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80 common phrasal verbs (with meanings and examples)
1 back [x] up
Definition: to support or defend someone
When the class was making fun of me, only the teacher backed me up.
2 break down
Definition: to stop working, especially in reference to machines
The ice cream machine at McDonald’s often breaks down.
3 call around
Definition: to contact multiple people
Roy called around to find a nearby mechanic.
4 call [x] off
Definition: to cancel a planned event
We called the party off. / We called off the party.
5 calm down
Definition: to relax after an energetic or irritated state
I need a few minutes to calm down after that match.
6 check [x] out
Definition: to examine a person or thing; when used in reference to a person, can connote looking at them with romantic or sexual interest
I’ll check the contract out. / I’ll check out the contract.
7 cheer [x] up
Definition: to make someone happy, especially if they were previously sad
Reading always cheers me up on a rainy day.
8 clean up
Definition: to be extremely successful in an endeavor such as business, sports, or gambling
Our hockey team cleaned up at the tournament and went home undefeated.
Definition: to stop engaging in questionable behavior, such as consuming drugs or alcohol
Her boss said she had to either clean up or find a new job.
9 clean [x] up
Definition: to tidy an area
John cleaned the living room up. / John cleaned up the living room.
10 come around
Definition: to change one’s opinion or see a new point of view
I never liked seafood but came around after trying fried calamari.
11 come between [x]
Definition: to interfere with a relationship between two people
After more than 50 years of partnership, nothing could come between them.
12 come down with [x]
Definition: to catch an illness
After traveling, Chandra came down with a cold.
13 come out of [x]
Definition: to happen as a consequence of another event
We missed a day of school, so at least some good came out of our boring class trip.
14 come up
Definition: to arise as a topic of discussion or receive attention
Everyone talked about how much they enjoyed the movie, but the run time never came up in the conversation.
Definition: to approach
While I was walking along the fence, a cow came up and licked my face.
Definition: to present itself or occur, as in event or situation
Don’t worry about a problem until it comes up.
15 come up with [x]
Definition: to think of an idea, especially as the first person to do so, or to produce a solution
Sahar comes up with her best story ideas at night, so she writes them down before she forgets them.
16 count on [x]
Definition: to rely or depend on someone or something
If I’m ever making a mistake, I can count on my friends to warn me.
17 crack down on [x]
Definition: to attack or punish someone harshly; to penalize a behavior
Ever since last month’s accident, police have been cracking down on drunk driving.
18 dive into [x]
Definition: to eagerly begin a pursuit or activity
I’ll dive into that new TV show later tonight.
19 dress up
Definition: to put on nice clothes
Abed dressed up for the award ceremony.
20 end up
Definition: to eventually reach some conclusion or destination
After thinking for a day, he ended up taking the job.
21 fall apart
Definition: to break into pieces
My new dress completely fell apart after just two washes.
Definition: to experience acute mental or emotional distress
He endured all kinds of harassment at work without flinching but fell apart when his cat got sick.
22 fill [x] up
Definition: to put into a container as much as it can contain
Bruce filled his water bottle up to the brim. / Bruce filled up his water bottle to the brim.
23 find out [x]
Definition: to discover or learn something
We didn’t find out the news until we got back from dinner.
24 get [x] across
Definition: to successfully communicate or explain something
The professor spoke for hours, but they didn’t get anything across to the students.
25 get ahead
Definition: to succeed or progress
You’ll never get ahead at this company unless you follow the rules.
26 get along with [x]
Definition: to be on harmonious terms with someone
My dog gets along with everyone as long as they’re not a cat.
27 get around
Definition: to travel from place to place
In this city, it’s impossible to get around without a car.
28 get around to [x]
Definition: to do something eventually
I’ll get around to that project after the playoffs.
29 get at [x]
Definition: to reach or gain access to something
I can’t quite get at this itch on my back.
Definition: to indicate or suggest something
These graphs are getting at the fact that we’ll be bankrupt by next week.
30 get away
Definition: to escape or depart
Lucio liked to go to the lake every weekend, just to get away.
31 get away with [x]
Definition: to commit a crime or misdeed without incurring any negative consequences
The boss’s nephew gets away with things that none of the other employees would.
32 get [x] back
Definition: to retrieve something
Rodger got his pencil back from Greta. / Rodger got back his pencil from Greta.
33 get back at [x]
Definition: to take revenge on someone
Laila promised herself that she would get back at whoever had started the rumor.
34 get by
Definition: to survive or manage at a minimum level
When Sheila lost her job, the family got by with only their savings.
35 get down
Definition: to enjoy oneself without inhibitions, especially with music or dancing
Vicente may be formal at work, but he sure knows how to get down to hip-hop.
36 get [x] down
Definition: to depress or discourage someone
Kima always gets everyone down with her stories from the hospital.
Definition: to record something by taking notes
The president spoke quickly at the press conference, and reporters were struggling to get all his comments down. / The president spoke quickly at the press conference, and reporters were struggling to get down all his comments.
37 get down to [x]
Definition: to begin or start something, especially something basic or fundamental
Once everyone arrives, we’ll get down to picking teams.
38 get in on [x]
Definition: to join an activity
After the value of Bitcoin started going up, lots of people wanted to get in on cryptocurrency.
39 get into [x]
Definition: to discuss something thoroughly
I don’t want to get into our finances now; we’ll talk after our guests leave.
40 get [x] out of [x]
Definition: to take some benefit from a situation
Babysitting the Cohles was a nightmare, but at least Jabar got some money out of it.
41 get over [x]
Definition: to recover from or overcome something
Drinking a lot of water helps in getting over an illness.
