Common English Phrasal Verbs and their Meanings
PHRASAL VERB | COMMON DEFINITION |
To point a weapon at someone or something. | |
To request something. | |
When you ask someone to go with you to a certain place or for a special occasion, to spend time together and have fun. If one or both parties involved are interested in a romantic way, then it is considered a date. | |
To withdraw your position in a fight, argument, plan, etc. | |
When you leave an emotional situation, or to allow someone to handle something alone. | |
To walk or drive a vehicle backwards. | |
When someone punches, kicks, or hits someone repeatedly using fists or with an object. | |
To make changes or an improvement. | |
To feel confident about something or someone. | |
To use your teeth to bite a piece of something. | |
When the wind moves an object or person from where it was. | |
When the wind removes something from its place. | |
To extinguish or make a flame stop burning. | |
To make something explode. | |
To have determined or analyzed the solution or reason for something. | |
When someone loses self-control and is emotionally and/or mentally agitated. This meaning has a noun form for a situation where someone loses self-control. | |
To enter a place illegally and with the use of force. | |
To remove a part of something with force. | |
To escape from a place, situation or way of life. | |
To make a way through a barrier or a surface. | |
To stop a fight. | |
To return something you’ve borrowed. | |
To bring someone or something from one place or area to another. | |
To bring something from a lower level/place to a higher level/place. | |
To remove something(dust particle, insect, etc) with your hand. | |
To practice and review your knowledge or a skill that you haven’t used in a while. | |
To add a fixture or component to a certain area or place through construction. | |
When you meet people by accident or unexpectedly. | |
When someone uses fire to destroy a structure. | |
When a candle stops burning because there is nothing left to burn. | |
To destroy something with heat or fire. | |
To suddenly do or say something. | |
To interrupt a conversation or activity. | |
To call someone again. | |
To request that someone come and help. | |
To cancel an event that has been previously planned. | |
To be chosen to take part in a military mission. | |
To become less violent, nervous, excited or angry. | |
To nurture or take care of someone or something. | |
To do something out of the ordinary due to strong emotions. | |
To continue doing something or to continue on in life despite an obstacle. | |
To move something or someone from one place to another using your arms or an object. | |
To understand or realize something. | |
To move faster to reach someone or something that is ahead of you. | |
When you are emotionally and/or sexually unfaithful to your girlfriend/boyfriend or spouse. | |
To register at a hotel or airport upon arrival. | |
To leave a hotel or other form of an accommodation after your stay there. | |
To refrain from doing something because of fear. | |
To cut something into pieces with a knife. | |
To clean or clear the inside of something thoroughly. | |
To remove things completely from an area or place. | |
To do something to solve a problem or a misunderstanding. | |
When something in a drain or valve prevents the flow of water or other liquids | |
When the activities or services of a business permanently end. | |
To block an entrance or pathway. | |
When something happens or occurs. | |
The way other people perceive you. | |
When something breaks or separates piece by piece. | |
To return to a place. | |
To move from a higher to a lower position or from north to south. | |
When a situation is reduced to a certain outcome. | |
When you start to experience the symptoms of a disease or illness. | |
When someone or something enters a place, building, or room. | |
When something is removed or breaks off from where it was originally attached to. | |
To appear on television or be heard on the radio. | |
To leave a place. | |
To make a visit. | |
When someone or something expected arrives. | |
When something appears or happens, either expected or unexpected. | |
When you think of a solution, idea, plan, or excuse. | |
To persuade someone to do something through lies and deception. | |
To persuade someone to give or do something through lies and deception. | |
To become calm again. | |
To rely on someone for support when you need it most. | |
To count all of something or people in a group. | |
To use something to conceal something else. | |
To take more action than usual against wrongdoing. | |
To remove or delete someone or something from a list. | |
When you spend less money on something. | |
To do less of something or to use something in smaller amounts. | |
To completely remove or separate a part of something by cutting it with something sharp like a knife or a pair of scissors, etc. | |
To remove something using a knife or a pair of scissors. | |
When you use a knife or scissors to cut something into several pieces. | |
When you do everything you must do to solve a problem or complete. | |
To dispose of something. | |
To do something again in order to improve or correct mistakes. | |
To make a connection between two or more things. | |
To manage well without something or someone. | |
To go to sleep unintentionally. | |
To wear formal clothes, or a costume for a special occasion. | |
To visit someone unexpectedly or without making arrangements first. | |
To gradually decline/become less. | |
To quit a school program or training course. | |
To dry something or a surface quickly. | |
