{"id":65406,"date":"2025-07-30T09:00:40","date_gmt":"2025-07-30T06:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.englishcentral.com\/blog\/?p=65406"},"modified":"2025-07-29T09:31:15","modified_gmt":"2025-07-29T06:31:15","slug":"100-most-common-phrasal-verbs-definitions-and-examples","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.englishcentral.com\/blog\/en\/100-most-common-phrasal-verbs-definitions-and-examples\/","title":{"rendered":"100 Most Common Phrasal Verbs: Definitions and Examples"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A phrasal verb is a mixture of a verb and one or more particles, typically prepositions or adverbs, that has a different meaning than the original verb alone. For example, \u201cgive up\u201d means to quit, which is quite different from just \u201cgive.\u201d In both casual conversations and formal writing, native speakers often use them as a key part of everyday English. For anyone who wants to sound more natural and fluent in English, learning phrasal verbs is crucial. Our blog post has collected 100 of the most frequently used phrasal verbs, with clear definitions and practical example sentences to help you understand and use them confidently.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Most Common Phrasal Verbs in English<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Add up to something<\/td>To amount to; to equal a total.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ask around<\/td>To ask several people about something.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ask somebody out<\/td>To invite someone to go on a date.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Back somebody up<\/td>To support or defend someone.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Blow up<\/td>To explode; to get very angry.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Break down<\/td>To stop functioning (machine); to become very upset.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Break in<\/td>To enter a building illegally; to interrupt.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Break up<\/td>To end a relationship or group.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Break out<\/td>To escape; to suddenly start (e.g., a fire, a fight).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bring somebody down<\/td>To make someone feel sad or depressed.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bring something up<\/td>To mention a topic or issue.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Call something off<\/td>To cancel something.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Call on somebody<\/td>To ask someone to do something; to visit someone.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Calm down<\/td>To relax or become less upset.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Catch up<\/td>To meet and talk about recent events; to reach the same level.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Check in<\/td>To register (at a hotel, airport, etc.); to report your arrival.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Check out<\/td>To examine something; to leave a hotel.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Check somebody\/ something out<\/td>To look at someone\/something carefully or with interest.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Chip in<\/td>To contribute money or help.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Come across something<\/td>To find something by chance.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Count on somebody\/ something<\/td>To rely on someone\/something.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cut back on something<\/td>To reduce the amount of something.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cut in<\/td>To interrupt; to drive in front of someone.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cut something off<\/td>To remove something by cutting it; to stop something suddenly.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cut somebody off<\/td>To stop someone from speaking; to disconnect communication.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Do away with something<\/td>To get rid of something.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Do something up<\/td>To fasten, close, or decorate something.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dress up<\/td>To wear formal clothes or special clothing.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Drop somebody\/ something off<\/td>To deliver someone or something to a destination.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Drop out<\/td>To leave something (like school, a course, or competition) before completing it.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
End up<\/td>To finally be in a place or situation after a series of events.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fall apart<\/td>To break into pieces; to lose control emotionally.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fall out<\/td>To have an argument or disagreement, often resulting in a broken relationship.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Figure something out<\/td>To understand or solve something.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fill something in<\/td>To complete a form or document by providing information.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Find out<\/td>To discover information.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Get along\/on<\/td>To have a good relationship with someone.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Get away with something<\/td>To do something wrong without being caught or punished.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Get something back<\/td>To receive something that was returned.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Get over something<\/td>To recover from something (e.g., a setback, illness, or disappointment).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Get together<\/td>To meet or gather with others.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Give somebody away<\/td>To reveal a secret.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Give something away<\/td>To donate something for free.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Give in<\/td>To yield or surrender after resistance.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Give up<\/td>To stop trying or surrender.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Go after somebody<\/td>To pursue someone (e.g., romantically or professionally).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Go after something<\/td>To pursue or strive to achieve something.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Go against somebody<\/td>To oppose or fight someone.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Go ahead<\/td>To proceed with something.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Go back<\/td>To return to a previous place or situation.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Go out<\/td>To leave your home for social activities; to date someone.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Go over something<\/td>To review or examine something in detail.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Grow apart<\/td>To become less close or connected over time.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Grow out of something<\/td>To become too old or mature for something.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Grow up<\/td>To mature or become an adult.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hand something down<\/td>To pass something on to someone, usually in a family.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hand something over<\/td>To give control or possession of something to someone.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hang on<\/td>To hold something tightly; to wait.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hang out<\/td>To spend time with others informally.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hang up<\/td>To end a phone call; to suspend something.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hold somebody\/ something back<\/td>To prevent someone\/something from progressing.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hold on<\/td>To wait; to keep holding something tightly.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Keep something from somebody<\/td>To not allow someone to know something.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Let somebody down<\/td>To disappoint someone.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Look after somebody\/ something<\/td>To take care of someone or something.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Look down on somebody<\/td>To regard someone with a sense of superiority.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Look for somebody\/ something<\/td>To search for someone or something.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Look forward to something<\/td>To anticipate something with pleasure.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Look out<\/td>To be careful or watchful.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Look up to somebody<\/td>To admire or respect someone.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Make something up<\/td>To invent or fabricate a story or excuse.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mix something up<\/td>To confuse things or people.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pass away<\/td>To die.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pass out<\/td>To lose consciousness.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pass something out<\/td>To distribute something to people.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Put something together<\/td>To assemble or create something.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Put up with somebody\/ something<\/td>To tolerate or endure something unpleasant.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Run into somebody\/ something<\/td>To meet someone unexpectedly; to collide with something.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Run away<\/td>To escape from a place or situation.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Run out<\/td>To use up all of something; to expire.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Set something up<\/td>To arrange or establish something.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Show off<\/td>To display something in a way that is meant to impress others.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sleep over<\/td>To spend the night at someone else's house.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Stick to something<\/td>To continue doing something consistently.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Take something back<\/td>To return something to its original place or owner.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Take off<\/td>To ascend (for a plane); to become successful or popular quickly.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tear something up<\/td>To rip something into pieces.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Think something over<\/td>To carefully consider something.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Turn something down<\/td>To reject or refuse something.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Turn something off<\/td>To switch off a device or machine.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Turn something on<\/td>To switch on a device or machine.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Try something out<\/td>To test something to see how well it works.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Warm up<\/td>To prepare by doing light activity; to heat something.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wear off<\/td>To gradually stop having an effect.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Work out<\/td>To exercise; to find a solution.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Come up with<\/td>To think of an idea or solution.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kick off<\/td>To begin something (event, meeting, etc.).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pull over<\/td>To move a vehicle to the side of the road.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Show up<\/td>To arrive at a place.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Turn up<\/td>To appear or arrive unexpectedly.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Most Common Phrasal Verbs Examples<\/strong><\/h2>\n

