Phrasal Verbs with Meaning and Examples

268+ phrasal verbs in simple English, each with its meanings and example sentences. They are grouped by verb (all the put, take, look, get phrasal verbs together) because learning them in families is the easiest way to remember them. Phrasal verbs come up in SSC, Bank and IELTS papers and in everyday spoken English.

Phrasal verbs with ask (4)

• Ask after To inquire about the health and well-being of someone.
• Ask around Ask many people the same question
• Ask for To request someone or something; to ask that someone come forth.
• Ask somebody out Invite on a date

Phrasal verbs with back (3)

• Back out To move out of something backwards/To withdraw from something, such as an agreement, negotiations, an argument, etc.
• Back somebody up Support
• Back something up Reverse

Phrasal verbs with bear (3)

• Bear on [for information or facts] to concern something or be relevant to something.
• Bear out [for facts or evidence] to support or confirm a story or explanation/ to support the truth of something.
• Bear with To be patient with someone or something/to wait upon someone or something. (Especially through difficulties.)

Phrasal verbs with blow (4)

• Blow out Extinguish, especially a flame.
• Blow over (of trouble) fade away without serious consequences.
• Blow something up Add air
• Blow up Explode.

Phrasal verbs with break (11)

• Break down (of a machine or motor vehicle) suddenly cease to function.
• Break in Force entry to a building
• Break into To begin to perform or utter suddenly, especially with song, speech, chattering, tears, etc.
• Break into something Enter forcibly
• Break off To become separated from the whole.
• Break out To burst forth suddenly, as with a fire, a riot, giggling, shouting, etc.
• Break out in something Develop a skin condition
• Break something down Divide into smaller parts
• Break something in Wear something a few times so that it doesn't look/feel new
• Break through To break something and pass through.
• Break up To destroy something.

Phrasal verbs with bring (5)

• Bring about To cause to happen.
• Bring out To make someone come onto the stage from the stage sides or wings.
• Bring round To bring (someone) back to consciousness, as after a fainting spell or coma.
• Bring somebody down Make unhappy
• Bring somebody up Raise a child

Phrasal verbs with call (12)

• Call around Phone many different places/people
• Call back To return a phone call
• Call down To find fault with, reprimand
• Call for Publicly demand that something be done.
• Call in To phone
• Call names To abuse, to insult.
• Call off To end, to finish.
• Call on somebody Ask for an answer or opinion
• Call somebody back Return a phone call
• Call somebody up Phone
• Call something off Cancel
• Call up To telephone

Phrasal verbs with carry (4)

• Carry off Win, Succeed.
• Carry on TO continue doing, pursuing, or operating.
• Carry on with Continue.
• Carry out To put into practice or effect.

Phrasal verbs with catch (4)

• Catch on To understand
• Catch out To discover the truth about someone's deception
• Catch up Get work up to date
• Catch up with Learn something new that many people already understand

Phrasal verbs with check (6)

• Check back Return to determine if everything is OK
• Check in To enter to a hotel
• Check into Enter a hospital
• Check out To do whatever is necessary to leave a place and then depart.
• Check over Check something very carefully
• Check with Ask for confirmation

Phrasal verbs with clean (4)

• Clean off To remove something such as dirt or dirty dishes.
• Clean out To use up all of someone's money
• Clean something up Tidy, clean
• Clean up To make a lot of money

Phrasal verbs with close (4)

• Close down Close a shop, branch or business permanently
• Close in Surround, envelop
• Close out Bring something to an end
• Close up Join together

Phrasal verbs with come (5)

• Come across something Find unexpectedly
• Come apart Separate
• Come down with something Become sick
• Come forward Volunteer for a task or to give evidence
• Come from some place Originate in

Phrasal verbs with cut (6)

• Cut back on something Consume less
• Cut in Start operating (of an engine or electrical device)
• Cut somebody off Take out of a will
• Cut something down Make something fall to the ground
• Cut something off Remove with something sharp
• Cut something out Remove part of something (usually with scissors and paper)

Phrasal verbs with do (5)

• Do away with something Discard
• Do in Exhaust, tire
• Do something over Do again (AmE)
• Do something up Fasten, close
• Do up Close or fasten clothes

Phrasal verbs with draw (4)

• Draw down Reduce levels
• Draw in Arrive at a station (for trains)
• Draw on Pass slowly.
• Draw out Make a shy person more outgoing

Phrasal verbs with drop (3)

• Drop around Deliver
• Drop back Move back in a position/group
• Drop out Quit a class, school etc.