To remove water or other liquid from a container. | |
When all the liquid and/or moisture evaporates. | |
When someone consumes all their food. | |
To remove everyone or everything from a space. | |
The end result of something planned or unplanned. | |
When something breaks all at once or piece by piece. | |
To move slower than others. | |
To fall to the ground. | |
When you have an intense attraction to something or someone. | |
When something drops to a lower level. | |
To fall from or through something. | |
When someone or something falls from an upright position to the ground. | |
If things do not go as planned, or if a plan, deal or agreement fails. | |
When you have/don’t have the energy and confidence to do something. | |
When you defend yourself/resist an attack, or make an effort against an opponent in a competition. | |
To expect or plan for something. | |
To add personal information in the blank spaces of an official document. | |
To complete a form. | |
To fill something completely. | |
To become aware of something or someone. | |
To make plans or arrangements with someone or for others. | |
To become very mad or lose control over your emotions. | |
When an object or a person is near, but you cannot pinpoint the exact location. | |
To find out more about something, or take further action in regards to it. | |
To waste time doing unimportant or silly things. | |
When someone becomes irrationally upset or angry, sometimes to the point of confusion. | |
To become successful in the professional environment or make consistent progress in life. | |
To have good interactions with others. | |
To do something that needed to get done at an earlier time. | |
To escape from something. | |
To return to a place. | |
To get revenge. | |
When you talk to someone at a later time either because you are busy or you have obtained additional or new information. | |
To learn, work, or progress more slowly than others. | |
To pass someone or something. | |
To move to a lower place or level. | |
To arrive or enter a place, room, building, etc. | |
To leave a form of transportation, except a car. | |
To be excited or to truly enjoy doing something. | |
When you move your body and either stand, sit, lie, kneel, etc. towards something (non-separable). | |
To leave or escape. | |
To receive a benefit and/or satisfaction from doing something. | |
To move past an obstacle to the other side. | |
To finish something that needs to get done. | |
To understand a point of view or opinion. | |
To arrive to or assist someone to a place. | |
To meet and spend time together. | |
To move to a higher level/position. | |
To give something for free or without expecting anything in return. | |
To surrender to something you really don’t want to do after refraining from doing it for so long. | |
To distribute something. | |
To stop doing something without completing it. | |
To take the necessary steps to get something done. | |
When you do your best to get something no matter how difficult it is. | |
To proceed to do something that you were hesitant about. | |
to accept or agree with a decision, rule, opinion, etc. | |
To follow a circular path. | |
To move or travel from one place to another place. | |
To return to a place, time, activity, or a person. | |
When you fail to fulfill a promise you made to someone. | |
To be more than or better than what is normal or expected. | |
To pass someone or something quickly. | |
To move to a lower position, place, price, level, etc. | |
To try to obtain. | |
To enter a place, building, room, etc. | |
To enter a place or area for a specific reason. | |
To enter a place, room, building, etc. usually through a door. | |
To leave unannounced. | |
When something takes place. | |
To leave a place or area you’re in. | |
To make a visit to a home or place of business. | |
When you make a decision to do something, and actually do it. | |
To move or extend to a higher level or farther North. | |
To accompany someone to a place. | |
To waste time doing silly or unimportant things. | |
To be disgusted with someone or something. | |
To become too big or too tall for your clothes. | |
When you physically change from a child to an adult. | |
When you return something to the person who owns it after the person has given it to you | |
To give something to a person of authority. | |
To distribute something free to other people. | |
To give upon request or demand. | |
To spend time in a place or an area. | |
When you hold something, often for support of comfort. | |
To hang something, usually wet clothes, to dry. | |
To hang clothes or an object on a hook, hanger or rod. | |
To wear clothing, cosmetics, perfume, etc. | |
To go to a place where you’ve been before or where you started from. | |
When a situation becomes more likely. | |
To move in the direction where someone or something is. | |
When you learn details about something or someone. | |
When you learn about something or someone. | |
To make something warmer or cause a rise in temperature. | |
To assist people with something. | |
To suddenly have a solution to a problem or an interesting idea. | |
When you don’t forgive or have little respect for someone because of something they did. | |
To delay something. | |
When you wait for a short time. | |
To extend your hand or an object in front of you. | |
To hold someone or something up in the air. | |
When you connect two electrical devices together. | |
To do something quickly. | |
To continue doing an activity even though it may be difficult. | |
To avoid getting close to someone or something. | |
To make sound, music and noise minimal. | |
To stop yourself or other people from doing something. | |
