phrasal verbs
List of Phrasal Verbs that Start with A
Act up: To behave badly or misbehave.
Example: The children always act up when they’re tired.
Add up: To make sense or be logical.
Example: His story just doesn’t add up.
Ask around: To ask many people the same question.
Example: I asked around but nobody knows where he is.
Ask out: To invite someone to go out with you.
Example: He asked her out to dinner.
Answer back: To respond rudely or defiantly.
Example: She always answers back when she’s told what to do.
Aim at: To direct or point something towards a target.
Example: He aimed at the bull’s-eye and hit it.
List of Phrasal Verbs that Start with B
Back away – to move away from something or someone
Example: The dog backed away when it saw the stranger.
Bail out – to rescue or provide financial assistance
Example: The government bailed out the company during the recession.
Bear out – to support or confirm something
Example: The evidence bore out his claims.
Bear with – to be patient with someone or something
Example: Please bear with me as I try to solve this problem.
Beat down – to weaken or wear down someone’s resistance or enthusiasm
Example: The constant criticism beat down her confidence.
Bear up – to endure or tolerate something difficult
Example: Despite the tragedy, he managed to bear up and carry on.
Blow up – to explode or become angry
Example: The factory blew up, destroying the entire building.
Bring about – to cause or make something happen
Example: The new policies brought about a significant change in the organization.
Bring along – to bring someone or something with you
Example: Don’t forget to bring along your camera.
Bring down – to cause the downfall of someone or something
Example: The scandal brought down the politician’s career.
Bring up – to raise or mention a topic
Example: She brought up the issue at the meeting.
Brush up – to improve one’s skills or knowledge in a particular area
Example: I need to brush up on my Spanish before my trip to Mexico.
Build up – to increase gradually in size or importance
Example: The company is building up its presence in the market.
Break away – to leave or escape from a group or situation
Example: The athletes broke away from the pack and took the lead.
Break down – to stop working or functioning properly
Example: The car broke down on the highway.
Break into – to enter a building or conversation forcefully and without permission
Example: Someone broke into our house while we were on vacation.
Break out – to suddenly start or begin, especially in a negative or undesirable way
Example: A fire broke out in the building.
Break up – to end a relationship or a meeting
Example: The couple broke up after years of dating.
Bring in – to introduce or initiate something new
Example: The company brought in a new policy to increase productivity.
Bring out – to produce or reveal something that was hidden or unknown
Example: The writer brought out a new book last month.
List of Phrasal Verbs that Start with C
Call off: to cancel something that was planned or scheduled.
Example: The picnic was called off because of the bad weather.
Carry on: to continue doing something.
Example: She decided to carry on with her studies despite the difficulties.
Catch up: to reach the same level or status as someone else.
Example: He worked hard to catch up with his colleagues who had more experience.
Check-in: to register at a hotel or airport.
Example: We need to check in at the hotel before 2 pm.
Check out: to leave a hotel or pay the bill.
Example: We checked out of the hotel early in the morning.
Cheer up: to make someone feel happier.
Example: She brought me flowers to cheer me up when I was feeling down.
Clean up: to make something clean and tidy.
Example: They had to clean up the mess after the party.
Come across: to find or discover something by chance.
Example: I came across an interesting book in the library.
Come along: to make progress or develop well.
Example: The project is coming along nicely.
Come around: to change one’s opinion or viewpoint.
Example: She finally came around to my way of thinking.
Come out: to be released or become available.
Example: The new album is coming out next month.
Come up: to arise or occur unexpectedly.
Example: A problem came up during the meeting.
Count on: to rely on someone or something.
Example: I know I can count on you to help me when I need it.
Cut down: to reduce the amount or size of something.
Example: He decided to cut down on his sugar intake.
Cut off: to disconnect or stop something abruptly.
Example: The phone cut off during the conversation.
Cut out: to remove or eliminate something.
Example: She cut out all junk food from her diet.
Carry out: to complete or perform a task.
Example: They carried out the experiment successfully.
Clear up: to make something clear or understandable.
Example: The teacher cleared up the confusion about the assignment.
Come into: to receive something such as an inheritance or gift.
Example: She came into a lot of money after her grandfather died.
Cross out: to delete or mark something as incorrect.
Example: He crossed out the wrong answer and wrote the correct one.
List of Phrasal Verbs that Start with D
Deal with: to handle or manage a situation.