42 get through [x]
Definition: to complete or endure an unpleasant experience
Alessandra can’t get through a morning without coffee.
43 get to [x]
Definition: to annoy or bother someone
People who don’t clean up after their dogs really get to me.
44 get together
Definition: to gather socially
The volleyball team is getting together for dinner after practice.
45 give [x] away
Definition: to donate something or give something for free
Mindy gave her prized doll collection away. / Mindy gave away her prized doll collection.
46 give up
Definition: to accept defeat, quit, or surrender
Carin felt like giving up every time she saw the scoreboard.
47 give [x] up
Definition: to stop consuming or doing something, often a habit
Minh gave chocolate up because of his migraines. / Minh gave up chocolate because of his migraines.
48 go against [x]
Definition: to disobey, contradict, oppose, or fight something
A group of students went against the school dress code yesterday and wore ripped jeans.
49 go ahead
Definition: to proceed or move forward
Because of the snow, we can’t go ahead with the festival.
50 go along with [x]
Definition: to agree with or pretend to agree with
Even though Cedric hated weightlifting, he decided to go along with itbecause his coach suggested it.
51 go for [x]
Definition: to try to achieve something
Carlos trains so hard because he is going for an Olympic gold medal.
52 go on
Definition: to continue
The workers will go on digging until they hit a water pipe.
53 go over [x]
Definition: to review or look at something
Marie wants to go over the study guide one last time before the test.
54 hand in [x]
Definition: to submit something, especially an assignment
The teacher wants us to hand in our essays by email.
55 hold [x] back
Definition: to prevent someone from doing something
I wanted to become an architect, but my bad grades held me back.
56 keep [x] up
Definition: to continue doing something
Keep this pace up and you’ll set a new record!
57 leave [x] out
Definition: to omit something
Orna left the graph out of the presentation. / Orna left out the graph from the presentation.
58 let [x] down
Definition: to disappoint someone
Kamal let Marco down when he arrived late. / Kamal let down Marco when he arrived late.
59 let go of [x]
Definition: to release or free something
Don’t let go of the rope until I’m safe.
60 let [x] in
Definition: to allow something or someone to enter
Close the door or you’ll let the flies in! / Close the door or you’ll let in the flies!
61 let [x] know
Definition: to tell someone something
Let me know as soon as Leslie texts back.
62 look after [x]
Definition: to take care of someone or something
Thank you for looking after me when I was sick.
63 look up to [x]
Definition: to admire or idolize someone
I looked up to this YouTuber until I read about their scandal.
64 mix up [x]
Definition: to confuse two or more things with one another
It’s easy to mix up Chris Pine and Chris Pratt.
65 pull [x] up
Definition: to retrieve or bring something nearer
Eugene pulled the document up on his computer. / Eugene pulled up the document on his computer.
66 put [x] on
Definition: to dress oneself in
I always put my backpack on before leaving the house. / I always put on my backpack before leaving the house.
67 put up with [x]
Definition: to tolerate or condone something
Somehow Paz could put up with Janice’s cynical attitude.
68 run out of [x]
Definition: to use all of or drain the supply of something
Isabella ran out of toilet paper at the worst possible time.
69 see to [x]
Definition: to make sure something is done
I’ll see to watering the plants while you’re gone.
70 set [x] up
Definition: to arrange or organize something
Since no one had invited me to join their study group, I set a group upmyself. / Since no one had invited me to join their study group, I set up a group myself.
71 show off
Definition: to display abilities or accomplishments in order to impress others
Panya didn’t need to shoot so many three-pointers; she was just showing off.
72 shut [x] off
Definition: to turn off, especially a machine
Don’t forget to shut the water off after your shower. / Don’t forget to shut off the water after your shower.
73 take after [x]
Definition: to resemble someone, especially with regard to children resembling their parents
Li takes after his father when it comes to politics.
74 take [x] out
Definition: to move something outside
Please take the garbage out before dinner. / Please take out the garbagebefore dinner.
75 think [x] over
Definition: to consider something
When his parents suggested selling his Pokémon cards, Yosef thought the idea over. / When his parents suggested selling his Pokémon cards, Yosef thought over the idea.
76 throw [x] away
Definition: to dispose of something
Could you throw that old burrito away? / Could you throw away that old burrito?
77 top [x] off
Definition: to refill something to the top; to complete something in a special or spectacular way
May I top your beverage off? / May I top off your beverage?
78 turn [x] down
Definition: to reject or say no to someone
My crush turned me down after I asked them out.
79 wait on [x]
Definition: to serve someone, especially at a restaurant
Billie eagerly waited on the table of new customers, hoping for a big tip.
80 wait out
Definition: to wait until an even or period is over
They decided to wait out the rain before going on a walk.
Phrasal verb FAQs
What are phrasal verbs?
Phrasal verbs are groups of words that combine a verb with an adverb or a preposition. Together, these words act as a single verb and take on a whole new meaning independent from the meanings of the individual words.
What are some examples of phrasal verbs?
Phrasal verbs are very common, and you hear them in spoken English all the time. Some popular examples include get out, calm down, give away, and put up with.
What are the four types of phrasal verbs?
There are four types of phrasal verbs, divided into two pairs: transitive and intransitive, separable and inseparable. A phrasal verb can belong to only one of each pair, and all separable phrasal verbs are transitive.
What’s the difference between phrasal verbs and idioms?
A phrasal verb is a verb combined with one or more particles (such as prepositions or adverbs) that alters its meaning. For example, give up means to stop trying. In contrast, an idiom is a fixed expression whose meaning is not directly related to the individual words it contains. For instance, kick the bucket
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