Phrasal verb list with examples. 5/5

Phrasal verb MeaningExample
Run overDrive a vehicle over a person or thingI accidentally ran over your bicycle in the driveway.
Run throughRehearse, reviewLet's run through these lines one more time before the show.
Run awayLeave unexpectedly, escapeThe child ran away from home and has been missing for three days.
Send backReturn (usually by mail)My letter got sent back to me because I used the wrong stamp.
Set upTrick, trapThe police set up the car thief by using a hidden camera.
Show offAct extra special for people watching (usually boastfully)He always shows off on his skateboard
Sort outOrganize, resolve a problemWe need to sort the bills out before the first of the month.
Switch offStop the energy flow, turn offThe light's too bright. Could you switch it off.
Switch onStart the energy flow, turn onWe heard the news as soon as we switched on the car radio.
Take afterResemble a family memberI take after my mother. We are both impatient.
Take apartPurposely break into piecesHe took the car brakes apart and found the problem.
Take backReturn an itemI have to take our new TV back because it doesn't work.
Take offStart to flyMy plane takes off in five minutes.
Take offRemove something (usually clothing)Take off your socks and shoes and come in the lake!
Take outRemove from a place or thingCan you take the garbage out to the street for me?
Take outPay for someone to go somewhere with youMy grandparents took us out for dinner and a movie.
Tear upRip into piecesI tore up my ex-boyfriend's letters and gave them back to him.
Throw awayDispose ofWe threw our old furniture away when we won the lottery.
Turn downDecrease the volume or strength (heat, light etc)Please turn the TV down while the guests are here.
Turn downRefuseI turned the job down because I don't want to move.
Turn offStop the energy flow, switch offYour mother wants you to turn the TV off and come for dinner.
Turn onStart the energy, switch onIt's too dark in here. Let's turn some lights on.
Turn upIncrease the volume or strength (heat, light etc)Can you turn the music up? This is my favourite song.
Turn upAppear suddenlyOur cat turned up after we put posters up all over the neighbourhood.
Try onSample clothingI'm going to try these jeans on, but I don't think they will fit.
Try outTestI am going to try this new brand of detergent out.
Use upFinish the supplyThe kids used all of the toothpaste up so we need to buy some more
Wake upStop sleepingWe have to wake up early for work on Monday.
Warm upIncrease the temperatureYou can warm your feet up in front of the fireplace.
Wear offFade awayMost of my make-up wore off before I got to the party.
Work outExerciseI work out at the gym three times a week.
Work outMake a calculationWe have to work out the total cost before we buy the house.

Phrasal verb list with examples. 4/5

Phrasal verb MeaningExample
Keep outStop from enteringTry to keep the wet dog out of the living room.
Keep upContinue at the same rateIf you keep those results up you will get into a great college.
Let downFail to support or help, disappointI need you to be on time. Don't let me down this time.
Let inAllow to enterCan you let the cat in before you go to school?
Look afterTake care ofI have to look after my sick grandmother.
Look down onThink less of, consider inferiorEver since we stole that chocolate bar your dad has looked down on me.
Look forTry to findI'm looking for a red dress for the wedding.
Look forward toBe excited about the futureI'm looking forward to the Christmas break.
Look out forBe careful, vigilant, and take noticeLook out! That car's going to hit you!
Look overCheck, examineCan you look over my essay for spelling mistakes?
Look out forBe specially vigilant forDon't forget to look out for snakes on the hiking trail.
Look upSearch and find information in a reference book or databaseWe can look her phone number up on the Internet.
Look up toHave a lot of respect forMy little sister has always looked up to me.
Make upInvent, lie about somethingJosie made up a story about why we were late.
Make upForgive each otherWe were angry last night, but we made up at breakfast.
Make upApply cosmetics toMy sisters made me up for my graduation party.
Mix upConfuse two or more thingsI mixed up the twins' names again!
Pass awayDieHis uncle passed away last night after a long illness.
Pass outFaintIt was so hot in the church that an elderly lady passed out.
Pass outGive the same thing to many peopleThe professor passed the textbooks out before class.
Pass upDecline (usually something good)I passed up the job because I am afraid of change.
Pay backReturn owed moneyThanks for buying my ticket. I'll pay you back on Friday.
Pay forBe punished for doing something badThat bully will pay for being mean to my little brother.
Pick outChooseI picked out three sweaters for you to try on.
Point outIndicate with your fingerI'll point my boyfriend out when he runs by.
Put downPut what you are holding on a surface or floorYou can put the groceries down on the kitchen counter.
Put downInsult, make someone feel stupidThe students put the substitute teacher down because his pants were too short.
Put offPostponeWe are putting off our trip until January because of the hurricane.
Put outExtinguishThe neighbours put the fire out before the firemen arrived.
Put togetherAssembleI have to put the crib together before the baby arrives.
Put up withTolerateI don't think I can put up with three small children in the car.
Put onPut clothing/accessories on your bodyDon't forget to put on your new earrings for the party.
Run intoMeet unexpectedlyI ran into an old school-friend at the mall.