Example: She had to deal with a difficult customer at work.
Die down: to become less intense or loud.
Example: The noise from the construction site died down in the evening.
Do over: to repeat or redo something.
Example: He had to do the project over because he didn’t follow the instructions.
Draw up: to prepare or create a document or plan.
Example: The lawyer drew up a contract for the new business partnership.
Drop off: to fall asleep or to decrease in amount or intensity.
Example: I dropped off during the movie because it was boring.
Dry up: to become dry or to cause something to become dry.
Example: The river dried up during the drought.
Dust off: to clean or polish something that hasn’t been used in a while.
Example: He dusted off the old bike and went for a ride.
Drive away: to make someone or something go away by driving.
Example: The loud noise from the construction site drove away the birds.
Dress up: to wear formal or fancy clothes.
Example: She dressed up for the party and wore a beautiful gown.
Drop by: to visit someone without making an appointment.
Example: I’m going to drop by your office to say hello.
Drop in: to visit someone briefly and without an invitation.
Example: She dropped in for a cup of coffee on her way to work.
Double up: to share a room or bed with someone.
Example: We had to double up in the hotel room because it was so crowded.
Drive off: to leave quickly in a vehicle.
Example: The thieves drove off in a stolen car before the police arrived.
Dry out: to become dry or to cause something to become dry after being wet.
Example: She hung the wet clothes outside to dry out in the sun.
Drop out: to quit or withdraw from something.
Example: He dropped out of college to pursue his passion for music.
Dress down: to wear casual or informal clothes.
Example: They were allowed to dress down for casual Fridays at work.
Draw in: to become dark earlier in the evening.
Example: The days are getting shorter and the nights are drawing in.
Die away: to become less loud or intense until it disappears.
Example: The sound of the music died away as the band finished playing.
Dig in: to start eating or to prepare for a long and difficult task.
Example: We dug in to the delicious meal that our host had prepared.
Drive up: to arrive in a vehicle, often for a short time.
Example: The delivery truck drove up and dropped off the packages.
List of Phrasal Verbs that Start with E
Ease up – to relax or become less intense
Example: I think it’s time to ease up and take a break.
End up – to eventually reach or arrive at a particular place or situation
Example: If we don’t hurry, we’ll end up missing the movie.
Engage in – to take part in or become involved in
Example: He loves to engage in outdoor activities like hiking and camping.
Enter into – to start or become involved in a formal agreement or relationship
Example: They decided to enter into a partnership to expand their business.
Even out – to make something smooth or level or to make a situation fairer
Example: She used a roller to even out the paint on the wall.
Expose to – to make someone or something experience something new or unpleasant
Example: We don’t want to expose our children to too much violence on TV.
Extend to – to include or involve someone or something in a particular group or activity
Example: The invitation extends to your entire family.
Eye up – to look at someone or something in a particular way, often with desire or suspicion
Example: He couldn’t help but eye up the beautiful woman at the bar.
List of Phrasal Verbs that Start with F
Face up to – to accept and deal with a difficult situation
Example: He finally faced up to the fact that he needed to seek help for his addiction.
Fall apart – to break into pieces or to fail completely
Example: The old car finally fell apart after years of use.
Fall back on – to rely on something or someone for help or support
Example: When he lost his job, he had to fall back on his savings to make ends meet.
Figure out – to understand or solve a problem
Example: I’m still trying to figure out how to use this new computer program.
Fill in – to provide missing information or details
Example: Can you fill in the missing dates on this timeline?
Find out – to discover or learn something new
Example: I just found out that I got accepted into my dream school!
Finish off – to complete the last part of something or to use up the last of something
Example: She finished off the painting by adding some final touches.
Fix up – to repair or improve something
Example: He’s been busy fixing up his old car in his spare time.
Follow up – to take additional action or to check on something after an initial contact or meeting
Example: The sales representative promised to follow up with a phone call to discuss the proposal further.
Fool around – to engage in idle or silly behavior
Example: They spent the afternoon fooling around at the park instead of studying for their exams.
Forge ahead – to continue making progress despite obstacles or challenges
Example: The team decided to forge ahead with the project despite the unexpected setbacks.
Freak out – to become extremely upset or agitated
Example: She freaked out when she saw the spider crawling on her bed.
Free up – to make something available or to have more time or resources available
Example: The cancellation of the meeting freed up her afternoon for other tasks.
