100 Most common phrasal verbs list with meaning

100 Most common phrasal verbs list with meaning

100 Most common phrasal verbs list with meaning

Here are 100 of the most common English phrasal verbs, grouped by topic, with simple meanings and an example sentence for each.

1. Daily Life

Phrasal VerbMeaningExample
1. Wake upStop sleepingI wake up at 7 a.m.
2. Get upLeave the bedShe gets up early.
3. Go outLeave homeWe went out last night.
4. Come backReturnHe came back late.
5. Sit downTake a seatPlease sit down.
6. Stand upRise to your feetEveryone stood up.
7. Turn onStart a machineTurn on the TV.
8. Turn offStop a machineTurn off the lights.
9. Pick upLift; collectI picked up my keys.
10. Put downPlace somethingPut down the book.

2. Communication

Phrasal VerbMeaningExample
11. Speak upTalk louderPlease speak up.
12. Calm downBecome relaxedCalm down.
13. Find outDiscoverI found out the truth.
14. Point outShow; indicateShe pointed out my mistake.
15. Talk overDiscuss carefullyLet's talk it over.
16. Bring upMentionHe brought up a new idea.
17. Hang upEnd a phone callShe hung up suddenly.
18. Call backReturn a phone callI'll call you back.
19. Write downRecord in writingWrite down your name.
20. Read overRead againRead over your essay.

3. Work & Study

Phrasal VerbMeaningExample
21. Hand inSubmitHand in your homework.
22. Give backReturnGive back my pen.
23. Look upSearch for informationLook up the word.
24. Go overReviewLet's go over the lesson.
25. Catch upReach the same levelI need to catch up.
26. Keep upContinue at the same paceKeep up the good work.
27. Figure outUnderstand; solveI figured it out.
28. Work outSolve; exerciseWe worked out the problem.
29. Fill outComplete a formFill out this application.
30. Check overExamine carefullyCheck over your answers.

4. Relationships

Phrasal VerbMeaningExample
31. Get alongHave a good relationshipWe get along well.
32. Break upEnd a relationshipThey broke up.
33. Make upBecome friends againThey made up yesterday.
34. Fall forBegin to loveShe fell for him.
35. Ask outInvite on a dateHe asked her out.
36. Look afterTake care ofLook after the baby.
37. Grow upBecome an adultShe grew up in London.
38. Run intoMeet unexpectedlyI ran into an old friend.
39. Come overVisit someone's homeCome over tonight.
40. Drop byVisit brieflyDrop by anytime.

5. Travel & Movement

Phrasal VerbMeaningExample
41. Get onBoard a bus/trainGet on the bus.
42. Get offLeave a bus/trainGet off here.
43. Set offStart a journeyWe set off early.
44. Take offLeave the ground (plane)The plane took off.
45. Check inRegister at airport/hotelCheck in at 3 p.m.
46. Check outLeave hotel; examineWe checked out today.
47. Pull overStop a vehicleThe police told him to pull over.
48. Speed upMove fasterSpeed up!
49. Slow downReduce speedSlow down near schools.
50. Head backReturnLet's head back home.

6. Emotions & Feelings

Phrasal VerbMeaningExample
51. Cheer upBecome happierCheer up!
52. Give upQuitNever give up.
53. Hold onWaitHold on a minute.
54. Carry onContinueCarry on working.
55. Break downLose emotional controlShe broke down crying.
56. Blow upBecome very angryHe blew up.
57. Cool downBecome calmerCool down first.
58. Open upShare feelingsHe opened up to me.
59. Bottle upHide emotionsDon't bottle up your feelings.
60. Let downDisappointYou let me down.

7. Home

Phrasal VerbMeaningExample
61. Clean upMake cleanClean up your room.
62. Wash upWash dishes/handsI'll wash up.
63. Throw awayPut in the trashThrow away the paper.
64. Put awayReturn to its placePut away your clothes.
65. Take outRemoveTake out the garbage.
66. Fold upFoldFold up the blanket.
67. Set upArrangeSet up the table.
68. Put onWearPut on your jacket.
69. Take offRemove clothingTake off your shoes.
70. Hang upHang clothesHang up your coat.

8. Business & Money

Phrasal VerbMeaningExample
71. Pay backRepay moneyI'll pay you back.
72. Pay offFinish payingI paid off my loan.
73. Cut downReduceCut down expenses.
74. Sell outHave everything soldThe tickets sold out.
75. Take overGain controlShe took over the company.
76. Bring inEarnThis job brings in good money.
77. Deal withHandleI can deal with it.
78. Look intoInvestigateWe'll look into it.
79. Carry outPerformCarry out the plan.
80. Back upSupport; make a copyBack up your files.

9. Thinking & Learning

Phrasal VerbMeaningExample
81. Think overConsider carefullyThink it over.
82. Come up withProduce an ideaShe came up with a solution.
83. Figure outUnderstandI can't figure it out.
84. Learn aboutGain knowledgeLearn about history.
85. Read up onStudy by readingRead up on grammar.
86. Brush up onImprove old knowledgeBrush up on English.
87. Look backThink about the pastI look back proudly.
88. Look aheadThink about the futureLook ahead.
89. Think throughThink carefullyThink it through.
90. Catch onUnderstandHe caught on quickly.

10. Advanced Everyday Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal VerbMeaningExample
91. End upFinally becomeWe ended up staying home.
92. Show upArriveHe showed up late.
93. Turn upAppear; increaseShe turned up unexpectedly.
94. Turn downRefuse; reduceHe turned down the offer.
95. Come acrossFind by chanceI came across an old photo.
96. Get overRecover fromShe got over the illness.
97. Go throughExperienceHe went through hard times.
98. Keep onContinueKeep on trying.
99. Pass awayDie (polite expression)His grandfather passed away.
100. Carry outPerform; completeThe scientists carried out the experiment.

Tips for learning phrasal verbs

  • Learn them in context, not as isolated words.
  • Notice that many phrasal verbs have multiple meanings. For example:
    • Take off = remove clothing / a plane leaves the ground / become successful.
    • Pick up = lift something / collect someone / learn a skill.
    • Work out = exercise / solve a problem / end successfully.
  • Practice by writing your own sentence for each new phrasal verb.
  • Review them regularly using spaced repetition rather than trying to memorize all 100 at once.

These 100 phrasal verbs cover a large portion of the phrasal verbs you'll encounter in everyday English conversations, news, books, movies, and workplace communication.

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