A phrasal verb is a type of verb that is created when a main verb is combined with an adverb or a preposition. In many cases, a phrasal verb can have a meaning that is different from the meaning of its individual parts. For native English speakers, phrasal verbs are an important part of everyday communication. However, for non-native speakers, they can be a source of confusion. To help you navigate this difficult area of English grammar, we have compiled a list of 100 common phrasal verbs. Each entry includes the original verb, the adverb, or the preposition that creates the phrasal verb. We have also provided definitions/meanings for each phrasal verb to help you understand its meaning. With this valuable resource at your fingertips, you will be able to communicate like a native speaker in no time!
Most Common Phrasal Verbs
| 1- get up | to rise from a lying or sitting position |
| 2- wake up | to stop sleeping |
| 3- dress up | to put on special clothes for a social event |
| 4- show up | to arrive somewhere, especially without being invited or expected |
| 5- pick up | to lift someone or something from the ground |
| 6- clean up | to make something clean or tidy |
| 7- look up | to search for information in a book, on the Internet, etc. |
| 8- grow up | to develop into an adult over a period of time |
| 9- throw up | to vomit |
| 10- bring up | to raise a child until she/he is an adult |
| 11- speak up | to say something more loudly |
| 12- stand up | to rise to a standing position |
| 13- sit up | to move from a lying down to a sitting position |
| 14- cheer up | to become happy or optimistic |
| 15- wind up | to finish something or make it ready for use |
| 16- set up | to put something in place |
| 17- give up | to stop doing something |
| 18- tear up | to destroy or damage something by tearing it into pieces |
| 19- wake up | to cause someone to become conscious or aware of something |
| 20- back up | to drive a vehicle backward |
| 21- blow up | to explode |
| 22- break down | to stop working because of a problem with its parts |
| 23- break up | to end a relationship |
| 24- bring about | to cause something to happen |
| 25- call off | to cancel an event |
| 26- call on/upon | to visit someone |
| 27- carry out | to do something that has been planned |
| 28- catch up with | to reach the same level as someone else who is ahead of you |
| 29- check in (somewhere) | to arrive at a hotel, airport, etc. and tell staff that you are there |
| 30- check out (somewhere) | to leave a hotel, airport, etc. after paying your bill |
| 31- cheer on/up | to support someone or something by shouting encouragement |
| 32- come about | to happen |
| 33- come across | to find something by chance |
| 34- come along | to progress |
| 35- come by | to get or obtain something |
| 36- come down with | to become ill with |
| 37- come forward | to offer help or information, especially when this is not expected |
| 38- count on/upon | to depend on someone or something |
| 39- cross out | to delete something by drawing a line through it |
| 40- do away with | to get rid of something |
| 41- do without | to manage without something, even though you would prefer to have it |
| 42- draw up | to make a plan or agreement |
| 43- fall behind | to fail to keep up with someone or something else |
| 44- figure out | to solve a problem |
| 45- fill in (something) | to provide missing information by writing it in a space on a document, etc. |
| 46- find out | to get information about something that you did not know before |
| 47- get across | to communicate an idea, feeling, etc. to someone |
| 48- get along (with someone) | to have a good relationship with someone; to get on well together |
| 49- get back | to return to a place after being away from it |
| 50- get by | to manage even though you do not have much money, etc. |
| 51- get down | to lower yourself from a standing or sitting position to a lying position |
| 52- get in | to enter a vehicle, building, etc. |
| 53- get off | to leave a vehicle, boat, train, etc. |
| 54- get on | to continue doing something; to make progress |
| 55- get out | to leave a vehicle, boat, aircraft, etc. |
| 56- get through (something) | to finish something such as a task or an experience; to use all of something such as a supply of food or money |
| 57- get together | to meet each other for social reasons or in order to discuss something |
| 58- give in (to something) | to stop trying to resist an unpleasant situation or experience |
| 59- give out | to distribute something such as information, tickets, etc. |
| 60- give up (something) | to stop doing something that you have been doing for a long time, especially because it is difficult |
| 61- go ahead | to continue with a plan or an activity |
| 62- go along (with someone or something) | to agree with someone or something; to do what someone else wants |
| 63- go away | to leave a place |
| 64- go by (something) | to use something as a guideline or standard; to judge something using a particular criterion |
| 65- go off | to explode |
| 66- go on | to continue happening or happening again after a pause |
| 67- grow up | to reach the age when you are an adult; to develop into an adult |
| 68- hold on/up | to wait for a short time; to delay someone or something |
| 69- keep on | to continue doing something; to not stop doing something |
| 70- let down | to disappoint someone by failing to do what you have agreed to do, or by behaving badly |
| 71- look after (someone or something) | to take care of someone or something; to be responsible for someone or something |
| 72- look back | to think about events that have happened in the past; to remember the past |
| 73- look down on/upon | to have a feeling that you are more important than someone else and that they are not as good as you |
| 74- look for | to try to find someone or something |
| 75- look forward to (something) | to feel happy and excited about something that is going to happen in the future |
| 76- look into (something) | to investigate or examine something; to try to find information about something |
| 77- look out | to be careful; to take care; to warn someone |
| 78- look over | to examine carefully |
| 79- make up | to invent a story or an excuse; to forgive someone |
| 80- pass away | to die |
| 81- pass out | to faint; to lose consciousness |
| 82- pick up | to lift someone or something off the ground; to collect someone or something from a place |
| 83- point out | to mention or refer to something so that people will notice it; to show someone something |
| 84- put away | to return something to its usual place; to save money |
| 85- put down | to criticize someone or something in a harsh way; to end an uprising, rebellion, etc. |
| 86- put forward (an idea, suggestion, etc.) | to suggest an idea, plan, etc.; to propose someone for a job or an important position |
| 87- put off (something) | to delay doing something; to postpone an event |
| 88- put out | to extinguish a fire; to publish a book, etc. |
| 89- put up with (something) | to tolerate a difficult situation or someone’s bad behavior, etc.; to endure something |
| 90- run away | to leave a place quickly because you are afraid of someone or something |
| 91- set off | to begin a journey; to cause an explosion |
| 92- set out | to start on a journey; to plan or intend to do something |
| 93- show off | to try to make people admire you by showing how good you are at something, or by wearing expensive clothes, etc. |
| 94- show up | to arrive somewhere; to appear |
| 95- slow down | to cause something to move more slowly; to reduce the speed that you are moving |
| 96- take after (someone) | to look like a member of your family; to behave like someone else in your family |
| 97- take back | to return something to a place |
| 98- take care of (someone or something) | to be responsible for someone or something; to look after someone or something |
| 99- take down | to remove something such as a picture from a wall; to write information that someone has said |
| 100- take off | to leave the ground in an airplane, rocket, etc.; to remove clothes |