List of Phrasal Verbs that Start with G
Get across – to communicate or convey an idea or message
Example: She struggled to get her point across during the heated debate.
Get along – to have a friendly relationship or to make progress
Example: Despite their differences, they were able to get along and work together on the project.
Get around – to move from place to place or to find a way to avoid a problem or obstacle
Example: She was able to get around the city easily using public transportation.
Give away – to donate or to reveal a secret or information
Example: He gave away all of his old clothes to a charity.
Give up – to stop trying or to surrender
Example: After weeks of unsuccessful attempts, she finally gave up trying to quit smoking.
Go ahead – to proceed or to give permission to do something
Example: The boss gave the green light to go ahead with the new project.
Go over – to review or to inspect carefully
Example: The teacher went over the homework with the class to ensure everyone understood the material.
Grow into – to develop or to become suitable for a particular role or position
Example: He gradually grew into his new role as the team leader.
Grow out of – to no longer have an interest in something or to become too big for something
Example: As she got older, she grew out of her childhood love for dolls and toys.
Give in – to surrender or to yield to someone or something
Example: After hours of negotiation, they finally gave in to the other team’s demands.
Get over – to recover from an illness or to overcome a difficult situation or emotion
Example: It took her a long time to get over the death of her beloved pet.
Go through – to experience or to undergo a process or procedure
Example: Before signing the contract, make sure to carefully go through all the terms and conditions.
Give off – to emit or release something, such as a smell or sound
Example: The flowers gave off a sweet fragrance in the garden.
Give back – to return something that was borrowed or taken
Example: He promised to give back the book as soon as he was finished reading it.
Get at – to imply or to suggest something indirectly
Example: I couldn’t figure out what he was getting at with his vague comments.
List of Phrasal Verbs that Start with H
Hand in – to submit something, such as an assignment or application
Example: She handed in her resume to the HR department.
Hang out – to spend time with someone in a casual or relaxed way
Example: We used to hang out at the park every Saturday.
Hang up – to end a phone call or to hang clothing on a hook or hanger
Example: She hung up the phone after the conversation became too heated.
Head off – to prevent or to go in a different direction
Example: The company took measures to head off a potential lawsuit from unhappy customers.
Hold back – to restrain or to prevent something from happening
Example: He held back his anger during the meeting to avoid causing a scene.
Hold on – to wait or to grasp tightly
Example: Hold on, I’ll be with you in just a minute.
Hold up – to delay or to rob at gunpoint
Example: The traffic jam held up the delivery truck for hours.
Hunt down – to search for and find something or someone
Example: The police were able to hunt down the suspect and make an arrest.
Hurry up – to move faster or to do something quickly
Example: Hurry up or we’ll be late for the movie!
Hush up – to keep quiet or to silence someone or something
Example: The company tried to hush up the scandal to avoid negative publicity.
Hand out – to distribute or to give something to a group of people
Example: The teacher handed out the homework assignments at the end of class.
Help out – to assist or to provide aid or support
Example: She volunteered to help out at the homeless shelter during the holidays.
Hit on – to flirt or to make advances towards someone
Example: The guy at the bar kept hitting on her despite her obvious disinterest.
Hold over – to postpone or to extend something to a later time
Example: The meeting was held over until the following week due to scheduling conflicts.
Hang around – to loiter or to spend time in a particular place without any particular purpose
Example: The group of teenagers liked to hang around the convenience store after school.
List of Phrasal Verbs that Start with I
Iron out – to resolve or fix a problem or issue.
Example: We need to iron out these differences before we can finalize the agreement.
Invite over – to ask someone to come to your home or a specific location.
Example: We invited our neighbors over for dinner last night.
Itch for – to have a strong desire or urge to do something.
Example: I’m itching for a vacation; I need to get away from work for a while.
Inquire about – to ask for information about something.
Example: I called the hotel to inquire about the room rates for next week.
Invest in – to put money, time, or effort into something in the hopes of gaining a benefit.
Example: We’re planning to invest in a new business venture.
Iron into – to press or flatten with an iron.
Example: I need to iron these wrinkles out of my shirt before the interview.
Insist on – to demand or require something strongly.
Example: My boss insisted on me finishing the project before leaving for the day.
Immerse in – to involve deeply in a particular activity or subject.
