Here are 85 of the most common phrasal verbs along with their meanings and examples:
1. add up
- Meaning: To make a total; to seem reasonable or logical.
- Example: The numbers just don’t add up.
2. back out
- Meaning: To withdraw from a commitment or agreement.
- Example: He backed out of the deal at the last minute.
3. blow up
- Meaning: To explode; to become very angry.
- Example: The balloon blew up. / She blew up when she heard the news.
4. break down
- Meaning: To stop working; to lose control of one’s emotions.
- Example: The car broke down on the way home. / He broke down and cried.
5. bring up
- Meaning: To raise a topic for discussion; to care for a child.
- Example: She brought up the issue at the meeting. / They brought up their children well.
6. call off
- Meaning: To cancel.
- Example: They called off the wedding because of the bad weather.
7. carry on
- Meaning: To continue.
- Example: Carry on with your work.
8. catch up
- Meaning: To reach the same level as someone; to get the latest information.
- Example: I need to catch up with my classmates. / I’ll catch up on the news later.
9. check out
- Meaning: To leave a hotel after paying; to examine.
- Example: We checked out of the hotel early. / Check out this new book.
10. clear up
- Meaning: To become clear; to tidy.
- Example: The sky cleared up. / Clear up this mess.
11. come across
- Meaning: To meet or find by chance.
- Example: I came across an old friend in the street.
12. come up
- Meaning: To occur; to be mentioned.
- Example: A problem came up during the meeting. / His name came up in the conversation.
13. cut down
- Meaning: To reduce; to fell a tree.
- Example: You should cut down on smoking. / They cut down the old tree.
14. do away with
- Meaning: To abolish; to get rid of.
- Example: We should do away with this old rule.
15. drop off
- Meaning: To leave someone or something at a place.
- Example: I’ll drop you off at the station.
16. end up
- Meaning: To finally be in a particular situation.
- Example: If you don’t study hard, you’ll end up failing the exam.
17. figure out
- Meaning: To understand; to solve a problem.
- Example: I can’t figure out this math problem.
18. fill in
- Meaning: To complete a form; to provide information.
- Example: Please fill in this application form.
19. find out
- Meaning: To discover.
- Example: I want to find out the truth.
20. get along
- Meaning: To have a good relationship with someone.
- Example: They get along very well.
21. get away
- Meaning: To escape.
- Example: The thief got away.
22. get over
- Meaning: To recover from an illness or a difficult situation.
- Example: She’s still trying to get over her breakup.
23. give up
- Meaning: To stop trying; to surrender.
- Example: Don’t give up so easily.
24. go ahead
- Meaning: To start; to continue.
- Example: Go ahead and do what you want.
25. go through
- Meaning: To experience; to examine carefully.
- Example: She’s going through a difficult time. / Go through these papers.
26. hand in
- Meaning: To submit.
- Example: Please hand in your homework.
27. hang out
- Meaning: To spend time relaxing with friends.
- Example: We often hang out at the park.
28. hold on
- Meaning: To wait; to keep firmly.
- Example: Hold on a minute. / Hold on to your hat.
29. keep on
- Meaning: To continue doing something.
- Example: Keep on working hard.
30. look after
- Meaning: To take care of.
- Example: She looks after her sick mother.
31. look for
- Meaning: To search for.
- Example: I’m looking for my keys.
32. look into
- Meaning: To investigate.
- Example: We’ll look into the matter.
33. look out
- Meaning: To be careful.
- Example: Look out! There’s a car coming.
34. look up
- Meaning: To search for information in a dictionary or on the internet; to improve.
- Example: Look up this word in the dictionary. / Business is looking up.
35. make up
- Meaning: To invent; to put on makeup; to reconcile.
- Example: She made up a story. / She made up her face. / They made up after the argument.
36. mix up
- Meaning: To confuse.
- Example: Don’t mix up the two words.
37. pass out
- Meaning: To faint; to distribute.
- Example: He passed out from heat exhaustion. / Pass out the handouts.
38. pay back
- Meaning: To repay.
- Example: I’ll pay you back next week.
39. pick up
- Meaning: To lift; to collect; to learn.
- Example: Pick up that box. / I’ll pick you up at 7. / He picked up French quickly.
40. put off
- Meaning: To postpone; to dislike.
- Example: Let’s put off the meeting until next week. / I’m put off by his rude behavior.
41. put on
- Meaning: To wear; to add; to perform.
- Example: Put on your coat. / Put on some weight. / They put on a great show.
42. put up
- Meaning: To build; to offer accommodation; to tolerate.
- Example: They put up a new house. / Can you put me up for the night? / I won’t put up with this nonsense.
43. run out
- Meaning: To use up; to expire.
- Example: We ran out of milk. / My contract is running out.
44. set up
- Meaning: To establish; to arrange.
- Example: They set up a new company. / Set up the chairs for the meeting.
