101 Common Phrasal Verbs List
October 3, 2024
Phrasal verbs are extremely common in English (and other Germanic languages) 鈥� especially in less formal settings. Simply put, a phrasal verb is a verb phrase (Continue for full phrasal verb list)鈥� it includes a verb (e.g. 鈥渃all鈥�) along with one or more 鈥減articles,鈥� usually prepositions or adverbs (e.g. 鈥渙ff鈥�). Phrasal verbs can be confusing because their particles completely change the meaning of the verb. For example:
I called my mom yesterday.听
(to call = to telephone)
However, the phrasal verb 鈥渢o call off鈥� has nothing to do with the telephone.听
I called off the meeting.听
(to call off = to cancel)
Types of Phrasal Verbs 鈥� Separable and Inseparable
Phrasal verbs can be divided into two groups 鈥� separable and inseparable. When you use a separable phrasal verb, you can put a direct object between the verb and its particle. For example, 鈥渢o call off鈥� is a separable phrasal verb. You can say,听
I called the meeting off.听
辞谤,听
I called off the meeting.听
Both are correct.听
However, when you use an inseparable phrasal verb, the verb and its particle have to stay together. In other words, with inseparable phrasal verbs, the direct object has to come after the particle.听
For example, 鈥渢o go over鈥� is an inseparable phrasal verb that means to review something to confirm its accuracy. Because 鈥渢o go over鈥� is an inseparable phrasal verb, the direct object cannot come between the verb and the particle. You can say,听
I need to go over the contract with you.听
But you can鈥檛 say,听
I need to go the contract over with you.听 (Incorrect)
The problem with phrasal verbs is that you can鈥檛 figure out its meaning from the particle. You just have to know. With this in mind, here鈥檚 a list of 100 common phrasal verbs and their definitions.听
(All my definitions are from the extremely helpful .)听
100 Common Phrasal Verbs Examples
1) to add up to something to make a total amount of something
2) to ask around to speak to a number of different people in order to try and get some information
3) to back something up (computing) to prepare a second copy of a file, program,听etc. that can be used if the main one fails or needs extra support
4) to blow up to explode; to be destroyed by an explosion
5) break down (of a machine/vehicle) to stop working because of听a fault
6) to break in to enter a building by force
7) break out (of unpleasant events) to start suddenly
8) bring something up to mention a subject or start to talk about it
9) call somebody back to phone somebody again or to phone somebody who phoned you earlier
10) call something off to cancel something; to decide something will not happen
Phrasal Verbs Examples (Continued)
11) catch up to find out about things that have happened
12) check in to go to a desk in a hotel, an airport, etc. and tell an official听there that you have arrived
13) check out to pay your bill and leave a hotel, etc.
14) clean something up to remove dirt, etc. from somewhere
15) come across something to meet or find somebody/something by chance
16) come down with something to get an illness that is not very serious
17) count on somebody to trust somebody to do something
18) do away with something 听 to stop doing or having something; to make something end
19) dress up to wear clothes that are more formal than those you听usually wear
20) eat out 鈥�to have a meal in a restaurant, etc. rather than at home
Phrasal Verbs List (Continued)
21) end up to find yourself in a place or situation at the end of a听process or period of time
22) fall out to become loose and drop
23) figure something out to think about something until you understand it
24) fill something out to complete a form, etc. by writing information on it
25) find out to get some information about something
26) get around to move from place to place or from person to person
27) get away with something to receive a relatively light punishment
28) get back at somebody to get revenge on somebody
29) get back into something to start doing an activity again that you previously stopped
30) get over something听 to deal with or gain control of something
Phrasal Verbs Examples (Continued)
31) give something away to give something as a gift
32) give something back to return something to its owner
33) give in听 to agree to do something that you do not want to do
34) give something up to stop doing or having something
35) give up to stop trying to do something
36) go over something to examine or check something carefully
37) grow back to begin growing again after being cut off or damaged
38) grow out of something to stop doing something as you become older
39) grow up (of a person) to develop into an adult
40) hand something in to hand over something to somebody in authority
List Continued
41) hand something out听 听 to give a number of things to the members of a group
42) hang out to spend a lot of time in a place
43) hold onto something to keep holding something
