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Phrasal Verbs: Definition, Usage, Types and List

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Phrasal verbs are combinations of words that take on unique meanings, and you encounter them daily. They often consist of a verb and a preposition or adverb, creating phrases like “give up,” “bring out,” or “look after.” These multi-word verbs can seem tricky at first, but mastering them will greatly improve your English fluency.

Phrasal Verbs List

Phrasal Verbs List – Created by Englishstudyonline

What are Phrasal Verbs?

Definition of Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs consist of a verb followed by one or more particles. Particles can be prepositions, adverbs, or both. For example, “pick up” combines the verb “pick” with the adverb “up.” The resulting meaning (“to lift or retrieve”) is different from each word’s individual meaning.

These verbs can be tricky because their meanings aren’t always guessable from the words alone. Examples include “give up” (to quit) and “run into” (to meet unexpectedly). Many phrasal verbs are idiomatic, making them essential to grasp for fluent English.

Types of Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs can be tricky to master, but understanding their types is a good place to start. Below, you will find detailed explanations for intransitive, transitive, separable, and non-separable phrasal verbs.

Intransitive Phrasal Verbs

Intransitive phrasal verbs do not take an object. The action stops at the verb, and you don’t need to provide more information to complete the meaning. For example, in “The car broke down,” broke down is an intransitive phrasal verb.

  • Examples:
    • Wake up early to see the sunrise.
    • Run away from the problem if it scares you.

In these examples, no object follows the phrasal verbs. The action is complete in itself.

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Transitive Phrasal Verbs

Transitive phrasal verbs require an object to complete their meaning. Without an object, the sentence may seem incomplete or confusing. For instance, “She looked up the word” makes sense because looked up needs the object the word.

  • Examples:
    • Take off your shoes at the door.
    • Turn on the lights when it gets dark.

In these cases, the object (shoes, lights) directly follows the phrasal verb, making the action clear.

Separable Phrasal Verbs

Separable phrasal verbs are a type of transitive verbs. You can place the object between the verb and the particle. For instance, in “Turn off the radio” or “Turn the radio off,” turn off is a separable phrasal verb.

  • Examples:
    • Give up smoking for good.
    • Pick up your toys.

In these sentences, you can separate “give up” and “pick up” by inserting the object in between or after the phrasal verb.

Read more: Transitive Verbs

Non-separable Phrasal Verbs

Non-separable phrasal verbs cannot be split. The object must follow the entire phrasal verb. For example, “Run out of milk” cannot be rearranged because run out of must stay together.

  • Examples:
    • Look after the kids tonight.
    • Get over the flu soon.

In these examples, the phrasal verbs stay together, and the object comes directly after them.

Common Phrasal Verbs

Common Phrasal Verbs – Created by Englishstudyonline

Phrasal Verbs List

Here is the frequently used phrasal verbs list:

Ask somebody out

  • Meaning: Invite on a date
  • Example: Brian asked Judy out to dinner and a movie.

Ask around

  • Meaning: Ask many people the same question
  • Example: I asked around but nobody has seen my wallet.

Add up to something

  • Meaning: Equal
  • Example: Your purchases add up to $205.32.

Back something up

  • Meaning: Reverse
  • Example: You’ll have to back up your car so that I can get out.

Back somebody up

  • Meaning: Support
  • Example: My wife backed me up over my decision to quit my job.

Blow up

  • Meaning: Explode
  • Example: The racing car blew up after it crashed into the fence.

Blow something up

  • Meaning: add air
  • Example: We have to blow 50 balloons up for the party.

Break down

  • Meaning: Stop functioning (vehicle, machine)
  • Example: Our car broke down at the side of the highway in the snowstorm.

Break down

  • Meaning: Get upset
  • Example: The woman broke down when the police told her that her son had died.

Break something down

  • Meaning: Divide into smaller parts
  • Example: Our teacher broke the final project down into three separate parts.

Break in

  • Meaning: Force entry to a building
  • Example: Somebody broke in last night and stole our stereo.

