Learning English can sometimes feel like navigating a maze, especially when you encounter phrasal verbs. These versatile combinations of verbs and prepositions or adverbs can change the meaning of the original verb completely, making them tricky yet essential to master. At Emjay Coaching, we believe that mastering phrasal verbs can open doors to fluent and confident English communication. So, let’s dive into the world of phrasal verbs with a list of 100+ examples, grouped for easier understanding.
1. Phrasal Verbs with "Get"
Phrasal verbs with "get" are incredibly common and can express various ideas like obtaining, arriving, or managing.
Get up – to rise from bed.
Example: I usually get up at 7 AM.
Get along – to have a good relationship.
Example: I get along well with my colleagues.
Get over – to recover from something.
Example: It took her months to get over the breakup.
Get by – to manage or survive.
Example: I can get by on a small income.
Get together – to meet socially.
Example: Let’s get together for lunch.
Get back – to return.
Example: When did you get back from your trip?
Get away – to escape or take a break.
Example: We’re planning to get away for the weekend.
"The best way to predict your future is to create it." – Abraham Lincoln
2. Phrasal Verbs with "Take"
"Take" is another verb that changes meaning with different particles.
Take off – to remove something (like clothes) or when a plane leaves the ground.
Example: Please take off your shoes before entering.
Take up – to start doing a new activity.
Example: She took up painting during the pandemic.
Take after – to resemble a family member.
Example: She takes after her mother in terms of creativity.
Take in – to absorb or understand information.
Example: It was hard to take in all the details.
Take out – to remove something or to go on a date.
Example: He took out the trash. / He took her out for dinner.
Take down – to write or record something.
Example: Please take down the notes from the meeting.
3. Phrasal Verbs for Communication
These are essential for expressing yourself effectively in English.
Speak up – to talk louder or express your opinion.
Example: If you don’t agree, please speak up.
Talk over – to discuss something thoroughly.
Example: We need to talk over the project details before the meeting.
Bring up – to introduce a topic in conversation.
Example: He brought up the issue during the discussion.
Break down – to explain something in detail.
Example: Can you break down the process for me?
Cut off – to interrupt someone.
Example: She was cut off in the middle of her speech.
Call back – to return a phone call.
Example: I’ll call you back later.
"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go." – Dr. Seuss
4. Phrasal Verbs for Everyday Activities
These phrasal verbs are handy for describing daily routines and activities.
Wake up – to stop sleeping.
Example: I wake up early every morning.
Look after – to take care of someone or something.
Example: Can you look after my cat while I’m away?
Turn on – to start a machine or device.
Example: Could you turn on the lights?
Turn up – to increase volume or intensity.
Example: Can you turn up the music?
Turn off – to stop a machine or device.
Example: Don’t forget to turn off the oven.
Turn around – to reverse direction or change opinion.
Example: The company’s performance turned around after the new CEO took charge.
5. Phrasal Verbs for Problem-Solving
These phrasal verbs will help you navigate challenges in life and work.
Figure out – to solve or understand something.
Example: I need to figure out how to fix this issue.
Work out – to find a solution or do physical exercise.
Example: They worked out the problem together.
Sort out – to organize or resolve something.
Example: We need to sort out the paperwork before the meeting.
Run into – to encounter unexpectedly.
Example: I ran into an old friend yesterday.
Come up against – to face a challenge.
Example: We came up against several obstacles during the project.
Back out – to withdraw from an agreement.
Example: He backed out of the deal at the last minute.
6. Phrasal Verbs with "Go"
These are perfect for talking about movement or change.
Go on – to continue.
Example: Please go on with your story.
Go out – to leave home for a social activity.
Example: They went out for dinner last night.
Go through – to experience something difficult.
Example: She went through a tough time last year.
Go off – to explode or start making noise.
Example: The alarm went off at 6 AM.
Go out with – to date someone.
Example: She’s been going out with him for a year.
Go over – to review or examine something.
Example: Let’s go over the report before submitting it.
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts." – Winston Churchill
7. Phrasal Verbs for Relationships
Understanding these can improve how you express interactions with others.
Break up – to end a relationship.
Example: They broke up after five years together.
Make up – to reconcile after a disagreement.
Example: They finally made up after the argument.
Get together – to meet socially.
Example: We should get together sometime this week.
Fall out – to have a disagreement and stop being friendly.
Example: They fell out over a trivial matter.