Example: I want to immerse myself in the local culture when I travel abroad.
Intend to – to have a plan or goal to do something.
Example: I intend to start exercising regularly to improve my health.
Identify with – to feel a connection or similarity with someone or something.
Example: As an immigrant, I identify with the struggles of other immigrants in this country.
List of Phrasal Verbs that Start with J
Jack up – to raise something or increase the level of something.
Example: The company plans to jack up the prices of their products next month.
Jam out – to play music loudly and with enthusiasm.
Example: We were jamming out to our favorite songs at the party last night.
Jazz up – to make something more interesting or attractive by adding something to it.
Example: I need to jazz up my boring outfit with some colorful accessories.
Jerk around – to treat someone badly or unfairly.
Example: I’m tired of being jerked around by my boss at work.
Jet off – to leave quickly and suddenly, especially by airplane.
Example: They jetted off to Paris for their honeymoon last night.
Jiggle around – to move or shake something quickly and repeatedly.
Example: The child was jiggling the door handle, trying to open it.
Join in – to participate or become involved in an activity with others.
Example: Can I join in the game you guys are playing?
Jot down – to write something quickly and briefly.
Example: I always carry a notebook with me to jot down any important ideas or notes.
Jump at – to eagerly accept an opportunity or offer.
Example: When she offered me a job in her company, I jumped at the chance.
Jump in – to start doing something quickly and without hesitation.
Example: I decided to jump in and help them finish the project on time.
List of Phrasal Verbs that Start with K
Keep up – to maintain or continue at the same pace or level.
Example: I need to keep up with my studies if I want to pass the exam.
Kick back – to relax or take it easy.
Example: After a long day at work, I like to kick back and watch TV.
Knock out – to defeat or overcome someone or something.
Example: The boxer knocked out his opponent in the first round of the match.
Keep on – to continue doing something, often despite difficulties or obstacles.
Example: You need to keep on practicing if you want to get better at playing the piano.
Key into – to pay attention to or focus on a particular aspect or detail.
Example: You need to key into the customer’s needs if you want to make a sale.
Keep away – to stay at a distance or avoid something.
Example: The children were warned to keep away from the busy street.
Know about – to have knowledge or information about something.
Example: Do you know about the new restaurant that opened downtown?
Knuckle down – to concentrate or focus on a task or project.
Example: I need to knuckle down and finish this report before the deadline.
Kick up – to cause a disturbance or create a fuss.
Example: The protesters kicked up a lot of dust and debris during their march.
Keep to – to stick to or adhere to a plan, schedule, or agreement.
Example: We need to keep to the budget if we want to finish the project on time.
List of Phrasal Verbs that Start with L
Lace up – to tie shoelaces tightly.
Example: Before going for a run, I need to lace up my sneakers.
Lash out – to suddenly attack or criticize someone.
Example: He lashed out at his boss during the meeting, which was very unprofessional.
Lay off – to dismiss or terminate someone from their job.
Example: The company had to lay off several employees due to the economic recession.
Lead to – to result in or cause something else to happen.
Example: Poor communication can lead to misunderstandings and conflicts in the workplace.
Leak out – to become known or be revealed to others, often unintentionally.
Example: The news of the company’s merger leaked out before the official announcement.
Leave out – to not include someone or something.
Example: The teacher accidentally left out an important detail in her lecture.
Let down – to disappoint or fail to meet expectations.
Example: I felt let down when my favorite restaurant closed down without notice.
Light up – to become illuminated or bright.
Example: The city streets light up during the holiday season with colorful decorations.
Look after – to take care of or be responsible for someone or something.
Example: Can you look after my cat while I’m on vacation?
Look into – to investigate or examine a situation or problem.
Example: The police are looking into the cause of the car accident.
List of Phrasal Verbs that Start with M
Make up – to invent or create a story, excuse, or explanation.
Example: She made up an excuse for being late to the meeting.
Mix up – to confuse or misunderstand something.
Example: I always mix up the names of my coworkers.
Mark down – to reduce the price of something.
Example: The store marked down the prices of their winter clothing.
Move in – to start living in a new home or apartment.
Example: We’re moving in to our new house next month.
Mess up – to make a mistake or cause a problem.
Example: He really messed up his presentation by forgetting his notes.
Make over – to change the appearance or design of something.
Example: We’re planning to make over our living room with new furniture.