Break into something

  • Meaning: enter forcibly
  • Example: The firemen had to break into the room to rescue the children.

Break something in

  • Meaning: wear something a few times so that it doesn’t look/feel new
  • Example: I need to break these shoes in before we run next week.

Break in

  • Meaning: interrupt
  • Example: The TV station broke in to report the news of the president’s death.

Break up

  • Meaning: End a relationship
  • Example: My boyfriend and I broke up before I moved to America.

Break up

  • Meaning: Start laughing (informal)
  • Example: The kids just broke up as soon as the clown started talking.

Break out

  • Meaning: Escape
  • Example: The prisoners broke out of jail when the guards weren’t looking.

Break out in something

  • Meaning: develop a skin condition
  • Example: I broke out in a rash after our camping trip.

Bring somebody down

  • Meaning: make unhappy
  • Example: This sad music is bringing me down.

Bring somebody up

  • Meaning: raise a child
  • Example: My grandparents brought me up after my parents died.
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Bring something up

  • Meaning: start talking about a subject
  • Example: My mother walks out of the room when my father brings up sports.

Bring something up

  • Meaning: vomit
  • Example: He drank so much that he brought his dinner up in the toilet.

Call around

  • Meaning: Phone many different places/people
  • Example: We called around but we weren’t able to find the car part we needed.

Call somebody back

  • Meaning: Return a phone call
  • Example: I called the company back but the offices were closed for the weekend.

Call something off

  • Meaning: Cancel
  • Example: Jason called the wedding off because he wasn’t in love with his fiancé.

Call on somebody

  • Meaning: Ask for an answer or opinion
  • Example: The professor called on me for question 1.

Call on somebody

  • Meaning: Visit somebody
  • Example: We called on you last night but you weren’t home.

Call somebody up

  • Meaning: Phone
  • Example: Give me your phone number and I will call you up when we are in town.

Calm down

  • Meaning: Relax after being angry
  • Example: You are still mad. You need to calm down before you drive the car.

Catch up

  • Meaning: Get to the same point as somebody else
  • Example: You’ll have to run faster than that if you want to catch up with Marty.

Check-in

  • Meaning: Arrive and register at a hotel or airport
  • Example: We will get the hotel keys when we check in.

Check out

  • Meaning: Leave a hotel
  • Example: You have to check out of the hotel before 11:00 AM.

Check somebody/ something out

  • Meaning: Look at carefully, investigate
  • Example: The company checks out all new employees.

Check out somebody/ something

  • Meaning: Look at (informal)
  • Check out the crazy hair on that guy!

Cheer up

  • Meaning: Become happier
  • She cheered up when she heard the good news.

Cheer somebody up

  • Meaning: Make happier
  • I brought you some flowers to cheer you up.

Chip in

  • Meaning: Help
  • Example: If everyone chips in we can get the kitchen painted by noon.

Clean something up

  • Meaning: Tidy, clean
  • Example: Please clean up your bedroom before you go outside.

Come across something

  • Meaning: Find unexpectedly
  • Example: I came across these old photos when I was tidying the closet.

Come apart

  • Meaning: Separate
  • Example: The top and bottom come apart if you pull hard enough.

Come down with something

  • Meaning: Become sick
  • Example: My nephew came down with chicken pox this weekend.

Come forward

  • Meaning: Volunteer for a task or to give evidence
  • Example: The woman came forward with her husband’s fingerprints.

Come from some place

  • Meaning: Originate in
  • Example: The art of origami comes from Asia.

Count on somebody/ something

  • Meaning: Rely on
  • Example: I am counting on you to make dinner while I am out.

Cross something out

  • Meaning: Draw a line through
  • Example: Please cross out your old address and write your new one.

Cut back on something

  • Meaning: Consume less
  • Example: My doctor wants me to cut back on sweets and fatty foods.

Cut something down

  • Meaning: Make something fall to the ground
  • Example: We had to cut the old tree in our yard down after the storm.

Cut in

  • Meaning: Interrupt
  • Example: Your father cut in while I was dancing with your uncle.

