100 Most Common Phrasal Verbs List with Meaning and Examples

Phrasal verbs list are a type of verb phrase that consist of a main verb followed by one or more particles (such as prepositions or adverbs). The combination of the main verb and particle(s) often creates a new meaning that is different from the meaning of the individual words. 

Phrasal Verbs List

Here are some examples of common phrasal verbs list and their meanings:

• Bring up – to raise a topic for discussion
• Call off – to cancel an event or arrangement
• Come across – to find or discover something by chance
• Get along – to have a good relationship with someone
• Look after – to take care of someone or something
• Put off – to delay or postpone something
• Run into – to meet someone unexpectedly
• Take off – to remove clothing or to leave a place quickly
• Turn up – to arrive or appear unexpectedly
• Work out – to solve a problem or to exercise

There are many more phrasal verbs in English, and they can be challenging to learn because their meanings are often idiomatic or figurative. However, mastering phrasal verbs is an important part of improving your English speaking and writing skills.

Some Other Examples

Here are some common phrasal verbs with their meanings and examples:

• Break down – to stop working; to fail
  Example: My car broke down on the way to work this morning.
• Bring up – to mention; to raise a topic in conversation
  Example: He brought up the subject of his new job during lunch.
• Call off – to cancel – to decide that something will not happen
  Example: They called off the wedding at the last minute.
• Carry out – to do; to complete a task
  Example: We need to carry out the instructions exactly as they are written.
• Come across – to find; to discover by chance
  Example: I came across an old photo album while cleaning out my closet.
• Cut off – to disconnect; to stop providing something
  Example: They cut off the electricity when we didn’t pay the bill.
• Get along – to have a good relationship; to like each other
  Example: My sister and I get along very well.
• Go ahead – to start or continue with something
  Example: If you’re ready to begin, you can go ahead and start.
• Look forward to – to be excited about something that will happen in the future
  Example: I’m really looking forward to my vacation next month.
• Put off – to postpone; to delay doing something
  Example: I keep putting off cleaning my closet because it’s such a big job.

Phrasal verbs can be challenging to learn because their meanings often cannot be guessed from the individual words. However, with practice and exposure to the way native speakers use them, they can become easier to understand and use in conversation.

100 Most Common Phrasal Verbs List with Meaning

Here is a list of 100 unique commonly used phrasal verbs with meanings:

1. Account for – to explain or justify
2. Act up – to misbehave
3. Add up – to make sense; to be logical
4. Ask around – to ask many people the same question
5. Back up – to move backwards
6. Bail out – to provide financial assistance; to rescue
7. Bear out – to confirm or support
8. Blow up – to explode
9. Break down – to stop functioning; to fail
10. Break in – to wear something in; to make comfortable
11. Bring about – to cause to happen
12. Bring up – to raise a topic in conversation
13. Brush up on – to refresh or improve one’s knowledge
14. Buckle up – to fasten one’s seat belt
15. Burn out – to become exhausted or to make something unusable due to overuse
16. Call off – to cancel; to decide that something will not happen
17. Calm down – to become less agitated; to relax
18. Carry on – to continue with an activity
19. Catch on – to understand; to become popular or fashionable
20. Check in – to register at a hotel or airport
21. Check out – to investigate; to leave a hotel or store after paying
22. Cheer up – to become happier or to make someone else feel happier
23. Clean up – to tidy or to make clean
24. Clear out – to remove things; to leave a place quickly
25. Come across – to find or discover by chance
26. Come down with – to become ill with a disease or sickness
27. Count on – to rely on; to trust
28. Cross out – to delete or remove from a list
29. Cut back – to reduce or decrease
30. Cut down on – to reduce the amount of something; to consume less
31. Cut off – to stop suddenly or to interrupt
32. Cut out – to remove or to stop doing something
33. Do over – to do again or to repeat
34. Draw up – to create a plan or a document
35. Dress up – to wear formal or elegant clothing
36. Drop by – to visit briefly or unexpectedly
37. Drop off – to fall asleep; to leave something or someone in a certain location
38. Eat out – to eat at a restaurant or outside of one’s home
39. End up – to ultimately arrive or become; to finish in a certain way
40. Fall apart – to break or disintegrate; to fail completely
41. Fall back on – to use as a last resort; to rely on something for support
42. Fall behind – to fail to keep up with others
43. Figure out – to understand; to solve a problem
44. Fill out – to complete a form or document
45. Find out – to discover or to learn
46. Fix up – to repair or renovate; to make something ready
47. Follow through – to complete an action or promise
48. Get along – to have a good relationship; to like each other
49. Get away – to escape; to take a break or vacation
50. Get by – to manage or to survive with difficulty
51. Get over – to recover from an illness or an emotional shock
52. Get rid of – to eliminate or to remove
53. Get together – to meet or to reunite with others
54. Give in – to yield or to surrender
55. Give up – to quit or to abandon; to relinquish control or hope
56. Go ahead – to begin or to proceed
57. Go off – to explode; to sound an alarm; to go bad (food)
58. Go on – to continue; to happen
59. Grow apart – to drift away from each other
60. Grow up – to become an adult; to mature
61. Hang out – to spend time with friends
62. Hang up – to end a phone call
63. Hold back – to restrain or to prevent from advancing
64. Hold on – to wait; to persevere
65. Keep up – to continue at the same pace or level; to maintain something
66. Kick out – to evict or to expel
67. Knock out – to defeat or to cause unconsciousness
68. Lay off – to dismiss or to fire employees; to stop doing something
69. Lead to – to result in; to cause
70. Leave behind – to abandon or to forget
71. Let down – to disappoint or to fail to fulfill a promise
72. Look after – to take care of; to watch over
73. Look down on – to feel superior to; to have contempt for
74. Look forward to – to be excited about something that will happen in the future
75. Look into – to investigate; to research
76. Look out – to be careful; to watch for danger
77. Look up – to search for information; to improve
78. Make up – to reconcile or to invent; to apply cosmetics
79. Mess up – to make a mistake; to ruin or spoil something
80. Move in – to start living in a new home or apartment
81. Move out – to leave one’s current residence
82. Pass out – to faint or to distribute
83. Pass up – to reject or to decline an opportunity
84. Pay back – to return money that was borrowed or to take revenge
85. Pick out – to choose or to select
86. Pick up – to collect or to improve; to lift something from the ground
87. Point out – to draw attention to; to indicate
88. Put down – to criticize or to insult; to write something on paper
89. Put off – to postpone or to delay
90. Put on – to wear clothing or to stage a performance
91. Put out – to extinguish or to inconvenience others
92. Put up – to accommodate or to display
93. Run into – to meet unexpectedly; to collide with
94. Run out – to be depleted or to expire
95. Set up – to establish or to frame
96. Show off – to display one’s abilities or possessions
97. Stand by – to support or to wait for
98. Stand for – to represent or to tolerate
99. Take after – to resemble or to imitate
100. Take on – to accept or to undertake a challenge or responsibility

