Phrasal verbs list with meanings and examples

Phrasal verbs with get

• get inB1

  Enter a car or building

  “Get in the car, we're late.”

• get onB1

  Have a good relationship

  “I get on well with everyone in my study group.”

• get roundB1

  Travel from one place to another, especially when difficult

  “It's hard to get round without a car.”

• get aroundB2

  Avoid a rule or difficulty

  “He always finds a way to get around the rules.”

• get downB2

  Depress someone emotionally

  “The grey weather is getting me down.”

• get outB2

  Become known publicly, often by accident

  “The secret got out eventually.”

• get backC1

  Reply to someone, often with information they asked for

  “I need to check and get back to you.”

• get throughC1

  Survive a hard time

  “We will get through this together.”

Phrasal verbs with take

• take offA2

  Leave the ground and begin to fly

  “Our flight takes off at half past three.”

• take backB1

  Make someone return something you gave or lent them

  “She took back the ring after the break-up.”

• take downB1

  Write notes quickly

  “I take down useful ideas during team meetings.”

• take outB1

  Remove something from inside

  “Maya took her bank card out at the cafe counter.”

• take upB1

  Start a new hobby or activity

  “I want to take up yoga this year.”

• take awayB2

  Remove something from a place

  “Take the dirty dishes away, please.”

• take inB2

  Deceive or cheat

  “We were completely taken in by his story.”

• take onC1

  Accept a responsibility or challenge

  “Would you be willing to take on the team-lead role as well?”

Phrasal verbs with put

• put onA2

  Dress yourself in clothing

  “Put on the grey coat. I think it suits you.”

• put awayB1

  Return something to its proper place

  “I put my work bag away as soon as I get home.”

• put inB1

  Fix equipment or furniture in place so it is ready to use

  “We put in a new kitchen last year.”

• put outB1

  Extinguish a fire or light

  “Firefighters put out the house fire quickly.”

• put throughB1

  Connect someone by phone

  “Could you put me through to the manager?”

• put asideB2

  Save for a specific purpose

  “I put aside some money for emergencies.”

• put downB2

  Say unkind things that make someone feel less important

  “Stop putting yourself down.”

• put upB2

  Build something or make it stand

  “They put up a new fence yesterday.”

Phrasal verbs with turn

• turn offA2

  Stop a device, light, or machine from operating

  “I turned off the alarm without opening my eyes.”

• turn onA2

  Make a device, light, or machine start working

  “How do I turn on this printer?”

• turn intoB1

  Become something different

  “The caterpillar turned into a butterfly.”

• turn overB1

  Move something so that its other side is on top

  “Turn the page over.”

• turn upB1

  Increase the setting on a machine or device

  “Turn up the brightness so we can see the screen.”

• turn aboutB2

  Reverse direction by 180°

  “He turned about and walked back.”

• turn downB2

  Reject or refuse an offer or request

  “I turned down the job offer because of the hours.”

• turn inC1

  Go to bed for the night

  “I think I'll turn in. I've been reading for an hour.”

Phrasal verbs with look

• look afterA2

  Take care of someone or something

  “My grandparents look after my younger brother after school.”

• look aroundB1

  Visit a place to see what is there, especially before deciding to buy

  “I'm just looking around, thanks.”

• look forward toB1

  Feel pleased about something that will happen

  “He looks forward to seeing the band live.”

• look onB1

  Watch something happen without taking part

  “They looked on as the firefighters worked.”

• look upB1

  Search for information in a book or online

  “Look up the train times before you choose a route.”

• look backB2

  Think about events in the past

  “Looking back, I made the right choice.”

• look throughB2

  Examine the contents of something quickly

  “Could I look through the menu first?”

• look down onC1

  Think you are better or more important than someone else

  “She never looks down on people with less money.”

Phrasal verbs with come

• come inA2

  Enter a room or building

  “Come in and sit down.”

• come aroundB1

  Visit someone at their home

  “Come around for tea.”

• come onB1

  Used to encourage, hurry or challenge someone

  “Come on, you can do it!”

• come overB1

  Visit someone's house or place

  “A friend is coming over for dinner tonight.”

• come acrossB2

  Find or meet someone or something by chance

  “I came across an old letter.”

• come downB2

  Drop from a high level it has been at

  “Food prices rarely come down in my neighbourhood.”

• come offC1

  Happen successfully as planned

  “The plan came off better than we expected.”

• come upC1

  Arise as a topic or event

  “Problems sometimes come up, but I usually stay calm.”

Phrasal verbs with go

• go aroundA2

  Take a longer path to avoid something

  “Go around the construction site.”

• go offB1

  Stop working or be cut

  “The lights went off in the storm.”

• go onB1

  Continue happening or doing something

  “Please go on with the story.”

• go byB2

  Pass, used about time

  “The years went by quickly.”

• go overB2

  Examine or review something carefully

  “Go over your CV once more before the interview.”

• go throughB2

  Examine something carefully

  “Let's go through each figure one by one.”

• go along withC1

  Agree with or support someone's plan

  “I'll go along with your plan.”

• go back onC1

  Withdraw from a promise or agreement

  “He went back on his word.”

Phrasal verbs with give

• give awayB1

  Give something free of charge to someone

  “They gave away free samples.”

• give outB1

  Give something to many people

  “They gave out free samples.”

• give backB2

  Make a contribution in return to a community or cause

  “She wants to give back to the community.”

• give inB2

  Stop resisting and accept defeat or pressure

  “He finally gave in.”

• give offB2

  Produce a smell, light, heat or feeling

  “This small heater gives off enough warmth for me.”

• give upB2

  Stop trying, or accept that you cannot win

  “Don't give up so easily.”

Look-alikes: phrasal verbs people confuse

Many phrasal verbs share a verb and differ only in the small word. These pairs are easy to mix up.

• hold on vs hold off

  Hold on means wait for a short time. Hold off means wait before doing something.

• give up vs give in

  Give up means stop trying. Give in means stop resisting pressure.

• carry out vs carry on

  Carry out means perform a task or action that has been planned. Carry on means continue doing something.

• get off vs get on

  Get off means leave a bus, train or plane. Get on means board a bus, train or plane.

• set back vs set off

  Set back means delay or hinder progress. Set off means begin a journey.

• break off vs break up

  Break off means end something suddenly. Break up means end a relationship or gathering.

• turn down vs turn away

  Turn down means reject or refuse an offer or request. Turn away means refuse to allow someone to enter.

• look after vs look forward

  Look after means take care of someone or something. Look forward means feel pleased about a future event.

• put aside vs put off

  Put aside means save for a specific purpose. Put off means delay or postpone.

• cut down vs cut back

  Cut down means reduce the amount of something. Cut back can also mean reduce the amount of something, especially spending.

• come across vs come by

  Come across means find or meet someone or something by chance. Come by means pay a brief visit.

• go on vs go ahead

  Go on means continue happening or doing something. Go ahead means begin or continue with a planned action.