Below is a list of 47 useful phrasal verbs in English. They are arranged into groups to help memorize them easier. As well as this, example sentences are included to give context and make understanding their use even easier.
Each section will be split up using the following format:
Phrasal Verb
Meaning
Example Sentence
“Act” Phrasal Verbs
act on
Take an action based on something (like information received).
He acted on her suggestion.
act out
Perform or show how something is done.
She acted it out for me so I could understand what happened.
act up
Behave badly or unexpectedly
My car was acting up this morning and wouldn’t start.
“Add” Phrasal Verbs
add on
Include something extra on to something.
The waiter added on an extra drink to the bill.
add up
Calculate the total of things combined.
The cashier added up the total for the groceries.
add up to
Equals.
Including the drink, that adds up to £12.35
“Allow” Phrasal Verbs
allow for
Consider something in a plan or calculation.
You should allow for variation when planning a budget.
allow of
Show something is possible.
I can allow of no such thing.
“Be” Phrasal Verbs
be up for
Want to do something.
I am up for playing football later.
be fed up
Be bored or tired of something.
He is fed up with her constant complaining.
“Come” Phrasal Verbs
come across
Find.
I came across a wallet on the floor.
come in
Enter.
It’s cold outside, please come in.
come up with
Invent or think of.
I came up with a plan to win.
“Drop” Phrasal Verbs
drop in
Visit without having made arrangements beforehand.
My uncle dropped in this afternoon.
drop off
Gradually become less.
Sales have dropped off in Q2.
drop out
To quit a course or event.
She dropped out of university due to stress.
“Fall” Phrasal Verbs
fall apart
Breaks into pieces.
My old bike fell apart as I was riding it!
fall behind
Fail to do something fast enough.
He didn’t do his homework and fell behind on his studies.
fall down
Fall on the ground.
Jane pushed Tim and he fell down.
fall for
Have sudden strong romantic feelings for someone.
He fell for the new girl at work.
fall off
Fall onto a lower level.
The ball rolled and fell off the shelf.
fall out
No longer be friends with someone (usually because of an argument or fight.)
Jane and Sarah fell out and aren’t talking to each other now.
fall over
Falling to the ground or surface someone / something is on.
He was so drunk he fell over.
fall through
Fail to happen.
Unfortunately the sale fell through and we had to buy something else.
“Give” Phrasal Verbs
give away
Give something for free.
He gave away all of his possessions.
give in
Surrender.
She finally gave in and let her children eat ice cream.
give out
To distribute.
They gave out coupons in the shopping centre.
give up
Stop doing something before it is finished.
The marathon was too tiring so he gave up half way.
“Hold” Phrasal Verbs
hold off
Delay something.
Hold off on the BBQ, it’s going to rain.
hold on
Wait.
Hold on, I will be there soon.
hold out
Hold something so someone else can reach it
He held out his hand to stop the bus.
hold up
Raise something in the air.
Hold up your work so that I can see it.
“Knock” Phrasal Verbs
knock off
Cause something to fall from somewhere by making contact.
He accidentally knocked the cup off his desk.
knock out
Lose consciousness from being hit.
The boxer was knocked out in round 3.
knock over
Make contact with something and cause it to fall.
She accidentally knocked the plant pot over.
“Lock” Phrasal Verbs
lock in
When something is trapped behind a locked door.
She took the keys with her and I was locked in!
lock out
When something can’t get into a locked door.
I lost my keys and was locked out of my house.
lock up
Secure the doors and windows with a key.
Remember to lock up properly before you leave.
“Move” Phrasal Verbs
move in
Move your belongings into a place where you will live.
My new neighbor moved in yesterday.
move out
Move your belongings out of a place where you previously lived.
My roommate is moving out tomorrow.
“Pick” Phrasal Verbs
pick on
Tease or mock someone.
Yesterday they were picking on the new kid in school.
pick out
Select something or someone.
She picked out a nice dress to wear to the party.
pick up
Grab something and lift it from a surface.
He saw a wallet on the floor so he picked it up.
“Shut” Phrasal Verbs
shut off
Stop the operation of something (usually electrical)
She shut off her computer before she went to bed.
shut up
Stop talking.
Please shut up, you’re giving me a headache!
“Work” Phrasal Verbs
work out
Exercise
She works out every day in the gym.
work up
Be very emotional.
He was so worked up after his house had been burgled.