To avoid discussing a particular subject or topic. | |
To continue doing something. | |
When you don’t share information. | |
To continue to do something. | |
To illegally pay extra money to someone as part of the price. | |
To force someone to leave an organization or place. | |
To use force to cause someone or something to fall from its place, whether intentionally or accidentally. | |
When someone is struck hard enough to cause them to lose consciousness. | |
To make contact with something or someone in such a way it or they fall. | |
To have knowledge of or be familiar with something. | |
To place something on a surface or an object. | |
When a company or business ends a worker’s employment. | |
When a period of time or a series of events cause an event, situation or conversation to happen. | |
When you don’t take something or someone with you when you leave. | |
To accidentally or intentionally not include a person or thing on a list. | |
To not include someone or something. | |
When you have a portion that still remains from something after you have used or eaten the rest of it. | |
To disappoint someone. | |
To allow someone or something to enter a place. | |
To allow someone to leave a car, bus, train etc. | |
To tell something that is a secret or private. | |
When you give permission for someone to leave or be released from a place. | |
When someone or something becomes less intense or strong. | |
To be lazy or to not do anything. | |
To raise someone or something to a higher level. | |
To illuminate something. | |
When a conversation is changed or a person changes to become less serious. | |
To form in a row one after another or side-by-side. | |
To share the same residence. | |
To secure people or things behind a closed door. | |
When you don’t have the key or passcode to enter a secured place. | |
When you shut the windows and doors of a place or building. | |
To turn your head to see what or who is around you. | |
To divert your eyes to someone or something. | |
When you consider someone or something as unimportant or with little to no value. The opposite of yesterday’s phrasal verb. | |
To anticipate a future event because it either makes you happy and/or you benefit from it. | |
To investigate or get more facts about something. | |
To remain alert. | |
To examine or inspect something or someone. | |
When a situation becomes better. | |
This particular phrasal verb is used to say you view someone with respect and/or admiration. | |
To have exceptionally good luck. | |
To go in a certain direction, typically in a hurry. | |
To understand the meaning of something. | |
To invent a story. | |
When something is dirty or unorganized. | |
To put or combine different things together so they’ll merge successfully. | |
To try to play with or repair a device that you have no true knowledge about. | |
When you bring your personal belongings and stuff to a new place where you will live. Yesterday’s phrasal verb, Move Out, has the opposite meaning. | |
When you permanently remove all your belongings and personal items from a place where you live or stay. | |
To reduce the number of options or possibilities. | |
When you return money that you owe someone. | |
To purchase merchandise. | |
To repay money that is owed to a person or entity. | |
To pay all the money that is owed or asked for. | |
To tease and/or criticize someone over a period of time. | |
When you are able to recognize something or someone from a group. | |
To get someone or something from somewhere. | |
To put things in a pile or heap. | |
[Informal] To be angry about something. | |
To prepare for a future event or situation. | |
To prepare for a big event or expectation in the future. | |
When you have the intention to do something. | |
To connect an electrical device to an electrical outlet. | |
To connect an electrical appliance/machine to another piece of equipment or to a power source. | |
To block a narrow passage such as a hole, drain, or pipe so that nothing can flow through. | |
To make someone aware of something. | |
When you aim at something or someone using your finger or hand. | |
To produce a hard copy of a computer document. | |
To succeed in doing something difficult or tricky. | |
When something or someone leaves a place. | |
To drive your vehicle to the side of the road to stop. | |
To recover from an injury or illness. | |
To enter data or record time on a device. | |
To record the time you leave the workplace using a special clock. | |
To place something where it cannot be seen or isn’t in the way of other things. | |
When something is causing a project to slow down. | |
To place something on a surface or an object. | |
When you invest or make a deposit. In this example, the amount almost always separates the verb. | |
To become offended by someone or something. | |
To extend a part of your body. | |
To not be surprised by a person’s actions. [Always used with the negative] | |
To cause someone or something to be in a certain state or to do something extra. | |
To assemble or connect the parts of something. | |
To move an object to a higher level. | |
To encourage or persuade someone to do something. | |
To tolerate or accept something that you’d rather not. | |
To call someone on the phone. | |
When someone asks for a price for something that is too high, when someone cheats or steals. | |
To tear something (i.e. paper,cloth, etc.) into pieces. | |
When someone or something is excluded as a possibility. | |
To move or run from one side to the other. | |
To go from one place to another in a hurry. | |
To hit someone or something with a vehicle. | |
