phrasal verbmeaningexample sentence

asksomeoneoutinvite on a dateBrianaskedJudyoutto dinner and a movie.

ask aroundask many people the same questionIasked aroundbut nobody has seen my wallet.

add up tosomethingequalYour purchasesadd up to$205.32.

backsomethingupreverseYou'll have toback up your car so that I can get out.

backsomeoneupsupportMy wifebackedmeup over my decision to quit my job.

blow upexplodeThe racing carblew upafter it crashed into the fence.

blowsomethingupadd airWe have toblow50 balloonsupfor the party.

break downstop functioning (vehicle, machine)Our carbroke downat the side of the highway in the snowstorm.

break downget upsetThe womanbroke downwhen the police told her that her son had died.

breaksomething downdivide into smaller partsOur teacherbrokethe final projectdowninto three separate parts.

break inforce entry to a buildingSomebodybroke inlast night and stole our stereo.

break intosomethingenter forciblyThe firemen had to break intothe room to rescue the children.

breaksomethinginwear something a few times so that it doesn't look/feel newI need tobreakthese shoesinbefore we run next week.

break ininterruptThe TV stationbroke into report the news of the president's death.

break upend a relationshipMy boyfriend and Ibroke upbefore I moved to America.

break upstart laughing (informal)The kids justbroke upas soon as the clown started talking.

break outescapeThe prisonersbroke outof jail when the guards weren't looking.

break out in somethingdevelop a skin conditionIbroke out ina rash after our camping trip.

bringsomeonedownmake unhappyThis sad music is bringingmedown.

bringsomeoneupraise a childMy grandparents broughtmeupafter my parents died.

bringsomethingupstart talking about a subjectMy mother walks out of the room when my fatherbrings upsports.

bringsomethingupvomitHe drank so much that hebroughthis dinner upin the toilet.

call aroundphone many different places/peopleWecalled aroundbut we weren't able to find the car part we needed.

callsomeonebackreturn a phone callIcalledthe company backbut the offices were closed for the weekend.

callsomethingoffcancelJasoncalledthe weddingoffbecause he wasn't in love with his fianc.

call onsomeoneask for an answer or opinionThe professorcalled onme for question 1.

call onsomeonevisit someoneWecalled onyou last night but you weren't home.

callsomeoneupphoneGive me your phone number and I willcall youupwhen we are in town.

calm downrelax after being angryYou are still mad. You need tocalm down before you drive the car.

notcare for someone/somethingnot like (formal)I don'tcare forhis behaviour.

catch upget to the same point as someone elseYou'll have to run faster than that if you want to catch upwith Marty.

check inarrive and register at a hotel or airportWe will get the hotel keys when wecheck in.

check outleave a hotelYou have tocheck out of the hotel before 11:00 AM.

Check someone/something out look at carefully, investigateThe companychecks outall new employees.

check out someone/somethinglook at (informal)Check outthe crazy hair on that guy!

cheer upbecome happierShecheered upwhen she heard the good news.

cheersomeoneupmake happierI brought you some flowers tocheeryouup.

chip inhelpIf everyonechips inwe can get the kitchen painted by noon.

cleansomethinguptidy, cleanPleaseclean upyour bedroom before you go outside.

come across somethingfind unexpectedlyIcame acrossthese old photos when I was tidying the closet.

come apartseparateThe top and bottom come apartif you pull hard enough.

come down with somethingbecome sickMy nephewcame down withchicken pox this weekend.

come forwardvolunteer for a task or to give evidenceThe womancame forwardwith her husband's finger prints.

come from somewhereoriginate inThe art of origami icomes fromAsia.

count on someone/somethingrely onI amcounting onyou to make dinner while I am out.

crosssomethingoutdraw a line throughPleasecross outyour old address and write your new one.

cut back onsomethingconsume lessMy doctor wants me tocut back onsweets and fatty foods.

cutsomethingdownmake something fall to the groundWe had tocutthe old tree in our yarddownafter the storm.

cut ininterruptYour fathercut inwhile I was dancing with your uncle.

cut inpull in too closely in front of another vehicleThe bus driver got angry when that carcut in.

cut instart operating (of an engine or electrical device)The air conditionercuts inwhen the temperature gets to 22C.

cutsomethingoffremove with something sharpThe doctorscut offhis leg because it was severely injured.

cutsomethingoffstop providingThe phone companycut offour phone because we didn't pay the bill.

cutsomeoneofftake out of a willMy grandparentscutmy fatheroffwhen he remarried.

