Phrasal verbs are a very important part of everyday English.
Native speakers use phrasal verbs in daily conversations, movies, offices, and informal writing.
However, many English learners find phrasal verbs difficult because their meanings are often different from the individual words.
Learning common English phrasal verbs with clear meanings helps learners understand real English and speak more naturally.
This blog post, “40 English Phrasal Verbs with Meanings,” is specially created for students, beginners, and ESL learners.
In this post, you will learn commonly used phrasal verbs along with their simple meanings, making them easy to understand and remember for daily use.
This topic is part of our English Phrasal Verbs for English learners.
1. Bring up
Meaning: To mention or introduce a topic.
- Example: She brought up the idea of going to the beach.
2. Call off
Meaning: To cancel something.
- Example: The match was called off due to rain.
3. Carry on
Meaning: To continue doing something.
- Example: Even after the interruption, they carried on with the meeting.
4. Cheer up
Meaning: To make someone feel happier.
- Example: A funny movie can cheer you up when you’re sad.
5. Come across
Meaning: To find something by chance.
- Example: I came across an old photo album in the attic.
6. Cut down on
Meaning: To reduce the amount of something.
- Example: He’s trying to cut down on sugar.
7. Do away with
Meaning: To get rid of something.
- Example: The company plans to do away with old computers.
8. Drop off
Meaning: To leave someone or something at a place.
- Example: I’ll drop you off at the station.
9. Figure out
Meaning: To understand or solve something.
- Example: She’s trying to figure out how to use the new software.
10. Fill out
Meaning: To complete a form or document.
- Example: Please fill out this application form.
11. Find out
Meaning: To learn or discover something.
- Example: I just found out about the new policy.
12. Get along
Meaning: To have a good relationship with someone.
- Example: They get along well with their neighbors.
13. Get away
Meaning: To escape or take a short break.
- Example: We’re planning to get away for the weekend.
14. Give up
Meaning: To stop trying or quit something.
- Example: Don’t give up on your dreams.
15. Go over
Meaning: To review or examine something.
- Example: Let’s go over the report before the meeting.
16. Grow up
Meaning: To become older or mature.
- Example: She grew up in a small town.
17. Hang out
Meaning: To spend time with someone.
- Example: They love hanging out at the café after school.
18. Hold on
Meaning: To wait for a short time.
- Example: Please hold on while I transfer your call.
19. Keep up with
Meaning: To stay updated or maintain the same pace.
- Example: It’s hard to keep up with all the new trends.
20. Look after
Meaning: To take care of someone or something.
- Example: She looks after her younger brother while their parents are at work.
21. Look for
Meaning: To search for something.
- Example: He’s looking for his lost keys.
22. Look forward to
Meaning: To be excited about something in the future.
- Example: I’m looking forward to the holiday season.
23. Make up
Meaning: To create or invent something, or to reconcile after a fight.
- Example 1: She made up an excuse for being late.
- Example 2: They made up after the argument.
24. Pass out
Meaning: To faint or lose consciousness.
- Example: He passed out from the heat during the marathon.
25. Pick up
Meaning: To collect someone or something.
- Example: I’ll pick you up from the airport at 6 PM.
26. Put off
Meaning: To delay or postpone something.
- Example: The meeting has been put off until next week.
27. Put on
Meaning: To wear something.
- Example: He put on his jacket before going outside.
28. Run into
Meaning: To meet someone unexpectedly.
- Example: I ran into an old friend at the supermarket.
29. Run out of
Meaning: To have no more of something.
- Example: We’ve run out of milk. Can you buy some?
30. Set up
Meaning: To arrange or establish something.
- Example: They set up a new office downtown.
31. Show up
Meaning: To appear or arrive somewhere.
- Example: She showed up late to the party.
32. Sort out
Meaning: To organize or solve a problem.
- Example: He needs to sort out his financial issues.
33. Take off
Meaning: To remove something (like clothing) or when a plane leaves the ground.
- Example 1: He took off his shoes before entering the house.
- Example 2: The plane took off at 10 AM.
34. Take up
Meaning: To start doing a new activity.
- Example: She has taken up yoga to stay fit.
35. Turn down
Meaning: To reject or refuse something.
- Example: He turned down the job offer.
36. Turn off
Meaning: To stop a machine or device.
- Example: Please turn off the lights when you leave.
37. Turn on
Meaning: To start a machine or device.
- Example: Can you turn on the TV?
38. Work out
Meaning: To exercise or to find a solution.
- Example 1: He works out at the gym every day.
- Example 2: They worked out a plan to solve the problem.
39. Write down
Meaning: To record something on paper.
- Example: Please write down the instructions so you don’t forget.
40. Zoom in
Meaning: To focus closely on something, often with a camera.
- Example: Zoom in on the image to see the details.
Final Thoughts
Phrasal verbs are an important part of English communication.
They might seem overwhelming at first, but with practice, they become easier to understand and use.
Start by learning a few at a time, and soon you’ll be able to use them naturally in conversations.
Bookmark this list and come back to it whenever you need to refresh your knowledge.
Do you have a favorite phrasal verb from the list? Share it in the comments below!