Measure up – to be equal to or meet a certain standard or expectation.
Example: I’m not sure if my skills measure up to the requirements of this job.
Melt down – to melt something solid into a liquid state.
Example: The chocolate bar melted down in the sun.
Meet up – to gather or come together at a certain place or time.
Example: Let’s meet up for lunch tomorrow.
Move out – to leave a home or apartment and live elsewhere.
Example: I’m moving out of my current apartment next month.
Make out – to see or understand something with difficulty.
Example: I can’t make out the writing on this sign.
Mess around – to waste time or fool around.
Example: He spent the entire day messing around instead of studying for his exams.
Mark up – to increase the price of something.
Example: The store marked up the prices of their products during the holiday season.
Make for – to head towards a certain direction or destination.
Example: We need to make for the airport if we want to catch our flight.
Make do – to manage or cope with something using whatever resources are available.
Example: We don’t have a car, so we’ll have to make do with public transportation.
List of Phrasal Verbs that Start with N
Narrow down – to reduce the number of options or possibilities.
Example: We need to narrow down our list of candidates for the job.
Nod off – to fall asleep unintentionally, especially while sitting or standing.
Example: I always nod off during long meetings.
Note down – to write something down or take notes.
Example: Can you please note down the important points from the presentation?
Nurse along – to care for or support someone or something through a difficult time.
Example: The veterinarian is nursing the injured dog along until it recovers.
Nip in – to go somewhere quickly, usually for a short period of time.
Example: I’m just going to nip in to the store to grab some milk.
Nod to – to acknowledge someone with a nod of the head.
Example: She nodded to her friend across the room.
Name after – to give someone or something a name in honor of another person or thing.
Example: The baby was named after his grandfather.
Nod at – to indicate agreement or approval with a nod of the head.
Example: He nodded at the proposal, signaling his support.
Number among – to include or consider someone or something as part of a group or category.
Example: She numbered among the top students in her class.
Nudge out – to force or persuade someone to leave a job or position.
Example: The new CEO was determined to nudge out the old executives.
Note with – to add a note or comment to a document or text.
Example: I noted with interest the author’s use of symbolism in the novel.
Name for – to give someone or something a name that is based on their characteristics or qualities.
Example: The new restaurant was named for its signature dish.
Nod to – to make a reference or acknowledgement to something or someone.
Example: The film’s director gave a nod to the classic Hollywood westerns.
Nail down – to confirm or finalize something, especially an agreement or plan.
Example: We need to nail down the details of the contract before we sign it.
Note on – to add a brief comment or observation about something.
Example: I included a note on the importance of safety in the project report.
List of Phrasal Verbs that Start with O
Opt for – to choose or prefer one option over others
Example: She opted for the chicken instead of the fish.
Open up – to become more communicative and share personal feelings or thoughts
Example: It took some time, but eventually she opened up to me about her past.
Observe on – to comment or remark about something
Example: The teacher observed on the student’s good performance in the exam.
Own up – to admit to something or take responsibility for one’s actions
Example: After being caught, he owned up to stealing the money.
Overcome with – to be affected or influenced by a strong emotion or feeling
Example: She was overcome with joy when she found out she had won the competition.
Opt out – to choose not to participate or be involved in something
Example: After careful consideration, he decided to opt out of the project.
Offer up – to suggest or provide something for consideration or acceptance
Example: She offered up a solution to the problem that no one else had thought of.
Outdo oneself – to perform better than one’s previous best or exceed one’s own expectations
Example: The chef outdid herself with the amazing dessert she created.
List of Phrasal Verbs that Start with P
Pass away: To die.
Example: His grandfather passed away last night.
Pay off: To settle a debt.
Example: I finally paid off my student loans.
Pick out: To choose something.
Example: She picked out a dress for the wedding.
Pick up: To lift something off the ground or to acquire a new skill or habit.
Example: Can you pick up that pen for me? Example: She picked up French while living in Paris.
Play along: To pretend to agree or go along with something for the sake of avoiding an argument or to keep the peace.
Example: She didn’t really believe his story, but she decided to play along.
Point out: To draw attention to something or someone.
Example: He pointed out the typo in the report.
Put away: To tidy up or store something in its proper place.
Example: After the party, we put away the dishes.
Put off: To postpone or delay something.
Example: We had to put off our vacation until next year.
Put up: To accommodate someone or something.