cutsomethingoutremove part of something (usually with scissors and paper)Icutthis adoutof the newspaper.

dosomeone/somethingoverbeat up, ransack (BrE, informal)He's lucky to be alive. His shop wasdone overby a street gang.

dosomethingoverdo again (AmE)My teacher wants me todomy essayoverbecause she doesn't like my topic.

do away withsomethingdiscardIt's time todo away withall of these old tax records.

dosomethingupfasten, closeDoyour coatupbefore you go outside. It's snowing!

dress upwear nice clothingIt's a fancy restaurant so we have todress up.

drop backmove back in a position/groupAndreadropped backto third place when she fell off her bike.

drop in/by/overcome without an appointmentI mightdrop in/by/overfor tea sometime this week.

Drop someone/something offtake someone/something somewhere and leave them/it thereI have todropmy sister offat work before I come over.

drop outquit a class, school etcIdropped outof Science because it was too difficult.

eat outeat at a restaurantI don't feel like cooking tonight. Let'seat out.

end upeventually reach/do/decideWeended uprenting a movie instead of going to the theatre.

fall apartbreak into piecesMy new dressfell apartin the washing machine.

fall downfall to the groundThe picture that you hung up last nightfell downthis morning.

fall outseparate from an interiorThe money must havefallen outof my pocket.

fall out(of hair, teeth) become loose and unattachedHis hair started tofall outwhen he was only 35.

figuresomethingoutunderstand, find the answerI need tofigure out how to fit the piano and the bookshelf in this room.

fillsomethinginto write information in blanks, as on a form (BrE)Pleasefill inthe form with your name, address, and phone number.

fillsomethingoutto write information in blanks, as on a form (AmE)The form must befilled outin capital letters.

fillsomethingupfill to the topI alwaysfillthe water jugupwhen it is empty.

find outdiscoverWe don't know where he lives. How can wefind out?

findsomethingoutdiscoverWe tried to keep the time of the party a secret, but Samantha founditout.

getsomething across/overcommunicate, make understandableI tried togetmy point across/overto the judge but she wouldn't listen.

get along/onlike each otherI was surprised how well my new girlfriend and my sistergot along/on.

get aroundhave mobilityMy grandfather canget aroundfine in his new wheelchair.

get awaygo on a vacationWe worked so hard this year that we had toget awayfor a week.

get away withsomethingdo without being noticed or punishedJason alwaysgets away withcheating in his maths tests.

get backreturnWegot backfrom our vacation last week.

getsomethingbackreceive something you had beforeLiz finallygother Science notesbackfrom my room-mate.

get back atsomeoneretaliate, take revengeMy sistergot back atme for stealing her shoes. She stole my favourite hat.

get back intosomethingbecome interested in something againI finallygot back intomy novel and finished it.

get onsomethingstep onto a vehicleWe're going to freeze out here if you don't let usget onthe bus.

get oversomethingrecover from an illness, loss, difficultyI justgot overthe flu and now my sister has it.

get oversomethingovercome a problemThe company will have to close if it can'tget overthe new regulations.

get round to somethingfinally find time to do (AmE:get around tosomething)I don't know when I am going toget round towriting the thank you cards.

get togethermeet (usually for social reasons)Let'sget togetherfor a BBQ this weekend.

get upget out of bedIgot upearly today to study for my exam.

get upstandYou shouldget upand give the elderly man your seat.

givesomeoneawayreveal hidden information about someoneHis wifegavehimawayto the police.

givesomeoneawaytake the bride to the altarMy fathergavemeawayat my wedding.

givesomethingawayruin a secretMy little sistergavethe surprise partyawayby accident.

givesomethingawaygive something to someone for freeThe library wasgiving awayold books on Friday.

givesomethingbackreturn a borrowed itemI have togivethese skatesbackto Franz before his hockey game.

give inreluctantly stop fighting or arguingMy boyfriend didn't want to go to the ballet, but he finallygave in.

givesomethingoutgive to many people (usually at no cost)They weregiving outfree perfume samples at the department store.

givesomethingupquit a habitI amgiving upsmoking as of January 1st.

give upstop tryingMy maths homework was too difficult so Igave up.

go aftersomeonefollow someoneMy brother tried togo afterthe thief in his car.

go aftersomethingtry to achieve somethingIwent aftermy dream and now I am a published writer.

go againstsomeonecompete, opposeWe aregoing againstthe best soccer team in the city tonight.