-After buying groceries, snacks, and drinks, the total added up<\/strong> to nearly $100.<\/p>\n

-I lost my wallet at the park, so I asked around<\/strong> to see if anyone had found it.<\/p>\n

-After weeks of texting, he finally gathered the courage to ask her out<\/strong> to dinner on Saturday.<\/p>\n

-When my brother was accused of cheating, I backed him up<\/strong> because I knew he was honest.<\/p>\n

-The balloon suddenly blew up<\/strong> in my face when I was trying to inflate it too quickly.<\/p>\n

-On the way to the beach, our car broke down<\/strong> in the middle of nowhere, and we had to wait for a tow truck.<\/p>\n

-Someone tried to break in<\/strong> through the back door last night, but the alarm scared them off.<\/p>\n

-They decided to break up<\/strong> after realizing they wanted completely different things in life.<\/p>\n

-A huge argument broke out<\/strong> at the meeting when they discussed the budget cuts.<\/p>\n

-Negative people really bring me down<\/strong> when I\u2019m trying to stay motivated.<\/p>\n

-I wanted to bring up<\/strong> the idea of taking a trip together during the family dinner.<\/p>\n

-They called off<\/strong> the wedding because they realized they weren\u2019t ready.<\/p>\n

-During the lecture, the professor called on<\/strong> me to explain the theory to the class.<\/p>\n

-I know you\u2019re upset, but you need to calm down<\/strong> before we can talk about it.<\/p>\n

-Let\u2019s meet for coffee this weekend and catch up<\/strong> on everything that\u2019s happened lately.<\/p>\n

-We checked in<\/strong> at the hotel around 2 p.m. and then went straight to the beach.<\/p>\n