Example: We can put up our guests in the guest room.
Pass out: To lose consciousness or to distribute something.
Example: She passed out from exhaustion. Example: He passed out the flyers at the event.
Pull off: To achieve or accomplish something that was difficult.
Example: He pulled off the win in the final seconds of the game.
Put on: To dress oneself or to produce or perform something, such as a play or concert.
Example: She put on her coat and left the house.
Pick on: To bully or harass someone.
Example: The other kids always picked on him in school.
Point to: To indicate or suggest something.
Example: All the evidence points to him as the culprit.
Pass up: To decline an opportunity or offer.
Example: I regret passing up the chance to travel abroad when I was younger.
List of Phrasal Verbs that Start with Q
Queue up (for something) – to form a line in order to wait for something.
Example: We had to queue up for hours to get tickets to the concert.
Quicken (something) up – to make something happen more quickly or to increase the pace of something.
Example: The boss asked the team to quicken up the pace of their work in order to meet the deadline.
Quiet down – to become quieter or to make something become quieter.
Example: The children finally quieted down after the teacher scolded them for being too loud.
Quip (about something) – to make a witty or clever remark about something.
Example: She quipped about the boring meeting, “Well, that was two hours of my life I’ll never get back.”
Quarrel (with someone) – to have an argument or dispute with someone.
Example: The couple often quarreled over money.
Quit (something) out – to stop or give up something.
Example: She decided to quit out of the project because she didn’t agree with the direction it was going.
List of Phrasal Verbs that Start with R
Rack up – to accumulate, to collect
Example: He was able to rack up a lot of points in the game.
Raise up – to lift, to elevate
Example: He raised up his hand to answer the question.
Rake in – to earn, to make a lot of money
Example: The company is raking in huge profits.
Ramp up – to increase, to intensify
Example: The government is ramping up its efforts to fight crime.
Rat out – to betray, to inform on
Example: He was afraid that his friend would rat him out to the police.
Read up – to study, to research
Example: Before the exam, he spent hours reading up on the subject.
Rip off – to cheat, to deceive
Example: The salesman was trying to reap me off with the high-priced car.
Rearrange – to organize, to reposition
Example: He had to rearrange the furniture in the room to create more space.
Reason out – to think logically, to conclude
Example: He tried to reason out why his plan failed.
Rely on – to depend on, to trust
Example: He could always rely on his best friend for support.
List of Phrasal Verbs that Start with S
Sack out – to fall asleep or take a nap
Example: After a long day at work, he sacked out on the couch.
Sand down – to smooth or polish a surface using sandpaper
Example: She spent hours sanding down the old wooden furniture.
Save up – to save money over time for a specific purpose
Example: She saved up enough money to go on a dream vacation.
Scale back – to reduce the size, amount, or intensity of something
Example: The company had to scale back its production due to a decrease in demand.
Scatter about – to spread out or distribute in different directions
Example: The children scattered about the park, playing different games.
Scramble up – to climb up something quickly and clumsily
Example: He scrambled up the tree to get a better view.
Screw up – to make a mistake or fail at something
Example: She really screwed up the presentation and lost the client.
Settle down – to calm down or become more relaxed
Example: After a few minutes, the children settled down and started playing quietly.
Shape up – to improve or make progress
Example: He needs to shape up and start taking his work more seriously.
Shell out – to spend or pay a large amount of money
Example: He had to shell out a lot of money to fix his car.
Show up – to arrive or appear at a place
Example: He promised to show up at the party, but never did.
Shut up – to stop talking or be quiet
Example: He told his noisy neighbors to shut up and let him sleep.
Sign in – to record one’s arrival at a place
Example: She signed in at the front desk before starting her volunteer work.
Sing along – to sing a song together with others
Example: The audience sang along to their favorite song at the concert.
Sit back – to relax and watch without taking action
Example: He decided to sit back and let his team handle the project.
Skim off – to remove the top layer or a small amount of something
Example: She skimmed off the cream from the milk before using it in the recipe.
Sleep in – to stay in bed longer than usual
Example: She loves to sleep in on the weekends and catch up on rest.
Slip up – to make a careless mistake or error
Example: He slipped up and sent the wrong email to the client.
Slow down – to reduce speed or pace
Example: The driver had to slow down to avoid a collision.
Sort through – to go through a collection of items and organize them
Example: She spent the day sorting through her old photos and putting them in albums.