45. show off
- Meaning: To display one’s abilities or possessions in a boastful way.
- Example: He’s always showing off his new car.
46. shut down
- Meaning: To close; to stop operating.
- Example: The factory shut down due to lack of orders.
47. slow down
- Meaning: To reduce speed.
- Example: Slow down! You’re driving too fast.
48. sort out
- Meaning: To organize; to solve a problem.
- Example: Sort out your clothes. / We need to sort out this issue.
49. stand out
- Meaning: To be noticeable.
- Example: She stands out in a crowd.
50. stay up
- Meaning: To not go to bed.
- Example: I stayed up late last night.
51. take after
- Meaning: To resemble a parent or ancestor.
- Example: She takes after her mother.
52. take off
- Meaning: To remove; to leave the ground (for an aircraft); to become successful quickly.
- Example: Take off your shoes. / The plane took off on time. / Her career took off after she won the award.
53. take over
- Meaning: To assume control.
- Example: The new manager took over the company.
54. talk over
- Meaning: To discuss.
- Example: Let’s talk over the problem.
55. tear down
- Meaning: To demolish.
- Example: They tore down the old building.
56. throw away
- Meaning: To discard.
- Example: Don’t throw away those old clothes.
57. try out
- Meaning: To test.
- Example: Try out this new recipe.
58. turn down
- Meaning: To reject; to lower the volume.
- Example: She turned down the job offer. / Turn down the radio.
59. turn off
- Meaning: To stop the flow or operation of something.
- Example: Turn off the lights.
60. turn on
- Meaning: To start the flow or operation of something.
- Example: Turn on the TV.
61. turn up
- Meaning: To appear; to increase the volume.
- Example: He didn’t turn up at the party. / Turn up the music.
62. use up
- Meaning: To consume completely.
- Example: We used up all the sugar.
63. wait for
- Meaning: To remain in a place until someone or something arrives.
- Example: I’m waiting for the bus.
64. warm up
- Meaning: To make or become warm; to prepare physically for exercise.
- Example: Warm up the soup. / Do some stretches to warm up before running.
65. wash up
- Meaning: To wash the dishes.
- Example: It’s your turn to wash up.
66. wear out
- Meaning: To become unusable due to wear; to exhaust someone.
- Example: These shoes are worn out. / The long journey wore her out.
67. work out
- Meaning: To exercise; to solve a problem; to turn out well.
- Example: I work out at the gym three times a week. / We need to work out a plan. / Everything worked out in the end.
68. write down
- Meaning: To record in writing.
- Example: Write down your phone number.
69. bring down
- Meaning: To cause something or someone to fall; to reduce the level or amount of something.
- Example: The strong wind brought down several trees. / We need to bring down the cost of production.
70. call in
- Meaning: To ask someone to come and help or give their opinion; to report for work.
- Example: They called in a specialist to solve the problem. / All employees are required to call in by 9 am.
71. come down
- Meaning: To move from a higher to a lower place; to become less in amount or intensity.
- Example: The snow is coming down heavily. / The price of oil has come down recently.
72. cut out
- Meaning: To remove by cutting; to stop doing something.
- Example: Cut out this picture from the magazine. / You should cut out smoking.
73. draw up
- Meaning: To prepare a document or plan; to bring a vehicle to a halt.
- Example: They drew up a contract. / The car drew up outside the house.
74. fall apart
- Meaning: To break into pieces; to lose control of one’s emotions or behavior.
- Example: The old chair fell apart. / He fell apart after hearing the bad news.
75. get back
- Meaning: To return; to retrieve something.
- Example: I’ll get back to you later. / Get back your book from him.
76. give away
- Meaning: To give something to someone for free; to reveal a secret.
- Example: She gave away all her old clothes. / Don’t give away the answer.
77. hold up
- Meaning: To delay; to rob at gunpoint.
- Example: The traffic jam held us up. / The robbers held up the bank.
78. let down
- Meaning: To disappoint someone.
- Example: Don’t let down your friends.
79. look down on
- Meaning: To consider someone or something as inferior.
- Example: Don’t look down on people who are less fortunate.
80. put down
- Meaning: To write something; to place something gently; to criticize or insult someone.
- Example: Put down your thoughts on paper. / Put down the baby carefully. / Don’t put down others.
81. look forward to
- Meaning: To anticipate or expect something with pleasure.
- Example: I’m looking forward to my vacation next month.
82. put up with
- Meaning: To tolerate or endure something unpleasant.
- Example: I can’t put up with his constant complaining anymore.
83. get away with
- Meaning: To avoid punishment or negative consequences for doing something wrong.
- Example: He always seems to get away with breaking the rules.
84. come up with
- Meaning: To think of or produce an idea, solution, etc.
- Example: We need to come up with a new marketing strategy.
85. run out of
- Meaning: To exhaust the supply of something.
- Example: We ran out of milk, so I need to buy some more.