The doctors cut off his leg
because it was severely injured.
cut something off stop providing The phone company cut off our
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phone because we didn't pay the
bill.
cut someone off take out of a will My grandparents cut my father

off when he remarried.
cut something out remove part of something I cut this ad out of the
(usually with scissors and newspaper.
paper)
do someone/something beat up, ransack (Br.E., He's lucky to be alive. His shop
over informal) was done over by a street gang.
do something over do again (N.Amer.) My teacher wants me to do my

essay over because she doesn't
like my topic.
do away with something discard It's time to do away with all of

these old tax records.
do something up fasten, close Do your coat up before you go

outside. It's snowing!
dress up wear nice clothing It's a fancy restaurant so we have

to dress up.
drop back move back in a position/group Andrea dropped back to third

place when she fell off her bike.
drop in/by/over come without an appointment I might drop in/by/over for tea
some time this week.
drop someone/something take someone/something I have to drop my sister off at

off somewhere and leave them/it work before I come over.
there
drop out quit a class, school etc I dropped out of Science because
it was too difficult.
eat out eat at a restaurant I don't feel like cooking tonight.

Let's eat out.
end up eventually reach/do/decide We ended up renting a movie

instead of going to the theatre.
fall apart break into pieces My new dress fell apart in the
washing machine.
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fall down fall to the ground The picture that you hung up last
night fell down this morning.
fall out separate from an interior The money must have fallen out
of my pocket.
fall out (of hair, teeth) become loose His hair started to fall out when
and unattached he was only 35.
figure something out understand, find the answer I need to figure out how to fit the
piano and the bookshelf in this
room.
fill something in to write information in blanks Please fill in the form with your
(Br.E.) name, address, and phone
number.
fill something out to write information in blanks The form must be filled out in
(N.Amer.) capital letters.
fill something up fill to the top I always fill the water jug up
when it is empty.
find out discover We don't know where he lives.

How can we find out?
find something out discover We tried to keep the time of the

party a secret, but Samantha
found it out.
get something communicate, make I tried to get my point

across/over understandable across/over to the judge but she
wouldn't listen.
get along/on like each other I was surprised how well my new
girlfriend and my sister got
along/on.
get around have mobility My grandfather can get around

fine in his new wheelchair.
get away go on a vacation We worked so hard this year 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.
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get back return We got back from our vacation

last week.
get something back receive something you had Liz finally got her Science notes
before back from my room-mate.
get back at someone retaliate, take revenge My sister got back at me for
stealing her shoes. She stole my
favourite hat.
get back into something become interested in something I finally got back into my novel
again and finished it.
get on something step onto a vehicle We're going to freeze out here if
you don't let us get on the bus.
get over something recover from an illness, loss, I just got over the flu and now
difficulty my sister has it.
get over something overcome a problem The company will have to close if
it can't get over the new
regulations.
get round to something finally find time to do I don't know when I am going to
(N.Amer.: get around to get round to writing the thank
something) 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.
get up stand You should get up and give the

elderly man your seat.
give someone away reveal hidden information about His wife gave him away to the
someone police.
give someone away take the bride to the altar My father gave me away at my
wedding.
give something away ruin a secret My little sister gave the surprise
party away by accident.
give something away give something to someone for The library was giving away old
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free books on Friday.
give something back return a borrowed item I have to give these skates back
to Franz before his hockey game.
give in reluctantly stop fighting or My boyfriend didn't want to go to

arguing the ballet, but he finally gave in.
give something out give to many people (usually at They were giving out free
no cost) perfume samples at the
department store.
give something up quit a habit I am giving up smoking as of

January 1st.
give up stop trying My maths homework was too

difficult so I gave up.
go after someone follow someone My brother tried to go after the

thief in his car.
go after something try to achieve something I went after my dream and now I
am a published writer.
go against someone compete, oppose We are going against the best

soccer team in the city tonight.
go ahead start, proceed Please go ahead and eat before

the food gets cold.
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 We're going out for dinner

event tonight.
go out with someone date Jesse has been going out with
Luke since they met last winter.
go over something review Please go over your answers

before you submit your test.
go over visit someone nearby I haven't seen Tina for a long

time. I think I'll go over for an
hour or two.
go without something suffer lack or deprivation When I was young, we went

without winter boots.
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grow apart stop being friends over time My best friend and I grew apart
after she changed schools.
grow back regrow My roses grew back this

summer.
grow up become an adult When Jack grows up he wants to

be a fireman.
grow out of something get too big for Elizabeth needs a new pair of
shoes because she has grown out
of her old ones.
grow into something grow big enough to fit This bike is too big for him now,
but he should grow into it by
next year.
hand something down give something used to someone I handed my old comic books
else down to my little cousin.
hand something in submit I have to hand in my essay by