-You should check out<\/strong> the new Italian restaurant downtown\u2014it\u2019s amazing!<\/p>\n

-I checked out<\/strong> that new book you recommended, and it\u2019s really good.<\/p>\n

-Everyone chipped in<\/strong> a few dollars to buy a farewell gift for the teacher.<\/p>\n

-While cleaning the attic, I came across<\/strong> some old photos from my childhood.<\/p>\n

-You can always count on<\/strong> Mia to be there when you need help.<\/p>\n

-I\u2019ve been trying to cut back on<\/strong> coffee because it keeps me up at night.<\/p>\n

-He rudely cut in<\/strong> while I was in the middle of explaining my idea.<\/p>\n

-They cut off<\/strong> the internet service because I forgot to pay the bill.<\/p>\n

-That guy just cut me off<\/strong> on the highway without using his turn signal.<\/p>\n

-The school did away<\/strong> with uniforms<\/strong>, so now students can wear whatever they like.<\/p>\n

-We did up<\/strong> the house with lights and decorations for the party.<\/p>\n

-She loves to dress up<\/strong> even for casual events; she always looks so elegant.<\/p>\n

-I dropped the kids off<\/strong> at school before heading to work.<\/p>\n

-He dropped out<\/strong> of college in his second year to start his own business.<\/p>\n

-We got lost on the way and ended up<\/strong> at a totally different beach.<\/p>\n

-After her dog passed away, she completely fell apart<\/strong> emotionally.<\/p>\n

-They fell out<\/strong> over a misunderstanding and haven\u2019t spoken since.<\/p>\n

-I finally figured out<\/strong> how to fix the leaking faucet myself.<\/p>\n

-Please fill in<\/strong> this form and bring it with you to your appointment.<\/p>\n

-I just found out<\/strong> that my cousin is expecting a baby!<\/p>\n

-My roommate and I get along<\/strong> really well, which makes living together easy.<\/p>\n

-I can\u2019t believe he got away<\/strong> with<\/strong> lying to the teacher.<\/p>\n

-I lent her my book last month and finally got it back<\/strong> yesterday.<\/p>\n

-It took him months to get over<\/strong> his breakup with Maria.<\/p>\n

-We should get together<\/strong> sometime next week and catch up.<\/p>\n

-Her father gave her away<\/strong> during the beautiful wedding ceremony.<\/p>\n

-I gave away<\/strong> my old laptop to my cousin who needed one for school.<\/p>\n

-After hours of negotiating, they finally gave in<\/strong> to our demands.<\/p>\n

-I almost gave up <\/strong>on learning guitar, but I kept practicing and now I love it.<\/p>\n

-The coach told the players to go after <\/strong>the ball with full effort.<\/p>\n

-She\u2019s really going after<\/strong> her dream of becoming an architect.<\/p>\n

-It goes against<\/strong> my principles to lie, even if it\u2019s a small thing.<\/p>\n

-If you want to leave early, go ahead<\/strong>\u2014I\u2019ll finish up here.<\/p>\n

-I would love to go back<\/strong> to Paris one day; it was such a magical trip.<\/p>\n

-We\u2019re going out<\/strong> for dinner to celebrate our anniversary tonight.<\/p>\n

-Let\u2019s go over<\/strong> your essay together before you submit it.<\/p>\n

-Over the years, we just grew apart<\/strong> and started living separate lives.<\/p>\n

-She grew out<\/strong> of her obsession with dolls when she turned ten.<\/p>\n

-I grew up<\/strong> in a small village where everyone knew each other.<\/p>\n

-My grandma handed down<\/strong> her wedding ring to me.<\/p>\n

-Please hand over <\/strong>your phone during the test.<\/p>\n

–Hang on<\/strong>, I\u2019ll grab my coat and come with you.<\/p>\n

-We usually hang out<\/strong> at Sarah\u2019s place on Friday nights.<\/p>\n

-I was about to say something important, but she hung up<\/strong> too quickly.<\/p>\n

-Fear of failure held him<\/strong> back from applying to his dream college.<\/p>\n

–Hold on<\/strong> just a second while I finish this email.<\/p>\n

-I didn\u2019t want to keep it from you<\/strong>, but I wasn\u2019t sure how to tell you.<\/p>\n

-I promised I\u2019d help him move, and I can\u2019t let him down<\/strong> now.<\/p>\n