Speak out – to express one’s opinions or beliefs openly
Example: She decided to speak out against the injustice she saw in her community.
Spin off – to create a new product or company from an existing one
Example: The successful show led to a spin-off series that became just as popular.
Stand up – to rise to one’s feet from a sitting or lying position
Example: He stood up and stretched after sitting at his desk for hours.
Stay out – to not come home or return until a later time
Example: The teenagers decided to stay out all night and go to the concert.
Stick around – to remain or stay in a place
Example: He told his friend to stick around and enjoy the party.
List of Phrasal Verbs that Start with T
Take after – to resemble someone in appearance or behavior
Example: She takes after her mother in many ways.
Take apart – to dismantle or disassemble something
Example: He took the engine apart to see what was wrong with it.
Take back – to retract or withdraw something that was said
Example: I take back what I said earlier. I was wrong.
Take down – to write something down or record it
Example: Please take down the address and phone number.
Take in – to understand or comprehend something
Example: It took me a while to take in the complexity of the situation.
Take off – to remove or unfasten something
Example: He took off his jacket and hung it up.
Take on – to undertake or accept a responsibility or challenge
Example: She decided to take on the task of organizing the event.
Take out – to remove something or someone from a place
Example: I need to take out the trash before the garbage truck arrives.
Take over – to assume control or authority over something or someone
Example: The new CEO will take over the company next month.
Tear apart – to criticize or attack someone or something harshly
Example: The critics tore apart the new movie for its poor acting and weak storyline.
Tear up – to rip or shred something into pieces
Example: She tore up the letter and threw it away in frustration.
Think over – to carefully consider something before making a decision
Example: I need to think over the job offer before accepting it.
Throw away – to discard or get rid of something
Example: He threw away the old clothes that he no longer wore.
Throw up – to vomit or be sick
Example: She felt so nauseous that she had to run to the bathroom and throw up.
Try on – to put on clothing or an item to see if it fits or suits you
Example: She tried on several dresses before finding the perfect one.
Talk down to – to speak to someone in a condescending or patronizing manner
Example: I hate it when my boss talks down to me like I’m a child.
Talk over – to discuss or consider something with someone
Example: Let’s talk over our plans for the weekend.
Tear down – to demolish or destroy a building or structure
Example: They plan to tear down the old factory and build a new one in its place.
Tie up – to fasten or secure something with a knot or rope
Example: Can you tie up the boat so it doesn’t float away?
Think up – to invent or come up with an idea or plan
Example: She thought up a clever solution to the problem.
Throw out – to discard or get rid of something
Example: I need to throw out these old magazines and make more space.
Try out – to test or experiment with something to see if it works or suits you
Example: I want to try out this new recipe before making it for guests.
Turn down – to reject or refuse an offer or request
Example: He turned down the job offer because the salary was too low.
Turn into – to transform or change into something else
Example: The caterpillar turned into a butterfly after several weeks in its cocoon.
Turn off – to switch off or stop a machine or device
Example: Can you turn off the TV? It’s too loud.
Turn on – to switch on or start a machine or device
Example: She turned on the computer and checked her email.
Turn out – to produce a result or outcome
Example: The party turned out to be a great success.
Turn up – to appear or arrive unexpectedly
Example: I was surprised when my old friend turned up at my doorstep.
Take up – to start or begin a hobby, activity, or occupation
Example: She decided to take up painting as a new hobby.
Tune in – to listen to or watch a broadcast or program
Example: Don’t forget to tune in to the radio show tonight.
List of Phrasal Verbs that Start with U
Use up – to exhaust or deplete completely
Example: I have used up all the milk.
Upset about – to be disturbed or distressed about something
Example: He is upset about not being selected for the team.
Undertake – to take on or begin a task or responsibility
Example: She has undertaken the task of organizing the event.
Use in – to include or involve in something
Example: We need to use in all the latest technology in our project.
Use out – to finish or use all of something
Example: We need to use out all the supplies before ordering more.
Urge on – to encourage or motivate someone to do something
Example: His friends urged him on to take the risk and start his own business.
List of Phrasal Verbs that Start with V
Vary from (something) – to be different or to deviate from something
Example: The prices of products can vary from store to store.
Vent out – to express one’s emotions, especially negative ones
Example: She vented out her anger by shouting at her boss.
