English Phrasal Verbs You Must Know

Phrasal verbs are a big part of English. They’re everywhere—in conversations, movies, books, and even songs. But what are they?

A phrasal verb is a verb combined with a small word (like “up,” “out,” or “on”) that changes its meaning.

For example, “look” means to see with your eyes, but “look up” means to search for something. Tricky, right? Don’t worry!

I will teach you the most important phrasal verbs in simple language. By the end, you’ll feel more confident using them.

Let’s start with why phrasal verbs matter. Then, I’ll share a list of must-know ones with meanings and examples. Ready? Here we go!

Why Phrasal Verbs Are Important

English speakers use phrasal verbs all the time. If you don’t know them, it’s hard to understand what people say or write. Imagine someone says, “I’ll pick you up at 5.” If you only know “pick” means to choose, you’ll be confused. But “pick up” means to come get someone—like in a car. Learning phrasal verbs helps you sound natural too. Instead of saying, “I will extinguish the light,” you can say, “I’ll turn off the light.” It’s shorter and more common.

Phrasal verbs can feel hard because one verb can have many meanings. For example, “get” changes depending on the little word after it: “get up,” “get out,” “get in.” But don’t stress! We’ll learn them step by step.

How to Learn Phrasal Verbs

Before we jump into the list, here’s a tip: don’t try to memorize everything at once. Pick a few phrasal verbs, practice them in sentences, and use them when you talk. Watch movies or listen to music to hear them in action. Soon, they’ll feel normal. Also, many phrasal verbs make sense if you picture them. “Wake up” is like waking and getting up—easy!

Now, let’s look at the phrasal verbs you must know. I’ve split them into groups: daily life, feelings, work, and more. Each one comes with a meaning and an example.

Phrasal Verbs for Daily Life

1. Wake Up

Meaning: To stop sleeping.
Example: I wake up at 7 a.m. every day.

2. Get Up

Meaning: To leave your bed after waking.
Example: She gets up early on weekends.

3. Turn On

Meaning: To start something, like a TV or light.
Example: Can you turn on the fan? It’s hot.

4. Turn Off

Meaning: To stop something, like a machine or light.
Example: Please turn off the music—it’s too loud.

5. Pick Up

Meaning: To lift something or go get someone.
Example: He picked up his phone from the table. / I’ll pick you up at 6 p.m.

6. Put Down

Meaning: To place something on a surface.
Example: She put down her bag and sat.

7. Throw Away

Meaning: To put something in the trash.
Example: Don’t throw away that paper—I need it!

8. Look After

Meaning: To take care of someone or something.
Example: Can you look after my dog today?

9. Run Out Of

Meaning: To finish your supply of something.
Example: We ran out of milk this morning.

10. Clean Up

Meaning: To make a place tidy.
Example: Let’s clean up the kitchen after dinner.

These are super common. You’ll hear them every day—at home, school, or with friends. Try using “turn on” or “pick up” today!

Phrasal Verbs for Feelings and Relationships

11. Cheer Up

Meaning: To feel happier or make someone happy.
Example: She cheered up when she saw her friend.

12. Calm Down

Meaning: To relax or stop being upset.
Example: Calm down—everything will be okay.

13. Fall Out

Meaning: To argue and stop being friends.
Example: They fell out over a silly problem.

14. Make Up

Meaning: To become friends again after a fight.
Example: They argued, but they made up later.

15. Get Along

Meaning: To have a good relationship with someone.
Example: I get along well with my sister.

16. Break Up

Meaning: To end a romantic relationship.
Example: They broke up after two years.

17. Look Up To

Meaning: To admire someone.
Example: He looks up to his older brother.

18. Let Down

Meaning: To disappoint someone.
Example: Don’t let me down—I’m counting on you.

Feelings can be hard to talk about, but these phrasal verbs make it easier. Next time you’re happy, say “cheer up” to a friend!

Phrasal Verbs for Work and School

19. Work Out

Meaning: To solve a problem or make a plan succeed.
Example: We’ll work out the details tomorrow.

20. Give Up

Meaning: To stop trying.
Example: Don’t give up on your homework—it’s almost done!