-Can you look after<\/strong> my cat while I\u2019m away this weekend?<\/p>\n

-She looks down<\/strong> on anyone who didn\u2019t go to college.<\/p>\n

-I\u2019ve been looking for<\/strong> my headphones all morning.<\/p>\n

-I\u2019m really looking forward<\/strong> to the concert this Friday.<\/p>\n

–Look out!<\/strong> That branch is about to fall.<\/p>\n

-I\u2019ve always looked up<\/strong> to my grandfather for his wisdom.<\/p>\n

-He made up<\/strong> an excuse for being late to work again.<\/p>\n

-I mixed up<\/strong> the meeting dates and showed up on the wrong day.<\/p>\n

-My neighbor\u2019s dog passed away <\/strong>peacefully last night.<\/p>\n

-She was so exhausted that she passed out<\/strong> on the couch.<\/p>\n

-The teacher passed out<\/strong> the tests as soon as class began.<\/p>\n

-I spent the whole afternoon putting together<\/strong> that new bookshelf.<\/p>\n

-I don\u2019t know how she puts up <\/strong>with his constant complaining.<\/p>\n

-I ran into<\/strong> my old roommate at the grocery store yesterday.<\/p>\n

-The puppy ran away<\/strong> when the gate was left open.<\/p>\n

-We ran out <\/strong>of milk<\/strong>, so I had to go back to the store.<\/p>\n

-I\u2019ll set up <\/strong>a Zoom call so we can all join the meeting.<\/p>\n

-He always tries to show off<\/strong> his guitar skills at parties.<\/p>\n

-My cousin is going to sleep over<\/strong> at my place this weekend.<\/p>\n

-It\u2019s hard, but I\u2019m trying to stick to<\/strong> my diet.<\/p>\n

-I want to take back <\/strong>what I said earlier\u2014it wasn\u2019t fair.<\/p>\n

-The plane took off<\/strong> right on time despite the storm.<\/p>\n

-She tore up<\/strong> the letter after reading it once.<\/p>\n

-I need some time to think over<\/strong> your offer.<\/p>\n

-He turned down<\/strong> the job because it required too much travel.<\/p>\n

-Don\u2019t forget to turn off<\/strong> the oven before you leave.<\/p>\n

-Can you turn on<\/strong> the lights? It\u2019s getting dark.<\/p>\n

-I tried out <\/strong>the new yoga class, and I really liked it.<\/p>\n

-Let\u2019s warm up<\/strong> with some stretches before we go jogging.<\/p>\n

-The pain medication wore off<\/strong> after a few hours.<\/p>\n

-Don\u2019t worry, everything will work out<\/strong> in the end.<\/p>\n

-She came up<\/strong> with<\/strong> a brilliant idea for the campaign.<\/p>\n

-The event will kick off<\/strong> at 6 p.m. with live music and food.<\/p>\n

-The police asked me to pull over<\/strong> because my brake light was out.<\/p>\n

-He didn\u2019t show up<\/strong> to the interview, which was disappointing.<\/p>\n

-My missing earring finally turned up<\/strong> in my sock drawer.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

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Frequently Asked Questions About 100 Most Common Phrasal Verbs: Definitions and Examples
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What are phrasal verbs?<\/strong>
Phrasal verbs are expressions that combine a main verb and a preposition or adverb (or both) to create a different meaning than the original verb. For example, \u201crun into\u201d means to meet someone by chance, not to physically collide. They are commonly used in both spoken and written English.<\/p>\n

Why should I learn phrasal verbs?<\/strong>
Phrasal verbs are essential for understanding and using natural English. Native speakers use them all the time, so knowing them helps you sound more fluent and confident. Listening and reading comprehension are both improved by them.<\/p>\n

Can phrasal verbs have more than one meaning?<\/strong>
Many phrasal verbs can have different meanings depending on the context. For instance, \u201ctake off\u201d can mean to remove something, for a plane to leave the ground, or even for a career to become successful. Understanding the context is crucial for understanding the correct meaning.<\/p>\n

Do I need to learn every phrasal verb in English?<\/strong>
Learning all of them is not required, there are hundreds of them. Start with the most common ones, like those in this blog post. These will cover a wide range of daily situations and give you a solid foundation.<\/p>\n