Pull in

  • Meaning: Too closely in front of another vehicle
  • Example: The bus driver got angry when that car cut in.

Cut in

  • Meaning: Start operating (of an engine or electrical device)
  • Example: The air conditioner cuts in when the temperature gets to 22°C.

Cut something off

  • Meaning: Remove with something sharp
  • Example: The doctors cut off his leg because it was severely injured.

Cut something off

  • Meaning: Stop providing
  • Example: The phone company cut off our phone because we didn’t pay the bill.

Cut somebody off

  • Meaning: Take out of a will
  • Example: My grandparents cut my father off when he remarried.

Cut something out

  • Meaning: Remove part of something (usually with scissors and paper)
  • Example: I cut this ad out of the newspaper.

Do somebody/ something over

  • Meaning: Beat up, ransack (BrE, informal)
  • Example: He’s lucky to be alive. His shop was done over by a street gang.

Do something over

  • Meaning: Do again (AmE)
  • Example: My teacher wants me to do my essay over because she doesn’t like my topic.

Do away with something

  • Meaning: Discard
  • Example: It’s time to do away with all of these old tax records.

Do something up

  • Meaning: Fasten, close
  • Example: Do your coat up before you go outside. It’s snowing!

Dress up

  • Meaning: Wear nice clothing
  • Example: It’s a fancy restaurant so we have to dress up.

Drop back

  • Meaning: move back in a position/group
  • Example: Andrea dropped back to third place when she fell off her bike.

Drop in/ by/ over

  • Meaning: Come without an appointment
  • Example: I might drop in/by/over for tea sometime this week.

Drop somebody/ something off

  • Meaning: Take somebody/ something somewhere and leave them/it there
  • Example: I have to drop my sister off at work before I come over.

Drop out

  • Meaning: Quit a class, school etc.
  • Example: I dropped out of Science because it was too difficult.

Eat out

  • Meaning: Eat at a restaurant
  • Example: I don’t feel like cooking tonight. Let’s eat out.

End up

  • Meaning: Eventually reach/do/decide
  • Example: We ended up renting a movie instead of going to the theatre.
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Fall apart

  • Meaning: Break into pieces
  • Example: My new dress fell apart in the washing machine.

Fall down

  • Meaning: Fall to the ground
  • Example: The picture that you hung up last night fell down this morning.

Fall out

  • Meaning: Separate from an interior
  • Example: The money must have fallen out of my pocket.

Fall out

  • Meaning: (of hair, teeth) Become loose and unattached
  • Example: His hair started to fall out when he was only 35.

Figure something out

  • Meaning: Understand, find the answer
  • Example: I need to figure out how to fit the piano and the bookshelf in this room.

Fill something in

  • Meaning: To write information in blanks, as on a form (BrE)
  • Example: Please fill in the form with your name, address, and phone number.

Fill something out

  • Meaning: To write information in blanks, as on a form (AmE)
  • Example: The form must be filled out in capital letters.

Fill something up

  • Meaning: Fill to the top
  • Example: I always fill the water jug up when it is empty.

Find out

  • Meaning: Discover
  • Example: We don’t know where he lives. How can we find out?

Find something out

  • Meaning: Discover
  • Example: We tried to keep the time of the party a secret, but Samantha found it out.
List of Phrasal Verbs

List of Phrasal Verbs – Created by Englishstudyonline

Get something across/ over

  • Meaning: Communicate, make understandable
  • Example: I tried to get my point across/over to the judge but she wouldn’t listen.

Get along/on

  • Meaning: Like each other
  • Example: I was surprised at how well my new girlfriend and my sister got along/on.

Get around

  • Meaning: Have mobility
  • Example: My grandfather can get around fine in his new wheelchair.

Get away

  • Meaning: Go on a vacation
  • Example: We worked so hard this year that we had to get away for a week.

Get away with something

  • Meaning: Do without being noticed or punished
  • Example: Jason always gets away with cheating in his maths tests.