go aheadstart, proceedPleasego aheadand eat before the food gets cold.

go backreturn to a placeI have togo backhome and get my lunch.

go outleave home to go on a social eventWe'regoing outfor dinner tonight.

go out withsomeonedateJesse has beengoing out withLuke since they met last winter.

go oversomethingreviewPleasego overyour answers before you submit your test.

go overvisit someone nearbyI haven't seen Tina for a long time. I think I'llgo overfor an hour or two.

go withoutsomethingsuffer lack or deprivationWhen I was young, wewent withoutwinter boots.

grow apartstop being friends over timeMy best friend and Igrew apartafter she changed schools.

grow backregrowMy rosesgrew backthis summer.

grow upbecome an adultWhen Jackgrows uphe wants to be a fireman.

grow out of somethingget too big forElizabeth needs a new pair of shoes because she hasgrown out ofher old ones.

grow intosomethinggrow big enough to fitThis bike is too big for him now, but he shouldgrow intoit by next year.

handsomething downgive something used to someone elseIhandedmy old comic booksdownto my little cousin.

handsomethinginsubmitI have tohand inmy essay by Friday.

handsomethingoutto distribute to a group of peopleWe willhand outthe invitations at the door.

handsomethingovergive (usually unwillingly)The police asked the man tohand overhis wallet and his weapons.

hang instay positive (informal)Hang inthere. I'm sure you'll find a job very soon.

hang onwait a short time (informal)Hang onwhile I grab my coat and shoes!

hang outspend time relaxing (informal)Instead of going to the party we are just going tohang outat my place.

hang upend a phone callHe didn't say goodbye before hehung up.

Hold someone/something backprevent from doing/goingI had toholdmy dog backbecause there was a cat in the park.

holdsomethingbackhide an emotionJamieheld backhis tears at his grandfather's funeral.

hold onwait a short timePleasehold onwhile I transfer you to the Sales Department.

hold onto someone/somethinghold firmly using your hands or armsHold ontoyour hat because it's very windy outside.

Hold someone/something uprobA man in a black mask heldthe bankupthis morning.

keep on doing somethingcontinue doingKeep onstirring until the liquid comes to a boil.

keepsomethingfrom someonenot tellWekeptour relationshipfromour parents for two years.

Keep someone/something outstop from enteringTry tokeepthe wet dog outof the living room.

keepsomethingupcontinue at the same rateIf youkeepthose resultsupyou will get into a great college.

letsomeonedownfail to support or help, disappointI need you to be on time. Don'tletme downthis time.

letsomeoneinallow to enterCan youletthe catin before you go to school?

log in(oron)sign in (to a website, database etc)I can'tlog into Facebook because I've forgotten my password.

log out(oroff)sign out (of a website, database etc)If you don'tlog off somebody could get into your account.

look after someone/somethingtake care ofI have tolook aftermy sick grandmother.

look down on someonethink less of, consider inferiorEver since we stole that chocolate bar your dad haslooked down onme.

look for someone/somethingtry to findI'mlooking fora red dress for the wedding.

look forward to somethingbe excited about the futureI'mlooking forward to the Christmas break.

look intosomethinginvestigateWe are going tolook intothe price of snowboards today.

look outbe careful, vigilant, and take noticeLook out! That car's going to hit you!

look out for someone/somethingbe especially vigilant forDon't forget tolook out forsnakes on the hiking trail.

looksomethingovercheck, examineCan youlook overmy essay for spelling mistakes?

looksomethingupsearch and find information in a reference book or databaseWe canlookher phone numberupon the Internet.

look up tosomeonehave a lot of respect forMy little sister has alwayslooked upto me.

makesomethingupinvent, lie about somethingJosiemade upa story about why we were late.

make upforgive each otherWe were angry last night, but wemade up at breakfast.

makesomeoneupapply cosmetics toMy sistersmademeup for my graduation party.

mixsomethingupconfuse two or more thingsImixed upthe twins' names again!

pass awaydieHis unclepassed away last night after a long illness.

pass outfaintIt was so hot in the church that an elderly ladypassed out.

passsomethingoutgive the same thing to many peopleThe professorpassed the textbooksout before class.

passsomethingupdecline (usually something good)Ipassed upthe job because I am afraid of change.

paysomeonebackreturn owed moneyThanks for buying my ticket. I'llpayyouback on Friday.

pay forsomethingbe punished for doing something badThat bully willpay for being mean to my little brother.

picksomethingoutchooseIpicked outthree sweaters for you to try on.