Phrasal verbs with fall (5)

• Fall apart Fall into pieces
• Fall down Fall on the ground
• Fall for Be attracted to somebody, fall in love
• Fall out Lose hair
• Fall through Not to happen

Phrasal verbs with fill (4)

• Fill in Complete a form
• Fill something in To write information in blanks, as on a form (BrE)
• Fill something out To write information in blanks, as on a form (AmE)
• Fill something up Fill to the top

Phrasal verbs with fit (3)

• Fit in Get on in a group of people
• Fit in with Be convenient or occur conveniently
• Fit up Provide equipment

Phrasal verbs with get (27)

• Get about Visit many places
• Get across Go from one side to the other
• Get after Chase
• Get along Leave
• Get along on Like each other
• Get around Persuade, convince
• Get at Criticise
• Get away Escape
• Get away with something Do without being noticed or punished
• Get back Return
• Get back at somebody Retaliate, take revenge
• Get back into Start doing something after stopping for some time
• Get back into something Become interested in something again
• Get back to Respond when you know the answer
• Get by Not be noticed (problems, errors, etc)
• Get down Descend, leave a vehicle
• Get in Arrive (train, bus, plane etc.)
• Get into Become involved or interested
• Get off Leave a bus, train
• Get on Enter a bus, train, plane, etc.
• Get out Leave a place or escape
• Get over Find a solution
• Get round Reveal something
• Get something back Receive something you had before
• Get through Finish
• Get to Arrive
• Get up Get out of bed

Phrasal verbs with give (4)

• Give away Distribute something for free
• Give in Surrender, accept defeat
• Give off Emit pollution or something unpleasant
• Give out Make public

Phrasal verbs with hold (3)

• Hold back Not disclose information
• Hold on Wait
• Hold out Resist

Phrasal verbs with keep (3)

• Keep from Avoid (or cause someone to avoid) doing something.
• Keep on Continue to do something.
• Keep up Move or progress at the same rate as someone or something else.

Phrasal verbs with lay (3)

• Lay down Give something up, surrender
• Lay off To leave someone or something alone.
• Lay out To explain a plan of action or a sequence of events.

Phrasal verbs with let (4)

• Let down To fail to meet the expectations of someone; disappoint someone
• Let into To permit someone or something to enter something or some place;
• Let off A chance to escape or avoid something
• Let up To diminish.

Phrasal verbs with look (7)

• Look after To take care of someone or something.
• Look down upon To consider someone or something lesser or inferior in some way.
• Look into Check into something; see into something.
• Look out Be vigilant and take notice.
• Look over To inspect or examine especially in a cursory way.
• Look to To expect someone or something to supply something.
• Look upto To view someone with respect and admiration.

Phrasal verbs with make (4)

• Make out To manage to do something with someone or something.
• Make over Meaning: to improve the way someone or something looks To renovate something; give something a new appearance Change or transfer ownership, usually through a legal document
• Make up To redo something; to do something that one has failed to do in the past.
• Make up for To take the place of someone or something.

Phrasal verbs with pass (4)

• Pass away It indicates the death of someone or something
• Pass for To be accepted as someone, some type of person, or something.
• Pass off To get rid of something deceptively by giving or selling it to someone as something else. To happen in a particular way
• Pass out To faint; to lose consciousness.

Phrasal verbs with pull (4)

• Pull down To degrade someone; to humiliate someone.
• Pull for To support and cheer for someone, a group, or something.
• Pull off To manage to make something happen.
• Pull through To help someone to survive a difficult time or situation.

Phrasal verbs with put (5)

• Put down To belittle or degrade someone or something.
• Put off To delay dealing with someone until a later time.
• Put on To pretend; to act as if something were true.
• Put out To extinguish something on fire.
• Put up with To tolerate or endure someone or something; to be able to stand someone or something.