Vie for – to compete for something
Example: The two athletes were vying for the gold medal.
Voice out – to express or speak out one’s opinions or feelings
Example: He voiced out his concerns about the project during the meeting.
Visit with – to spend time with someone or to meet someone for a short period of time
Example: I plan to visit with my grandmother next weekend.
Vote down – to reject or defeat a proposal or idea by voting against it
Example: The proposed bill was voted down by the majority of the lawmakers.
Vote in – to elect someone into a position by casting votes
Example: The people voted in a new president during the elections.
Vouch for – to give assurance or guarantee for someone or something
Example: I can vouch for her reliability and honesty.
Vowel out – to pronounce a vowel sound clearly and distinctly
Example: She had to vowel out the words so that the audience could understand her.
Volunteer for – to offer oneself to do something without being asked or paid
Example: He volunteered for the charity event to help the needy.
Vote out – to remove someone from a position or office by voting against them
Example: The people voted out the incumbent mayor in the recent elections.
Vow to – to make a solemn promise or commitment to do something
Example: She vowed to work harder and achieve better grades in school.
Visit around – to travel or visit various places
Example: They plan to visit around Europe during their summer break.
Venture out – to go out or explore new places or activities
Example: She ventured out into the unknown wilderness to test her survival skills.
Volunteer to – to offer oneself to do something without being asked or paid
Example: He volunteered to help organize the charity event.
Vamp up – to improve or increase the quality, energy, or excitement of something
Example: The company needed to vamp up their marketing strategy to attract more customers.
Venture forth – to go out and explore or take risks
Example: They ventured forth into the storm to rescue the stranded hikers.
Vote with – to cast one’s vote in agreement with a particular group or opinion
Example: He voted with his political party on the controversial bill.
List of Phrasal Verbs that Start with W
Wake up: to stop sleeping and become alert or conscious.
Example: I usually wake up at 6:00 am on weekdays.
Walk away: to leave a situation, often in a deliberate and determined manner.
Example: I decided to walk away from the argument before it got worse.
Watch out: to be careful or vigilant, to pay attention to potential dangers.
Example: Watch out for that icy patch on the sidewalk!
Wash up: to clean one’s hands, face, or body with water and soap.
Example: After playing outside all day, the children were told to wash up before dinner.
Wear out: to make something or someone exhausted or tired.
Example: Running a marathon can wear out even the most experienced runners.
Weigh down: to make something or someone heavy or burdensome.
Example: The heavy bags weighed down the hiker, slowing down his pace.
Whip up: to quickly create or prepare something, often food.
Example: She whipped up a delicious meal in just 30 minutes.
Wind up: to bring something to an end or conclusion.
Example: We wound up the meeting after discussing the final agenda item.
Work out: to exercise or engage in physical activity for the purpose of improving one’s health or fitness.
Example: She works out at the gym three times a week.
List of Phrasal Verbs that Start with Y
Yield to: To give way or surrender to someone or something.
Example: He yielded to his opponent’s arguments and admitted he was wrong.
Yearn for: To have a strong desire or longing for something.
Example: She yearned for her childhood home.
Yell out: To shout or call out loudly.
Example: He yelled out for help when he saw the fire.
Yank off: To pull something off forcefully.
Example: She yanked off her sweater and threw it on the floor.
Yield up: To surrender or give up something, especially unwillingly.
Example: He finally yielded up the information that the police were looking for.
Yap at: To bark or yap repeatedly at someone or something.
Example: The dog yapped at the postman until he was out of sight.
Yawn away: To waste time or become bored by something.
Example: He yawned away his afternoon, watching TV.
Yoke up: To join together or unite in a common cause or purpose.
Example: The two companies yoked up to create a stronger business.
List of Phrasal Verbs that Start with Z
Zip up: To fasten or close a zipper.
Example: She zipped up her coat to keep warm.
Zone out: to become unaware of one’s surroundings, often due to boredom or lack of interest.
Example: I was so tired during the meeting that I started to zone out and didn’t hear anything the speaker said.
Zero in (on): to direct one’s attention or aim towards a specific target or goal.
Example: The detective quickly zeroed in on the suspect’s whereabouts and arrested him.
Zoom in (on): to focus on or magnify a particular area or detail, often using a camera or other technology.
Example: The photographer zoomed in on the flower’s delicate petals and captured its beauty.