Point someone/something outindicate with your fingerI'llpointmy boyfriend outwhen he runs by.

putsomethingdownput what you are holding on a surface or floorYou canputthe groceriesdownon the kitchen counter.

putsomeonedowninsult, make someone feel stupidThe studentsputthe substitute teacher downbecause his pants were too short.

putsomethingoffpostponeWe areputting offour trip until January because of the hurricane.

putsomethingoutextinguishThe neighboursputthe fireoutbefore the firemen arrived.

putsomething togetherassembleI have toputthe crib togetherbefore the baby arrives.

put up with someone/somethingtolerateI don't think I canput up withthree small children in the car.

putsomethingonput clothing/accessories on your bodyDon't forget toput on your new earrings for the party.

run into someone/somethingmeet unexpectedlyIran intoan old school-friend at the mall.

run over someone/somethingdrive a vehicle over a person or thingI accidentallyran overyour bicycle in the driveway.

run over/through somethingrehearse, reviewLet'srun over/throughthese lines one more time before the show.

run awayleave unexpectedly, escapeThe childran away from home and has been missing for three days.

run outhave none leftWeran outof shampoo so I had to wash my hair with soap.

sendsomethingbackreturn (usually by mail)My letter gotsent back to me because I used the wrong stamp.

setsomethinguparrange, organizeOur bossseta meeting upwith the president of the company.

setsomeoneuptrick, trapThe policeset upthe car thief by using a hidden camera.

shop aroundcompare pricesI want toshop around a little before I decide on these boots.

show offact extra special for people watching (usually boastfully)He alwaysshows offon his skateboard

sleep overstay somewhere for the night (informal)You shouldsleep over tonight if the weather is too bad to drive home.

sortsomethingoutorganize, resolve a problemWe need tosortthe billsoutbefore the first of the month.

stick tosomethingcontinue doing something, limit yourself to one particular thingYou will lose weight if youstick tothe diet.

switchsomethingoffstop the energy flow, turn offThe light's too bright. Could youswitchitoff.

switchsomethingonstart the energy flow, turn onWe heard the news as soon as weswitched onthe car radio.

take aftersomeoneresemble a family memberItake aftermy mother. We are both impatient.

takesomethingapartpurposely break into piecesHetookthe car brakes apartand found the problem.

takesomethingbackreturn an itemI have totakeour new TVbackbecause it doesn't work.

take offstart to flyMy planetakes offin five minutes.

takesomethingoffremove something (usually clothing)Take offyour socks and shoes and come in the lake!

takesomethingoutremove from a place or thingCan youtakethe garbageoutto the street for me?

takesomeoneoutpay for someone to go somewhere with youMy grandparentstook usoutfor dinner and a movie.

tearsomethinguprip into piecesItore upmy ex-boyfriend's letters and gave them back to him.

think backremember (often + to, sometimes + on)When Ithink backon my youth, I wish I had studied harder.

thinksomethingoverconsiderI'll have tothinkthis job offeroverbefore I make my final decision.

throwsomething awaydispose ofWethrewour old furnitureawaywhen we won the lottery.

turnsomethingdowndecrease the volume or strength (heat, light etc)Pleaseturnthe TV downwhile the guests are here.

turnsomethingdownrefuseIturnedthe jobdown because I don't want to move.

turnsomethingoffstop the energy flow, switch offYour mother wants you toturnthe TVoffand come for dinner.

turnsomethingonstart the energy, switch onIt's too dark in here. Let'sturnsome lights on.

turnsomethingupincrease the volume or strength (heat, light etc)Can youturnthe music up? This is my favourite song.

turn upappear suddenlyOur catturned upafter we put posters up all over the neighbourhood.

trysomethingonsample clothingI'm going totrythese jeanson, but I don't think they will fit.

trysomethingouttestI am going totrythis new brand of detergent out.

usesomethingupfinish the supplyThe kidsusedall of the toothpasteupso we need to buy some more.

wake upstop sleepingWe have towake up early for work on Monday.

Warm someone/something upincrease the temperatureYou canwarmyour feet upin front of the fireplace.

warm upprepare body for exerciseI alwayswarm upby doing sit-ups before I go for a run.

wear offfade awayMost of my make-up wore offbefore I got to the party.

work outexerciseIwork outat the gym three times a week.

work outbe successfulOur planworked out fine.

worksomethingoutmake a calculationWe have towork out the total cost before we buy the house.