21. Find Out

Meaning: To discover something.
Example: I just found out the test is next week.

22. Write Down

Meaning: To put something on paper.
Example: Write down your ideas so you don’t forget.

23. Hand In

Meaning: To give something, like homework, to a teacher or boss.
Example: Please hand in your work by Friday.

24. Catch Up

Meaning: To reach the same level as others.
Example: I need to catch up on my reading.

25. Take Over

Meaning: To start doing someone else’s job or task.
Example: She took over the project when he left.

These are great for school or work. If you’re late on a task, say, “I’ll catch up soon!”

Phrasal Verbs for Travel and Movement

26. Set Off

Meaning: To start a trip.
Example: We set off for the beach at 8 a.m.

27. Check In

Meaning: To register at a hotel or airport.
Example: We checked in at the hotel last night.

28. Check Out

Meaning: To leave a hotel or look at something.
Example: We checked out of the hotel at noon. / Check out this cool car!

29. Get In

Meaning: To arrive or enter a place.
Example: The train gets in at 5 p.m.

30. Drop Off

Meaning: To leave someone or something somewhere.
Example: I’ll drop you off at the station.

31. Take Off

Meaning: When a plane leaves the ground.
Example: The plane took off an hour late.

32. Hurry Up

Meaning: To move or do something faster.
Example: Hurry up, or we’ll miss the bus!

Traveling gets easier with these. Next trip, try “check in” or “set off.”

Phrasal Verbs for Communication

33. Speak Up

Meaning: To talk louder.
Example: Speak up—I can’t hear you!

34. Call Back

Meaning: To return a phone call.
Example: I’ll call you back in ten minutes.

35. Hang Up

Meaning: To end a phone call.
Example: She hung up before I could say bye.

36. Point Out

Meaning: To show or explain something.
Example: He pointed out the mistake in my work.

37. Bring Up

Meaning: To start talking about something.
Example: She brought up a good idea in the meeting.

These help you talk clearly. If someone’s quiet, say, “Speak up!”

More Useful Phrasal Verbs

38. Look For

Meaning: To search for something.
Example: I’m looking for my keys—have you seen them?

39. Give Away

Meaning: To give something for free.
Example: They gave away free food at the event.

40. Put Off

Meaning: To delay something.
Example: We put off the party until next week.

41. Try On

Meaning: To test clothes by wearing them.
Example: Try on this shirt—it looks nice!

42. Run Into

Meaning: To meet someone by chance.
Example: I ran into my teacher at the store.

These pop up all the time. “Look for” is one you’ll use a lot!

Tips to Practice Phrasal Verbs

Now you’ve got 42 phrasal verbs! Here’s how to make them stick:

Use Them Daily: Say “turn off the light” instead of “close the light.”
Write Stories: Make a short story with five phrasal verbs.
Listen: Watch English shows and spot phrasal verbs.
Ask Friends: If you know English speakers, ask them to use phrasal verbs with you.

Let’s try a quick story: “Yesterday, I woke up late. I got up fast, turned on the radio, and cleaned up my room. Then I ran out of time and had to hurry up to school.” See? Five phrasal verbs already!

Why Phrasal Verbs Feel Hard (And How to Fix It)

Phrasal verbs can confuse you because one word—like “up”—works in so many ways. “Stand up,” “cheer up,” “give up”—all different! The trick is to focus on the whole phrase, not just the parts. Think of “give up” as one idea: quitting. With practice, it gets easier.

Another problem is that some phrasal verbs have more than one meaning. “Pick up” can mean to lift something or to go get someone. Look at the situation to guess which one fits. For example: “I’ll pick up the kids” (go get them) vs. “I’ll pick up this book” (lift it).

Final Thoughts

Phrasal verbs are like keys to unlock English. They make you sound natural and help you understand others. Start with the ones in this list—they’re the most common. Don’t worry if you make mistakes; even native speakers mix them up sometimes!

Which phrasal verb will you try first? Maybe “wake up” tomorrow or “turn off” your phone tonight? Let me know in the comments! Keep practicing, and soon, you’ll be a phrasal verb pro.