Phrasal verb list with examples. 3/5

Phrasal verb MeaningExample
Give awayTake the bride to the altarMy father gave me away at my wedding.
Give awayRuin a secretMy little sister gave the surprise party away by accident.
Give awayGive something to someone for freeThe library was giving away old books on Friday.
Give backReturn a borrowed itemI have to give these skates back to Franz before his hockey game.
Give inReluctantly stop fighting or arguingMy boyfriend didn't want to go to the ballet, but he finally gave in.
Give outGive to many people (usually at no cost)They were giving out free perfume samples at the department store.
Give upQuit a habitI am giving up smoking as of January 1st.
Give upStop tryingMy maths homework was too difficult so I gave up.
Go afterFollow someoneMy brother tried to go after the thief in his car.
Go afterTry to achieve somethingI went after my dream and now I am a published writer.
Go againstCompete, opposeWe are going against the best soccer team in the city tonight.
Go aheadStart, proceedPlease go ahead and eat before the food gets cold.
Go backReturn to a placeI have to go back home and get my lunch.
Go outLeave home to go on a social eventWe're going out for dinner tonight.
Go overReviewPlease go over your answers before you submit your test.
Go overVisit someone nearbyI haven't seen Tina for a long time. I think I'll go over for an hour or two.
Go withoutSuffer lack or deprivationWhen I was young, we went without winter boots.
Grow apartStop being friends over timeMy best friend and I grew apart after she changed schools.
Grow backRegrowMy roses grew back this summer.
Grow upBecome an adultWhen Jack grows up he wants to be a fireman.
Grow out ofGet too big forElizabeth needs a new pair of shoes because she has grown out of her old ones.
Grow intoGrow big enough to fitThis bike is too big for him now, but he should grow into it by next year.
Hand downGive something used to someone elseI handed my old comic books down to my little cousin.
Hand inSubmitI have to hand in my essay by Friday.
Hand outTo distribute to a group of peopleWe will hand out the invitations at the door.
Hand overGive (usually unwillingly)The police asked the man to hand over his wallet and his weapons.
Hang onWait a short time (informal)Hang on while I grab my coat and shoes!
Hand outSpend time relaxing (informal)Instead of going to the party we are just going to hang out at my place.
Hold backPrevent from doing/goingI had to hold my dog back because there was a cat in the park.
Hold onWait a short timePlease hold on while I transfer you to the Sales Department.
Hold upRobA man in a black mask held the bank up this morning.
Keep onContinue doingKeep on stirring until the liquid comes to a boil.
Keep fromNot tellWe kept our relationship from our parents for two years.

