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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.
See also our pages with 1000+ Phrasal Verbs, with definitions, synonyms,
explanations, sample sentences, collocations and quizzes (with answers).
As well as learning their meanings, you need to learn how to use phrasal verbs.
Verb
Meaning
Example
invite on a date
ask around
add up to something
equal
back something up
reverse
back someone up
support
My wife backed me up
over my decision to quit
my job.
blow up
explode
blow something up
add air
We have to blow 50
break down
get upset
break in
enter forcibly
break something in
break in
interrupt
break up
end a relationship
break up
break out
escape
make unhappy
raise a child
My grandparents brought
me up after my parents
died.
bring someone up
bring something up
bring something up
vomit
call around
cancel
call on someone
call on someone
visit someone
call someone up
phone
calm down
catch up
check in
check out
leave a hotel
check
someone/something out
look at carefully,
investigate
check out
someone/something
look at (informal)
cheer up
become happier
cheer someone up
make happier
chip in
help
If everyone chips in we
can get the kitchen painted
by noon.
clean something up
tidy, clean
find unexpectedly
come apart
separate
become sick
come forward
originate in
count on
someone/something
rely on
I am counting on you to
make dinner while I am
out.
consume less
cut in
interrupt
cut in
cut in
stop providing
My grandparents cut my
father off when he
remarried.
do someone/something
over
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
do something up
fasten, close
dress up
drop back
move back in a
position/group
drop in/by/over
come without an
appointment
drop
someone/something off
take someone/something
somewhere and leave
them/it there
drop out
eat out
eat at a restaurant
end up
eventually reach/do/decide
We ended up renting a
movie instead of going to
the theatre.
fall apart
fall down
fall out
fall out
fill something in
to write information in
blanks (Br.E.)
to write information in
blanks (N.Amer.)
fill something up
find out
discover
discover
get something
across/over
communicate, make
understandable
get around
have mobility
get away
go on a vacation
get back
return
become interested in
something again
get on something
overcome a problem
get together
get up
stand
ruin a secret
give in
give something up
quit a habit
I am giving up smoking as
of January 1st.
give up
stop trying
go after someone
follow someone
My brother tried to go
after the thief in his car.
go after something
go against someone
compete, oppose
go ahead
start, proceed
get up
go back
return to a place
go out
leave home to go on a
social event
date
go over something
review
go over
go without something
grow apart
grow back
regrow
grow up
become an adult
hand something in
submit
to distribute to a group of
people
hang on
hang out
hang up
hold
someone/something
back
hide an emotion
hold on
hold onto
someone/something
hold
someone/somethingup
rob
keep on doing
something
continue doing
not tell
keep
someone/something out
keep something up
time.
let someone in
allow to enter
look after
someone/something
take care of
look for
someone/something
try to find
look forward to
something
investigate
look out
check, examine
look something up
look up to someone
make something up
make up
make someone up
apply cosmetics to
mix something up
pass away
die
pass out
faint
pass something up
choose
point
someone/something out
postpone
extinguish
assemble
put up with
someone/something
tolerate
put something on
put clothing/accessories on
your body
run into
someone/something
meet unexpectedly
run over
someone/something
run over/through
something
rehearse, review
run away
set something up
arrange, organize
trick, trap
shop around
compare prices
show off
run out
set someone up
watching (usually
boastfully)
his skateboard
stick to something
switch something on
return an item
take off
start to fly
My grandparents took us
out for dinner and a movie.
tear something up
think back
sleep over
sometimes + on)
consider
dispose of
refuse
turn something on
turn something up
turn up
appear suddenly
try something on
sample clothing
test
use something up
wake up
stop sleeping
warm
someone/something up
warm up
I always warm up by
fade away
work out
exercise
work out
be successful
make a calculation