Get back

  • Meaning: Return
  • Example: We got back from our vacation last week.

Get something back

  • Meaning: Receive something you had before
  • Example: Liz finally got her Science notes back from my room-mate.

Get back at somebody

  • Meaning: Retaliate, take revenge
  • Example: My sister got back at me for stealing her shoes. She stole my favourite hat.

Get back into something

  • Meaning: Become interested in something again
  • Example: I finally got back into my novel and finished it.

Get on something

  • Meaning: Step onto a vehicle
  • Example: We’re going to freeze out here if you don’t let us get on the bus.

Get over something

  • Meaning: Recover from an illness, loss, difficulty
  • Example: I just got over the flu and now my sister has it.

Get over something

  • Meaning: overcome a problem
  • Example: The company will have to close if it can’t get over the new regulations.

Get round to something

  • Meaning: finally find time to do (AmE: get around to something)
  • Example: I don’t know when I am going to get round to writing the thank you cards.

Get together

  • Meaning: Meet (usually for social reasons)
  • Example: Let’s get together for a BBQ this weekend.

Get up

  • Meaning: Get out of bed
  • Example: I got up early today to study for my exam.

Get up

  • Meaning: Stand
  • Example: You should get up and give the elderly man your seat.

Give somebody away

  • Meaning: Reveal hidden information about somebody
  • Example: His wife gave him away to the police.

Give somebody away

  • Meaning: Take the bride to the altar
  • Example: My father gave me away at my wedding.

Give something away

  • Meaning: Ruin a secret
  • Example: My little sister gave the surprise party away by accident.

Give something away

  • Meaning: Give something to somebody for free
  • Example: The library was giving away old books on Friday.

Give something back

  • Meaning: Return a borrowed item
  • Example: I have to give these skates back to Franz before his hockey game.

Give in

  • Meaning: Reluctantly stop fighting or arguing
  • Example: My boyfriend didn’t want to go to the ballet, but he finally gave in.

Give something out

  • Meaning: Give to many people (usually at no cost)
  • Example: They were giving out free perfume samples at the department store.

Give something up

  • Meaning: Quit a habit
  • Example: I am giving up smoking as of January 1st.

Give up

  • Meaning: Stop trying
  • Example: My maths homework was too difficult so I gave up.

Go after somebody

  • Meaning: Follow somebody
  • Example: My brother tried to go after the thief in his car.

Go after something

  • Meaning: Try to achieve something
  • Example: I went after my dream and now I am a published writer.

Go against somebody

  • Meaning: Compete, oppose
  • Example: We are going against the best soccer team in the city tonight.

Go ahead

  • Meaning: Start, proceed
  • Example: Please go ahead and eat before the food gets cold.

Go back

  • Meaning: Return to a place
  • Example: I have to go back home and get my lunch.

Go out

  • Meaning: Leave home to go on a social event
  • Example: We’re going out for dinner tonight.

Go out with somebody

  • Meaning: Date
  • Example: Jesse has been going out with Luke since they met last winter.

Go over something

  • Meaning: Review
  • Example: Please go over your answers before you submit your test.

Go over

  • Meaning: Visit somebody nearby
  • Example: I haven’t seen Tina for a long time. I think I’ll go over for an hour or two.
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Go without something

  • Meaning: Suffer lack or deprivation
  • Example: When I was young, we went without winter boots.

Grow apart

  • Meaning: Stop being friends over time
  • Example: My best friend and I grew apart after she changed schools.

Grow back

  • Meaning: Regrow
  • Example: My roses grew back this summer.

Grow into something

  • Meaning: Grow big enough to fit
  • Example: This bike is too big for him now, but he should grow into it by next year.

Grow out of something

  • Meaning: Get too big for
  • Example: Elizabeth needs a new pair of shoes because she has grown out of her old ones.

Grow up

  • Meaning: Become an adult
  • Example: When Jack grows up he wants to be a fireman.

Hand something down

  • Meaning: Give something used to somebody else
  • Example: I handed my old comic books down to my little cousin.