Phrasal verb list with examples. 1/5

Phrasal_verb MeaningExample
Add up to EqualI purchased add up to $100.
Answer back Answer in bad wayShe answered her mother back.
Back upReverseYou'll have to back up your car so that I can get out.
Back upSupportMy wife backed me up over my decision to quit my job.
Blow upExplodeThe racing car blew up after it crashed into the fence.
Break downStop functioning (vehicle, machine)Our car broke down in the middle of the town
Break downGet upsetThe girl broke down when she new her dog had died.
Break down Divide into smaller partsOur teacher broke the final project down into three separate parts.
Break intoEnter forciblyThe firemen had to break into the room to rescue the old woman.
Break upEnd a relationshipMy girlfriend and I broke up before I moved to Europe.
Break upStart laughing (informal)The kids just broke up as soon as the clown started talking.
Break out EscapeThe prisoner broke out of jail when the guard was sleeping.
Bring upRaise a childMy grandparents brought me up after my parents died.
Call backReturn a phone callI called the company back but the offices had just closed.
Call offCancelJason called the wedding off because he wasn't in love with his fiancé.
Call onAsk for an answer or opinionThe professor called on me for question 1.
Call onVisit someoneWe called on you last night but you weren't home.
Call upPhoneGive me your phone number and I will call you up when we are in town.
(not) care for Not like (formal)I don't care for his behaviour.
Catch upGet to the same point as someone elseYou'll have to run faster than that if you want to catch up with Marty.
Check inArrive and register at a hotel or airportWe will get the hotel keys when we check in.
Cheer upBecome happierShe cheered up when she heard the good news.
Chip inHelpIf everyone chips in we can get the kitchen painted by noon.
Clean upTidy, cleanPlease clean up your bedroom before you go outside.
Come apartSeparateThe top and bottom come apart if you pull hard enough.
Come down withBecome sickMy cousin came down with influenza this weekend.
Come forwardVolunteer for a task or to give evidenceThe woman came forward with her husband's finger prints.
Come fromOriginate inThe art of origami comes from Asia.
Count onRely on I am counting on you to make dinner while I am out.
Cross outDraw a line throughPlease cross out your old address and write your new one.
Cut backConsume lessMy doctor wants me to cut back on sweets and fatty foods.
Cut downMake something fall to the groundWe had to cut the old tree in our yard down after the storm.

Phrasal verb list with examples. 2/5

Phrasal verb MeaningExample
Cut inInterruptYour father cut in while I was dancing with your uncle.
Cut inPull in too closely in front of another vehicleThe bus driver got angry when that car cut in.
Cut inStart operating (of an engine or electrical device)The air conditioner cuts in when the temperature gets to 22°C.
Cut offRemove with something sharpThe doctors cut off his leg because it was severely injured.
Cut offStop providingThe phone company cuts off our phone because we didn't pay the bill.
Cut offTake out of a willMy grandparents cut my father off when he remarried.
Cut out Remove part of something (usually with scissors and paper)I cut this ad out of the newspaper.
Do away withDiscardIt's time to do away with all of these old tax records.
Do upFasten, closeDo your coat up before you go outside. It's snowing!
Dress upWear nice clothingIt's a fancy restaurant so we have to dress up.
Drop inCome without an appointmentI might drop in for tea some time this week.
Drop byCome without an appointmentI might drop by for tea some time this week.
Drop offTake someone/something somewhere and leave them/it thereI have to drop my sister off at work before I come over.
Drop outQuit a class, school, etcI dropped out of Science because it was too difficult
End upEventually reach/do/decideWe ended up renting a movie instead of going to the theatre.
Fall apartBreak into piecesMy new dress fell apart in the washing machine.
Fall downFall to the groundThe picture that you hung up last night fell down this morning.
Fall outSeparate from an interiorThe money must have fallen out of my pocket.
Fall out(Of hair, teeth) become loose and unattachedHis hair started to fall out when he was only 35.
Figure out Understand, find the answerI need to figure out how to fit the piano and the bookshelf in this room.
Fill inTo write information in blanks (Br.E.)Please fill in the form with your name, address, and phone number.
Fill outTo write information in blanks (N.Amer.)The form must be filled out in capital letters.
Fill upFill to the topI always fill the water jug up when it is empty.
Find outDiscoverWe don't know where he lives. How can we find out?
Get acrossCommunicate, make understandableI tried to get my point across to the judge but she wouldn't listen.
Get overCommunicate, make understandableI tried to get my point over to the judge but she wouldn't listen.
Get alongLike each otherI was surprised how well my new girlfriend and my sister got along.
Get onLike each otherI was surprised how well my new girlfriend and my sister got on.
Get aroundHave mobilityMy grandfather can get around fine in his new wheelchair.
Get awayGo on a vacationWe worked so hard this year that we had to get away for a week.
Get upGet out of bedI got up early today to study for my exam.
Get upStandYou should get up and give the elderly man your seat.
Give awayReveal hidden information about someoneHis wife gave him away to the police.