Friday.
hand something out to distribute to a group of We will hand out the invitations
people at the door.
hand something over give (usually unwillingly) The police asked the man to hand
over his wallet and his weapons.
hang in stay positive (N.Amer., Hang in there. I'm sure you'll find
informal) a job very soon.
hang on wait a short time (informal) Hang on while I grab my coat

and shoes!
hang out spend time relaxing (informal) Instead of going to the party we
are just going to hang out at my
place.
hang up end a phone call He didn't say goodbye before he

hung up.
hold someone/something prevent from doing/going I had to hold my dog back

back because there was a cat in the
park.
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hold something back hide an emotion Jamie held back his tears at his
grandfather's funeral.
hold on wait a short time Please hold on while I transfer

you to the Sales Department.
hold onto hold firmly using your hands or Hold onto your hat because it's
someone/something arms very windy outside.
hold rob A man in a black mask held the

someone/somethingup bank up this morning.
keep on doing continue doing Keep on stirring until the liquid

something comes to a boil.
keep something from not tell We kept our relationship from

someone our parents for two years.
keep someone/something stop from entering Try to keep the wet dog out of
out the living room.
keep something up continue at the same rate If you keep those results up you
will get into a great college.
let someone down fail to support or help, I need you to be on time. Don't let
disappoint me down this time.
let someone in allow to enter Can you let the cat in before you
go to school?
look after take care of I have to look after my sick

someone/something grandmother.
look down on someone think less of, consider inferior Ever since we stole that chocolate
bar your dad has looked down on
me.
look for try to find I'm looking for a red dress for the
someone/something wedding.
look forward to be excited about the future I'm looking forward to the
something Christmas break.
look into something investigate We are going to look into the

price of snowboards today.
look out be careful, vigilant, and take Look out! That car's going to hit
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notice you!
look out for be especially vigilant for Don't forget to look out for
someone/something snakes on the hiking trail.
look something over check, examine Can you look over my essay for
spelling mistakes?
look something up search and find information in a We can look her phone number
reference book or database up on the Internet.
look up to someone have a lot of respect for My little sister has always looked
up to me.
make something up invent, lie about something Josie made up a story about
about why we were late.
make up forgive each other We were angry last night, but we

made up at breakfast.
make someone up apply cosmetics to My sisters made me up for my

graduation party.
mix something up confuse two or more things I mixed up the twins' names
again!
pass away die His uncle passed away last night

after a long illness.
pass out faint It was so hot in the church that an

elderly lady passed out.
pass something out give the same thing to many The professor passed the
people textbooks out before class.
pass something up decline (usually something I passed up the job because I am

good) afraid of change.
pay someone back return owed money Thanks for buying my ticket. I'll
pay you back on Friday.
pay for something be punished for doing That bully will pay for being
something bad mean to my little brother.
pick something out Choose I picked out three sweaters for

you to try on.
point indicate with your finger I'll point my boyfriend out when
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someone/something out he runs by.
put something down put what you are holding on a You can put the groceries down
surface or floor on the kitchen counter.
put someone down insult, make someone feel The students put the substitute
stupid teacher down because his pants
were too short.
put something off Postpone We are putting off our trip until
January because of the hurricane.
put something out Extinguish The neighbours put the fire out
before the firemen arrived.
put something together Assemble I have to put the crib together

before the baby arrives.
put up with Tolerate I don't think I can put up with

someone/something three small children in the car.
put something on put clothing/accessories on your Don't forget to put on your new
body earrings for the party.
run into meet unexpectedly I ran into an old school-friend at

someone/something the mall.
run over drive a vehicle over a person or I accidentally ran over your
someone/something thing bicycle in the driveway.
run over/through rehearse, review Let's run over/through these

something lines one more time before the
show.
run away leave unexpectedly, escape The child ran away from home
and has been missing for three
days.
run out have none left We ran out of shampoo so I had

to wash my hair with soap.
send something back return (usually by mail) My letter got sent back to me
because I used the wrong stamp.
set something up arrange, organize Our boss set a meeting up with

the president of the company.
set someone up trick, trap The police set up the car thief by
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using a hidden camera.
shop around compare prices I want to shop around a little