Break down – to lose control emotionally.
Example: She broke down in tears after hearing the news.
Patch up – to reconcile or repair a relationship.
Example: They managed to patch up their differences.
8. Phrasal Verbs for Work and Study
These will enhance your professional and academic communication.
Hand in – to submit something.
Example: Don’t forget to hand in your assignment by Friday.
Carry out – to perform a task.
Example: The researchers carried out an important experiment.
Look over – to review something quickly.
Example: I need to look over these documents before the meeting.
Brush up on – to improve knowledge or skill.
Example: I need to brush up on my Spanish before the trip.
Burn out – to become exhausted from overwork.
Example: He burned out after working 70-hour weeks.
Knuckle down – to start working hard.
Example: It’s time to knuckle down and finish the project.
9. Phrasal Verbs with "Come"
"Come" can be paired with various particles to describe movement or development.
Come across – to find something by chance.
Example: I came across an old photo album yesterday.
Come up with – to think of a new idea.
Example: She came up with a brilliant plan.
Come out – to be revealed or made public.
Example: The truth eventually came out.
Come down with – to become ill.
Example: I think I’m coming down with a cold.
Come apart – to break into pieces.
Example: The chair came apart when he sat on it.
Come forward – to volunteer or offer help.
Example: Several witnesses came forward with information.
10. Phrasal Verbs with "Put"
"Put" is another versatile verb that changes meaning with different prepositions.
Put off – to delay something.
Example: We had to put off the meeting until next week.
Put up with – to tolerate something or someone.
Example: I can’t put up with the noise any longer.
Put on – to wear something.
Example: She put on her coat before leaving.
Put down – to criticize someone or something.
Example: Stop putting yourself down—you’re amazing!
Put out – to extinguish a fire.
Example: The firefighters quickly put out the blaze.
Put in – to install or contribute something.
Example: They put in new cabinets in the kitchen.
11. Phrasal Verbs with "Look"
"Look" is great for expressing visual and cognitive actions.
Look up – to search for information.
Example: I need to look up the address online.
Look after – to take care of someone or something.
Example: Who will look after your dog while you’re away?
Look forward to – to anticipate something with pleasure.
Example: I’m looking forward to the concert this weekend.
Look into – to investigate something.
Example: The police are looking into the case.
Look down on – to consider someone inferior.
Example: She looks down on people who don’t have a degree.
Look out for – to take care of or be aware of potential danger.
Example: Look out for pickpockets in the market.
12. Phrasal Verbs with "Turn"
"Turn" can describe changes, actions, or direction.
Turn up – to arrive unexpectedly.
Example: He turned up at the party without an invitation.
Turn in – to submit something or go to bed.
Example: I need to turn in my assignment by tomorrow. / I’m turning in for the night.
Turn away – to refuse entry or reject someone.
Example: They were turned away at the club because it was full.
Turn over – to transfer control or ownership.
Example: He turned over the business to his son.
13. Phrasal Verbs with "Break"
These are especially useful for describing sudden changes or separations.
Break up – to end a relationship.
Example: They broke up last month.
Break into – to enter a building by force.
Example: Someone broke into their house last night.
Break out – to escape or start suddenly.
Example: A fire broke out in the kitchen.
Break in – to enter a place by force.
Example: Someone tried to break in last night.
Break off – to end something abruptly.
Example: They broke off the engagement.
14. Phrasal Verbs with "Run"
"Run" can express movement, exhaustion, or encounters.
Run into – to meet someone by chance.
Example: I ran into an old friend yesterday.
Run out of – to deplete a supply of something.
Example: We ran out of milk this morning.
Run away – to leave unexpectedly or escape.
Example: She ran away from home when she was a teenager.
Run down – to criticize or lose power (like a battery).
Example: My watch ran down, so I need to get a new battery.
15. Phrasal Verbs with "Set"
These are often used to describe preparations or beginnings.
Set up – to establish or arrange something.
Example: They set up a new company last year.
Set off – to start a journey or trigger something.
Example: We set off early to avoid traffic.
Settle down – to become stable or start living a quieter life.
Example: They decided to settle down and start a family.
Now that you have over 100 phrasal verbs at your disposal, you’re well on your way to mastering English. Remember, learning phrasal verbs isn’t just about memorizing definitions; it’s about using them in real-life contexts. The more you practice, the more natural they will become.
"The secret of getting ahead is getting started." – Mark Twain
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