40 English Phrasal Verbs with Meanings
What are phrasal verbs and how to use them?
Phrasal verbs are super cool in English – they’re a mix of a verb and one or more prepositions or adverbs.
They’re like those awesome pairs that add flavor to your chats.
Using phrasal verbs can make your language more lively and casual. Instead of saying “look for,” you can switch it up with “search for.” Or trade “give up” for the more relaxed “quit.”
Sometimes, the meaning of a phrasal verb isn’t obvious just by looking at the words.
You kinda have to understand it through how it’s used.
For example, “hang out” doesn’t mean hanging clothes; it means spending time with friends.
So, to really understand phrasal verbs, you need to pay attention to how people use them.
Don’t be scared to try out phrasal verbs in your own talk. Just go with it, and soon you’ll be using them like an expert.
Also read:
- Tips for Teaching English in a Classroom
- Explore the world of TEFL online teaching
- Creating a Positive Learning Environment in ESL classrooms
So, kick back, have fun, and let those phrasal verbs add some flair to your English game!
Here’s a list of phrasal verbs along with their meanings and example sentences:
Call off
Meaning: To cancel or abandon something.
Example: They had to call off the meeting due to the sudden snowstorm.
Come across
Meaning: To find or discover by chance.
Example: While cleaning the attic, I came across an old photo album.
Look forward to
Meaning: To anticipate or be excited about something in the future.
Example: I’m looking forward to our vacation in the Bahamas next month.
Break up
Meaning: To end a relationship or a group; to separate.
Example: They decided to break up after years of being together.
Bring up
Meaning: To mention or introduce a topic in conversation.
Example: It’s not easy to bring up the subject of salary during a job interview.
Turn down
Meaning: To reject or refuse something.
Example: Unfortunately, she had to turn down the job offer due to personal reasons.
Take off
Meaning: To become successful or popular; also, to leave the ground (for an airplane).
Example: The new product really took off in the market. / The plane took off on time.
Run out of
Meaning: To exhaust or deplete the supply of something.
Example: We ran out of milk, so I need to go to the store to buy more.
Get over
Meaning: To recover from an illness or a setback; to overcome something.
Example: It took her a while to get over the loss of her pet.
Put off
Meaning: To postpone or delay.
Example: They had to put off the meeting until next week due to scheduling conflicts.
Turn up
Meaning: To arrive or appear, often unexpectedly.
Example: She didn’t expect him to turn up at the party.
Hold on
Meaning: To wait or hang on; to keep something in one’s possession.
Set up
Meaning: To establish or arrange something.
Example: They set up a new business together.
Bring about
Meaning: To cause or make something happen.
Example: The new law brought about positive changes in the community.
Look into
Meaning: To investigate or examine closely.
Example: The committee will look into the matter and report back.
Put up with
Meaning: To tolerate or endure something unpleasant.
Example: I can’t put up with his constant complaining anymore.
Cut down
Meaning: To reduce in size or quantity.
Example: Doctors advised him to cut down on his sugar intake.
Run into
Meaning: To encounter someone or something unexpectedly.
Example: I ran into an old friend at the grocery store yesterday.
Bring up
Meaning: To raise a topic or mention something in conversation.
Example: It’s not polite to bring up personal issues during a formal meeting.
Read more:
Give up
Meaning: To surrender or stop trying.
Example: Don’t give up on your dreams, keep working towards them.
Go over
Meaning: To review or examine carefully.
Example: Let’s go over the details of the plan one more time.
Hold up
Meaning: To delay or hinder.
Example: The traffic accident held up our journey by several hours.
Look after
Meaning: To take care of or be responsible for someone or something.
Example: She looks after her younger siblings while their parents are at work.
Come up with
Meaning: To produce or think of something new or creative.
Example: They came up with a brilliant idea for the marketing campaign.
Bring down
Meaning: To reduce or cause a decrease.
Example: The government implemented measures to bring down inflation rates.
Check out
Meaning: To examine or investigate; also, to pay for and leave a hotel.
Example: I’ll check out the information and get back to you. / We need to check out of the hotel by noon.
Back up
Meaning: To support or provide assistance.
Example: I’ll back you up in the upcoming presentation.
Bring in
Meaning: To introduce or bring something new.
Example: The company decided to bring in a new policy to improve employee satisfaction.
Catch up
Meaning: To reach the same level or status as someone or something.
Example: After being away on vacation, she had to catch up on her work.
Fill in
Meaning: To complete a form or provide missing information.
Example: Please fill in your name and address on the registration form.
Hold off
Meaning: To delay or postpone.
Example: They decided to hold off on the project until they had more information.
Put forward
Meaning: To suggest or propose an idea.
Example: Sarah put forward a plan to improve communication within the team.
Sort out
Meaning: To organize or resolve a problem.
Example: We need to sort out the issues before moving forward with the project.
Turn out
Meaning: To result in a certain way; to attend an event.
Example: The experiment turned out to be successful. / Many people turned out for the charity event.
Bring back
Meaning: To reintroduce or recall something from the past.
Example: The company decided to bring back the classic design for their anniversary.
Cut out
Meaning: To remove or eliminate.
Example: I need to cut out sweets from my diet to lose weight.
Give in
Meaning: To surrender or yield.
Example: After a long negotiation, they finally gave in to the demands.
Take on
Meaning: To accept a responsibility or challenge.
Example: The manager decided to take on the new project despite the tight deadline.
Break down
Meaning: To fail or stop functioning; also, to analyze or divide into parts.
Example: The car broke down on the highway. / Let’s break down the problem and find a solution.
Look up
Meaning: To search for information in a reference source.
Example: If you don’t know the meaning of a word, you can look it up in the dictionary.
Take after
Meaning: To resemble or inherit traits from a family member.
Example: She really takes after her grandmother, both in looks and personality.
Hold back
Meaning: To restrain or keep something from progressing.
Example: He had to hold back tears during the emotional farewell.
Last thoughts:
So, phrasal verbs are like the secret sauce that adds flavor to your English.
Sure, they might seem a bit tricky at first, but once you get the hang of them, it’s a game-changer.
Think of phrasal verbs as your language sidekicks, giving your words that extra oomph.
So, don’t shy away from using them.
Dive in, have a play, and soon you’ll be tossing them around effortlessly.
Just remember, it’s all about context and feeling the vibe.
Don’t stress over it—phrasal verbs are here to make your language game more exciting.
So go ahead, spice up your sentences, and own those phrasal verbs like a boss!