Hand something in

  • Meaning: Submit
  • Example: I have to hand in my essay by Friday.

Hand something out

  • Meaning: To distribute to a group of people
  • Example: We will hand out the invitations at the door.

Hand something over

  • Meaning: Give (usually unwillingly)
  • Example: The police asked the man to hand over his wallet and his weapons.

Hang in

  • Meaning: Stay positive (informal)
  • Example: Hang in there. I’m sure you’ll find a job very soon.

Hang on

  • Meaning: Wait a short time (informal)
  • Hang on while I grab my coat and shoes!

Hang out

  • Meaning: Spend time relaxing (informal)
  • Example: Instead of going to the party we are just going to hang out at my place.

Hang up

  • Meaning: End a phone call
  • Example: He didn’t say goodbye before he hung up.

Hold somebody/ something back

  • Meaning: Prevent from doing/going
  • Example: I had to hold my dog back because there was a cat in the park.

Try something on

  • Meaning: sample clothing
  • Example: I’m going to try these jeans on, but I don’t think they will fit.

Try something out

  • Meaning: Test
  • Example: I am going to try this new brand of detergent out.

Use something up

  • Meaning: Finish the supply
  • Example: The kids used all of the toothpaste up so we need to buy some more.

Wake up

  • Meaning: stop sleeping
  • Example: We have to wake up early for work on Monday.

Warm somebody/ something up

  • Meaning: increase the temperature
  • Example: You can warm your feet up in front of the fireplace.

Warm up

  • Meaning: prepare the body for exercise
  • Example: I always warm up by doing sit-ups before I go for a run.

Wear off

  • Meaning: Fade away
  • Example: Most of my make-up wore off before I got to the party.

Work out

  • Meaning: exercise
  • Example: I work out at the gym three times a week.

Work out

  • Meaning: be successful
  • Example: Our plan worked out fine.

Work something out

  • Meaning: make a calculation
  • Example: We have to work out the total cost before we buy the house.

Phrasal Verbs

How to Use Phrasal Verbs?

Phrasal verbs are verbs combined with prepositions or adverbs. They change the meaning of the original verb. Understanding how to use them can improve your English skills.

First, learn the meaning of common phrasal verbs.

  • For example, “look up” means to search for information. “Break down” means to stop working, like a machine.

Regular practice is key. Try to notice phrasal verbs in books, songs, and conversations. Seeing them in context helps you remember their meanings and usage.

Here’s a basic tip: treat the verb part just like any other verb.

  • For example, “call off” in past tense becomes “called off”. The particle part often stays the same.

Some phrasal verbs are separable. You can put the object between the verb and particle.

  • Example: “Turn off the light” or “Turn the light off”.

Others are inseparable. You can’t break them up.

  • Example: “Ran into an old friend”.

Practice Exercises of Phrasal Verbs

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the correct phrasal verb from the list below. Use the correct form of the verbs.

Phrasal Verbs:
get up, take off, give up, run out of, look after

  1. She decided to __________ smoking to improve her health.
  2. The plane will __________ in 20 minutes.
  3. Can you __________ the kids while I go shopping?
  4. I usually __________ at 7 a.m. every day.
  5. We need to buy more milk; we have __________ it.

Answers:

  1. give up
  2. take off
  3. look after
  4. get up
  5. run out of

Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Phrasal Verb

Choose the correct phrasal verb from the options given in parentheses to complete each sentence.

  1. After a long day at work, I like to __________ (chill out, blow up, break in) with a good book.
  2. The teacher asked the students to __________ (bring up, call off, come across) their homework at the beginning of the class.
  3. When he couldn’t fix the computer, he decided to __________ (look up, give up, put on) and call a professional.
  4. She will __________ (take after, turn up, go over) her grandmother when she gets older; they have the same personality.
  5. The manager decided to __________ (drop out, cut down, lay off) some employees due to budget cuts.

Answers:

  1. chill out
  2. bring up
  3. give up
  4. take after
  5. lay off

Phrasal Verbs

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