When something collides with another object by accident. | |
When people exit a place very quickly. Run In/ Run Into is the opposite of this meaning. | |
When someone is injured or killed by a vehicle. | |
To run from a lower elevation or level to a higher elevation or level. | |
To ensure the top of a container/bottle is sealed. | |
To cheat or deceive someone. | |
To make a mistake or do something really bad. | |
To seriously think about doing something. | |
When all the inventory of a particular product has been purchased. | |
To organize or plan for an activity/event to happen. | |
To begin living a stable and routine life. | |
To accept something even though it’s not what you want or need. | |
To mix something in a container by shaking it. | |
To overly display your skills or what you have. | |
To stop the operation of an electrical or mechanical device. | |
To stop talking. | |
To write your name on a list to indicate the day and time you arrived at a certain place. | |
To write your name on a list to indicate the day and time of your departure. | |
To change from a standing to a sitting position. | |
To do something slower. | |
To enter a place quietly to avoid being seen or heard. | |
To leave a place without being noticed. | |
To arrange or separate things into groups according to similarities. | |
When someone’s attention is not in the present moment. [Adj.] {spaced out} To describe a person whose attention isn’t in the present moment. | |
To stand in one place or area when you should be doing something. | |
To support or represent an idea, belief, etc. | |
To rise from sitting or lying down to a vertical position. | |
The beginning of an event, activity or time period. | |
To begin a trip or venture to some place. | |
To start something. | |
To avoid discussing a certain subject or topic. | |
To spend time out of your own home. | |
To remain in a place that is higher than ground level. | |
To place your foot on something or someone. | |
To stay in a place or with someone for any period of time. | |
To extend something outward. | |
When something is attached to another by some form of adhesive. | |
To use a weapon, especially a gun, to rob someone. | |
To continue to use or do something. | |
To make a quick stop on your way to a destination. | |
To visit someone for a short period of time. | |
To make something straight. | |
To feel very worried, nervous or anxious. | |
When you move something from the ‘on’ state to the ‘off’ state. Synonymous with “Turn Off.” Yesterday’s “Switch On” is the opposite. | |
When you move something from the ‘off’ state to the ‘on’ state. Synonymous with “Turn On,” while “Switch Off” is the opposite. | |
To disconnect or separate the parts of an object. | |
To return something or someone. | |
To be successfully tricked or deceived by someone. | |
To remove an object from an area, place or container. | |
To direct your anger towards someone or something when you’re really upset about someone or something else. | |
When you accept an invitation or offer from someone. | |
To talk to someone as if they are less intelligent than you by conveying a tone of voice or attitude that says so. | |
To convince someone to do something. | |
To convince someone not to do something. | |
To have a conversation with someone. | |
To deconstruct a building or home. | |
To remove with force. | |
To be able to differentiate something or someone from something or someone else. | |
To inform an authoritative figure about what someone else did. | |
To consider something prior to making a final decision. | |
To think and plan carefully for a future situation or event. | |
To use your imagination to create a plan, idea, or a solution. | |
To dispose of something you no longer find useful in a waste bin, trash, etc. | |
When you get rid of something by putting it in a trash can, bin, etc. | |
To vomit or puke. | |
To locate someone or something after a long search | |
To exchange something old for something new. | |
To convince or persuade someone to believe something untrue or to do something for you. | |
To see how something fits or looks before purchasing. | |
To show that you are qualified to do something. | |
When someone or something moves until it faces the opposite direction. | |
To decrease the temperature, sound, etc. | |
To give someone or something to the police or someone of authority. | |
To transform. | |
To stop a device from functioning. | |
To cause someone to feel interested and/or attracted. | |
To attend an event, meeting, etc. | |
To move an object so that the part that is on top becomes the bottom and vice versa. | |
To increase the controls of an electronic or mechanical device. | |
To completely consume or use all of a supply. | |
When you are finished sleeping. | |
To remove dirt or unwanted markings with soap and water. | |
To clean your face, hands, body, etc. | |
To be aware of someone or something. | |
To make the surface or top of something disappear due to friction. | |
To decrease or disappear gradually. | |
When something is damaged or weakened from use and age. | |
To operate a mechanical device by turning its handle. | |
To completely remove or clean something from a surface or location. | |
To clean the inside of something. | |
To remove liquid from a surface using a sponge, towel or cloth, etc. | |
To make time in a busy schedule for a person or an activity. | |
When a situation, event, plan, or idea is successful. | |
To gradually improve at or make progress in something. | |
To cover something with some kind of special paper. | |
To close an item that has a zipper. |
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