Phrasal verbs with run (3)

• Run down To lose power and stop working.
• Run into To cause something to collide with something else.
• Run through To review, go over, or rehearse the details of a process or sequence.

Phrasal verbs with set (5)

• Set about To undertake a task; to begin doing something
• Set forth To explain something; to present some information.
• Set in To begin; to become fixed for a period of time
• Set to Begin doing something vigorously.
• Set up To establish; found

Phrasal verbs with stand (3)

• Stand by To support someone; to continue supporting someone even when things are bad.
• Stand out To be conspicuous, distinctive, or prominent.
• Stand up for To take the side of someone or something.

Phrasal verbs with take (9)

• Take aback Startled, astonished, shocked, or disconcerted.
• Take after To resemble a close, older relative
• Take apart To beat someone up.
• Take down To move someone or something to a lower position or level.
• Take in To give someone shelter.
• Take on To behave very emotionally.
• Take out Extract, remove
• Take over To assume the role or job of someone
• Take up To deliberate something.

Phrasal verbs with turn (3)

• Turn down To diminish the speed, volume, intensity, or flow of.
• Turn out To train or produce someone with certain skills or talents.
• Turn up To discover or locate someone or something.

More phrasal verbs, A–Z (78)

• Account for Give a satisfactory record of (something, typically money, that one is responsible for’/ succeed in killing, destroying, or defeating.
• Add up to something Equal
• Calm down Relax after being angry
• Cart off Take someone away, usually under arrest or to prison
• Carve up Divide into smaller pieces
• Cash out Illegally access a bank account or credit card and steal money
• Cast off Dispose, get rid of.
• Cave in Collapse
• Cheer somebody up Make happier
• Cheer up Become happier
• Chew up Cut into pieces with teeth
• Chip in Contribute some money.
• Choke up Become tearfully emotional
• Chuck in Quit something.
• Clear away Remove or tidy
• Clear out Leave somewhere
• Cool down Become calm
• Count on Depend, rely
• Count out To exclude
• Cross something out Draw a line through
• Damp down Calm or reduce feelings, emotions
• Deal in To be in some particular line of work
• Dig in Start eating
• Dig up Search out, find
• Dispose of Sell off
• Dress up Wear nice clothing
• Dry out Dry something completely
• Dry up Lose all the water from a river, lake, other sources, etc.
• Eat out Eat at a restaurant
• Eat up Consume
• End up Eventually reach/do/decide
• Fasten onto Follow someone closely, normally when they don't want your company.
• Feed off Eat a food as part of an animal’s diet
• Feed on Grow stronger
• Fight back Defend yourself, resist an attack
• Fight off Fight an attack and force them back
• Figure something out Understand, find the answer
• Find out Discover
• Find something out Discover
• Finish off Beat, make victory certain in sport
• Finish with Finish using
• Fire off Shoot, fire a gun (usually repeatedly)
• Fly at Attack
• Follow up Find out about a problem and act
• Fool about Be unfaithful
• Freeze out Shut out or exclude by unfriendly treatment
• Freeze up To become frightened and anxious, and be unable to move or speak
• Freshen up Quickly improve the appearance of something
• Frighten away Scare someone so much that they go away
• Go with Combine nicely
• Grow into Mature or change into
• Grow up Mature or become adult
• Hand down Deliver a verdict
• Hand on Give to someone else
• Hang on Wait
• Have in Have an arrangement Wearing
• Head off Stop someone or force them to change direction
• Hear of Receive news, updates or information about someone
• Hinge on Depend very much or completely
• Hit on Have an idea
• Hook up To meet someone
• Idle away Spend your time doing nothing in particular.
• Invite out Ask somebody to go with you for a meal, to see a show
• Jump at To quickly and eagerly accept an opportunity
• Jump on To do something before someone else
• Laid up with Ill and usually confined
• Live on Depend on as a source of income or support.
• Mark down Reduce the price of something
• Round up To locate and gather.
• Sit back Relax,
• Talk over To discuss someone or something with someone.
• Tinker with Try to repair, work aimlessly or unskilfully with
• Urge on Encourage
• Wind up To conclude something
• Wipe away To clean or mop something away.
• Wipe out To exhaust or debilitate someone.
• Work on To repair or tinker with something.
• Work up To get someone ready for something.