44) keep something from somebody to avoid telling somebody something
45) keep somebody out to prevent somebody/something from entering a place
46) keep something up to make something stay at a high level
47) let somebody down to fail to help or support somebody as they had hoped听
48) log in (or on) to perform the actions that allow you to begin using a听computer system, application or online account
49) log out (or off) to perform the actions that allow you to finish using a听computer system, application or online account
50) look down on somebody to think that you are better than somebody
Phrasal Verbs List (Continued)
51) look for somebody/ something to hope for something; to expect something
52) look forward to something to be thinking with pleasure about something that is going听to happen
53) look on with to consider somebody/something in a particular way
54) look out used to warn somebody to be careful, especially when听there is danger
55) look out for to take care of somebody / make sure nothing bad听happens to them
56) look something up to look for information in a dictionary or reference book, or听by using a computer
57) look up to somebody to admire or respect somebody
58) make something up to invent a story in order to trick or entertain somebody
59) make up to form something
60) make up to replace something that has been lost; to compensate for听something
Phrasal Verbs List (Continued)
61) mix something up to think wrongly that somebody/something is听somebody/something else
62) pass away to die
63) pass out to become unconscious
64) pass out to give a number of things to the members of a group
65) pass off as to pretend that something is something they are not
66) pay somebody back to return money that you borrowed from somebody
67) pick something out听 to choose something carefully from a group of things
68) point something out to mention something in order to give somebody听information about it or make them notice it
69) put something down to stop holding something and place it on a surface
70) put something off to change something to a later time or date
Phrasal Verbs List (Continued)
71) put someone out to cause somebody trouble, extra work, etc.
72) put up with something to accept something that is unpleasant without complaining
73) put something on to dress yourself in something
74) run into to experience difficulties, etc.
75) run into somebody to meet somebody by chance
76) run over something听 to knock something down and drive over it
77) run away to leave a place suddenly; to escape from a place
78) run out to use up or finish a supply of something
79) send away for 鈥�to write to somebody and ask them to send you something听by post
80) set something up to create something or start it
List Continued
81) show off to try to impress others by talking about your abilities,听possessions, etc.
82) switch something off听 to turn something off by pressing a button or switch
83) switch something on to turn something on by pressing a button or switch
84) take something apart to separate a machine or piece of equipment into the听different parts that it is made of
85) take off (of an aircraft, etc.) to leave the ground and begin to fly
86) take something off to remove something, especially a piece of clothing from听your/somebody鈥檚 body
87) take something out on someone to behave in an unpleasant way towards somebody听because you feel angry, disappointed, etc., although it is not their fault
88) tear something up to destroy a document, etc. by tearing it into pieces
89) think back to think about something that happened in the past
90) throw something away to get rid of something that you no longer want
Phrasal Verbs List Examples (Continued)
91) turn something down to reject or refuse to consider an offer, a proposal, etc. or听the person who makes it
92) turn something off to stop the flow of electricity, gas, water, etc. by moving a听switch, button, etc.
93) turn something on to start the flow of electricity, gas, water, etc. by moving a听switch, button, etc.
94) turn someone on to make somebody excited or interested
95) turn up to be found, especially by chance, after being lost
96) try something on to put on a piece of clothing to see if it fits and how it looks
97) try something out听 to test or use somebody/something in order to see how听good or effective they are
98) wake up to stop sleeping
99) warm up to prepare for physical exercise or a performance by doing听gentle exercises or practice
100) work out to train the body by physical exercise
101) work out to develop in a successful way
Final Thoughts
I wish I could tell you that there鈥檚 an easy way to figure out what these phrasal verbs mean, but you鈥檒l just have to practice, practice, practice. If you鈥檙e looking to review your English grammar, check out these articles on comparative and superlatives, common prepositions, and SAT Grammar Rules.
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