before I decide on these boots.
show off act extra special for people He always shows off on his
watching (usually boastfully) skateboard
sleep over stay somewhere for the night You should sleep over tonight if
(informal) the weather is too bad to drive
home.
sort something out organize, resolve a problem We need to sort the bills out
before the first of the month.
stick to something continue doing something, limit You will lose weight if you stick
yourself to one particular thing to the diet.
switch something off stop the energy flow, turn off The light's too bright. Could you
switch it off.
switch something on start the energy flow, turn on We heard the news as soon as we
switched on the car radio.
take after someone resemble a family member I take after my mother. We are
both impatient.
take something apart purposely break into pieces He took the car brakes apart and
found the problem.
take something back return an item I have to take our new TV back
because it doesn't work.
take off start to fly My plane takes off in five

minutes.
take something off remove something (usually Take off your socks and shoes
clothing) and come in the lake!
take something out remove from a place or thing Can you take the garbage out to
the street for me?
take someone out pay for someone to go My grandparents took us out for
somewhere with you dinner and a movie.
tear something up rip into pieces I tore up my ex-boyfriend's

letters and gave them back to
him.
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think back remember (often + to, When I think back on my youth,

sometimes + on) I wish I had studied harder.
think something over Consider I'll have to think this job offer
over before I make my final
decision.
throw something away dispose of We threw our old furniture away

when we won the lottery.
turn something down decrease the volume or strength Please turn the TV down while
(heat, light etc) the guests are here.
turn something down Refuse I turned the job down because I

don't want to move.
turn something off stop the energy flow, switch off Your mother wants you to turn
the TV off and come for dinner.
turn something on start the energy, switch on It's too dark in here. Let's turn
some lights on.
turn something up increase the volume or strength Can you turn the music up? This
(heat, light etc) is my favourite song.
turn up appear suddenly Our cat turned up after we put

posters up all over the
neighbourhood.
try something on sample clothing I'm going to try these jeans on,
but I don't think they will fit.
try something out Test I am going to try this new brand

of detergent out.
use something up finish the supply The kids used all of the
toothpaste up so we need to buy
some more.
wake up stop sleeping We have to wake up early for

work on Monday.
warm increase the temperature You can warm your feet up in

someone/something up front of the fireplace.
warm up prepare body for exercise I always warm up by doing sit-

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ups before I go for a run.
wear off fade away Most of my make-up wore off

before I got 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.
work something out make a calculation We have to work out the total
cost before we buy the house.
Br.E.: British English; N.Amer.: North American
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AcademicWritingSkills:PhrasalVerbs

Phrasal Verbs List

Most phrasal verbs consist of two words, but a few

Verb Meaning Example

add up to something equal Your purchases add up to

back something up reverse You'll have to back up your car

back someone up support My wife backed me up over my

blow up explode The racing car blew up after it

blow something up add air We have to blow 50 balloons up

break down get upset The woman broke down when

the police told her that her son

break in force entry to a building Somebody broke in last night

break in interrupt The TV station broke in to report

break up end a relationship My boyfriend and I broke up

break up start laughing (informal) The kids just broke up as soon as

break out escape The prisoners broke out of jail

bring someone down make unhappy This sad music is bringing me

bring someone up raise a child My grandparents brought me up

bring something up vomit He drank so much that he

call around phone many different We called around but we weren't

call something off cancel Jason called the wedding off

call on someone visit someone We called on you last night but

call someone up phone Give me your phone number and

check out leave a hotel You have to check out of the

cheer up become happier She cheered up when she heard

cheer someone up make happier I brought you some flowers to

chip in help If everyone chips in we can get

clean something up tidy, clean Please clean up your bedroom

come apart separate The top and bottom come apart

come down with become sick My nephew came down with

come from somewhere originate in The art of origami comes from

count on rely on I am counting on you to make

cut back on something consume less My doctor wants me to cut back

cut in interrupt Your father cut in while I was

phone because we didn't pay the

cut someone off take out of a will My grandparents cut my father

do something over do again (N.Amer.) My teacher wants me to do my

do away with something discard It's time to do away with all of

do something up fasten, close Do your coat up before you go

dress up wear nice clothing It's a fancy restaurant so we have

drop back move back in a position/group Andrea dropped back to third

drop someone/something take someone/something I have to drop my sister off at

eat out eat at a restaurant I don't feel like cooking tonight.

end up eventually reach/do/decide We ended up renting a movie

find out discover We don't know where he lives.

find something out discover We tried to keep the time of the

get something communicate, make I tried to get my point

get around have mobility My grandfather can get around

get away go on a vacation We worked so hard this year that

get back return We got back from our vacation

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

get up stand You should get up and give the

free books on Friday.

give in reluctantly stop fighting or My boyfriend didn't want to go to

give something up quit a habit I am giving up smoking as of

give up stop trying My maths homework was too

go after someone follow someone My brother tried to go after the

go against someone compete, oppose We are going against the best

go ahead start, proceed Please go ahead and eat before