Also Read: Learn to Speak Like a Pro with English Speaking Practice Exercises: Speak English Fluently

Importance of Phrasal Verbs to Speak English Fluently

Phrasal verbs are an essential part of the English language, and they play a significant role in helping English language learners speak fluently. Here are a few reasons why phrasal verbs are important for speaking English fluently:

1. Native-like fluency: Phrasal verbs are used by native speakers of English in everyday conversations, so learning them can help non-native speakers sound more natural and fluent.
2. Contextual understanding: Phrasal verbs often have multiple meanings depending on the context in which they are used. Learning phrasal verbs can help language learners develop their ability to understand the meaning of words based on the surrounding context.
3. Widely used: Phrasal verbs are commonly used in spoken and written English, making it essential for language learners to be familiar with them in order to communicate effectively.
4. Efficient communication: Phrasal verbs often convey a message more efficiently than using separate words to convey the same idea. Thus, learning phrasal verbs can help language learners communicate their thoughts and ideas more quickly and effectively.

Conclusion

In summary, learning and using phrasal verbs is crucial for developing native-like fluency, contextual understanding, efficient communication, and overall mastery of the English language.

Also Read: Future Tense in English Grammar: Let’s Discuss Some Examples, Rules and Usage

FAQ’s

1. What are phrasal verbs and their examples?
A: Phrasal verbs are combinations of verbs with particles or prepositions that create idiomatic expressions. They often change the original meaning of the main verb. Examples include: “to give up” (meaning to quit), “to come across” (meaning to find unexpectedly), and “to look after” (meaning to take care of).

2. Where can I find a comprehensive list of phrasal verbs?
A: Comprehensive lists of phrasal verbs are available in various English language learning resources, including dictionaries, grammar books, and online platforms specializing in language learning. Websites, language apps, and educational books often offer detailed lists with meanings and examples.

3. How can I memorize phrasal verbs more effectively?
A: Memorizing phrasal verbs can be more effective through frequent usage, contextual learning, and consistent practice. Techniques like creating flashcards, using them in sentences, or associating them with real-life situations can aid in better retention and understanding.

4. Are there any exercises or activities to practice using phrasal verbs?
A: Many resources offer exercises and activities to practice phrasal verbs, such as fill-in-the-blank exercises, sentence completions, and quizzes. Language learning websites, apps, and workbooks often provide interactive exercises for learners to practice and reinforce their understanding of phrasal verbs.

5. What are the most common phrasal verbs used in daily conversations?
A: Phrasal verbs like “to go through,” “to get along,” “to look for,” “to make up,” and “to take off” are among the commonly used ones in daily conversations. These are frequently encountered in both informal and formal communication contexts. Engaging in conversations, reading, and listening to native speakers can familiarize learners with commonly used phrasal verbs.