40 Phrasal Verbs with “In” and “Out”
Phrasal verbs are an important part of everyday English.
They combine a basic verb with a preposition or adverb to create expressions with meanings that are often different from the original verb alone.
Today, we’ll explore 40 common phrasal verbs that use “in” and “out,” with simple examples to help you understand and remember them.
Phrasal Verbs with “In”
1. Check in
Meaning: To register at a hotel, airport, or event
Example: “We need to check in at the hotel before 3 PM.”
2. Fill in
Meaning: To complete a form by adding information
Example: “Please fill in your name and address on this application form.”
3. Join in
Meaning: To participate in an activity with others
Example: “Don’t be shy – join in the conversation!”
4. Give in
Meaning: To surrender or admit defeat
Example: “After hours of negotiation, they finally gave in to our demands.”
5. Drop in
Meaning: To visit someone without planning in advance
Example: “Feel free to drop in anytime you’re in the neighborhood.”
6. Chip in
Meaning: To contribute money or help with something
Example: “Everyone chipped in $10 for the birthday present.”
7. Break in
Meaning: To enter a building by force; or to make something new more comfortable
Example: “Someone broke in to our house last night.”
Example: “I need to break in these new shoes before the marathon.”
8. Turn in
Meaning: To go to bed; or to submit something
Example: “I’m tired, so I’m going to turn in early tonight.”
Example: “Don’t forget to turn in your homework tomorrow.”
9. Hand in
Meaning: To submit or deliver something
Example: “Students must hand in their projects by Friday.”
10. Take in
Meaning: To absorb or understand information; or to make clothing smaller
Example: “I couldn’t take in everything the professor was saying.”
Example: “This dress is too big – I need to take it in at the waist.”
11. Bring in
Meaning: To introduce something new; or to earn money
Example: “The company brought in new policies last month.”
Example: “His business brings in thousands of dollars each month.”
12. Cave in
Meaning: To collapse; or to give up and agree to something
Example: “The roof caved in during the storm.”
Example: “He finally caved in and agreed to our plan.”
13. Phase in
Meaning: To introduce something gradually
Example: “The new system will be phased in over the next six months.”
14. Log in/Sign in
Meaning: To enter a computer system or website using a username and password
Example: “You need to log in to access your email.”
15. Pencil in
Meaning: To make a tentative arrangement
Example: “I’ve penciled in our meeting for next Tuesday, but we may need to change it.”
16. Call in
Meaning: To telephone a place, often work, to say you won’t be coming
Example: “She called in sick this morning.”
17. Rope in
Meaning: To persuade someone to help with something
Example: “We roped in a few friends to help move furniture.”
18. Fit in
Meaning: To be accepted as part of a group; or to have enough time for something
Example: “The new student fit in right away.”
Example: “I can’t fit in another meeting today.”
19. Factor in
Meaning: To include something when making calculations or plans
Example: “We need to factor in the cost of transportation.”
20. Dig in
Meaning: To start eating enthusiastically; or to refuse to change position
Example: “The food is ready – dig in!”
Example: “The protesters dug in and refused to leave.”
Phrasal Verbs with “Out”
21. Check out
Meaning: To leave a hotel; to examine something; or to borrow from a library
Example: “We need to check out of the hotel by noon.”
Example: “Check out this new restaurant – it’s amazing!”
Example: “I checked out three books from the library.”
22. Find out
Meaning: To discover information
Example: “I need to find out what time the movie starts.”
23. Figure out
Meaning: To solve a problem or understand something
Example: “I can’t figure out how to use this new phone.”
24. Work out
Meaning: To exercise; to solve a problem; or to end successfully
Example: “I work out at the gym three times a week.”
Example: “We need to work out our differences.”
Example: “Everything worked out fine in the end.”
25. Run out
Meaning: To use all of something and have none left
Example: “We’ve run out of milk – can you buy some more?”
26. Look out
Meaning: To be careful or watch for danger
Example: “Look out! There’s a car coming!”
27. Point out
Meaning: To draw attention to something
Example: “The teacher pointed out my mistakes on the test.”
28. Carry out
Meaning: To perform or complete a task
Example: “The experiment was carried out under strict conditions.”
29. Fall out
Meaning: To argue and stop being friends; or for hair to come out
Example: “The two friends fell out over a misunderstanding.”
Example: “My hair started falling out due to stress.”
30. Reach out
Meaning: To contact someone, usually for help or support
Example: “Don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything.”
31. Drop out
Meaning: To leave a school, competition, or activity before finishing
Example: “He dropped out of college after the first semester.”
32. Pass out
Meaning: To faint or lose consciousness; or to distribute items
Example: “It was so hot that several people passed out during the marathon.”
Example: “The teacher passed out the test papers.”
33. Rule out
Meaning: To eliminate a possibility
Example: “The doctor ruled out cancer after seeing the test results.”
34. Sell out
Meaning: To sell all available tickets or products; or to betray one’s principles
Example: “The concert sold out within minutes.”
Example: “Some fans felt the band sold out when they changed their style.”
35. Give out
Meaning: To distribute something; or to stop working due to exhaustion
Example: “The teacher gave out homework assignments.”
Example: “My phone battery gave out in the middle of the call.”
36. Burn out
Meaning: To become exhausted, especially from overwork
Example: “Many teachers burn out after years of stress.”
37. Watch out
Meaning: To be careful
Example: “Watch out for ice on the road.”
38. Stand out
Meaning: To be noticeably different or better
Example: “Her performance stood out from all the others.”
39. Speak out
Meaning: To express opinions publicly, especially to protest
Example: “Many citizens spoke out against the new law.”
40. Hang out
Meaning: To spend time relaxing with friends
Example: “We often hang out at the coffee shop after school.”
Why Learn Phrasal Verbs?
Phrasal verbs are essential for natural-sounding English.
Native speakers use them constantly in everyday conversation.
By learning these common phrases with “in” and “out,” you’ll improve your understanding and ability to communicate clearly in English.
When you come across phrasal verbs you don’t know, try to figure out their meaning from the context.
Remember that many phrasal verbs have multiple meanings depending on how they’re used.
The best way to learn them is through regular practice and exposure to English in real situations.
Start by trying to use a few of these phrasal verbs in your conversations or writing this week.
Before long, you’ll find that using phrasal verbs comes naturally to you, and your English will sound more fluent and native-like.
Happy learning!
