What are the 50 Phrasal Verbs with Meaning and Examples?

If you're wondering What are the 50 Phrasal Verbs with Meaning and Examples?, you're in the right place Learning phrasal verbs is essential for mastering spoken English. Whether you're a beginner or intermediate learner, understanding how phrasal verbs work can dramatically improve your fluency and comprehension.

In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn 50 of the most useful phrasal verbs, complete with meanings, clear explanations, and real-life examples that make them easy to remember and use.

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What is a Phrasal Verb?

A phrasal verb is made up of a regular verb followed by a preposition or adverb, and together they create a completely new meaning that’s often quite different from the original verb.

• “Give up” means to stop trying (not just “give”).

• The phrase "look after" goes beyond simply looking—it means taking care of someone or something and making sure they're okay.

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Why Are Phrasal Verbs Important?

• Used in daily conversations

• Found in movies, TV shows, and music

• Frequently asked in competitive exams and interviews

• Make your spoken and written English sound natural and fluent

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List of 50 Useful Phrasal Verbs with Meaning and Examples

1. Give up – To stop trying Example: I gave up smoking last year. 2. Look after – To take care of Example: She looks after her grandmother. 3. Turn on – To switch something on Example: Turn on the TV, please. 4. Turn off – To switch something off Example: Don’t forget to turn off the lights. 5. Pick up – To collect / learn Example: I picked up Spanish during my trip. 6. Put off – To postpone Example: Don’t put off your homework. 7. Break down – To stop working (machine) Example: My car broke down on the highway. 8. Carry on – To continue Example: Please carry on with your story. 9. Check in – To register at a hotel/airport Example: We checked in at 8 PM. 10. Check out – To leave a hotel Example: He checked out this morning. 11. Call off – To cancel Example: The meeting was called off due to rain. 12. Bring up – To mention a topic / raise a child Example: She brought up an interesting idea. 13. Come across – To find by chance Example: I came across an old photo album. 14. Drop out – To quit school/college Example: He dropped out of college. 15. Find out – To discover Example: I found out she was lying. 16. Get along – To have a good relationship Example: They get along really well. 17. Go on – To continue Example: Go on, I’m listening. 18. Hang up – To end a phone call Example: She hung up the call angrily. 19. Hold on – To wait / to hold tightly Example: Hold on a minute! 20. Keep up – To maintain Example: Keep up the good work! 21. Let down – To disappoint Example: Don’t let me down again. 22. Make up – To reconcile / invent Example: They made up after the fight. 23. Pass out – To faint Example: He passed out from exhaustion. 24. Put on – To wear Example: She put on her shoes quickly. 25. Take off – To remove / to depart (plane) Example: The flight took off on time. 26. Run into – To meet by chance / crash Example: I ran into my teacher yesterday. 27. Set up – To arrange or establish Example: He set up a new business. 28. Show up – To appear Example: She didn’t show up to the party. 29. Take over – To take control Example: He took over the family business. 30. Work out – To exercise / solve Example: I work out every morning. 31. Cut down – To reduce Example: Cut down on junk food. 32. Look up – To search for information Example: Look up the word in the dictionary. 33. Back up – To support / save data Example: Please back up your files. 34. Go through – To experience / examine Example: She went through a lot. 35. Bring out – To release / highlight Example: They brought out a new version. 36. Give in – To surrender Example: He finally gave in to temptation. 37. Knock out – To make unconscious Example: The boxer knocked out his opponent. 38. Call back – To return a phone call Example: I’ll call you back later. 39. Figure out – To understand Example: I can’t figure out this puzzle. 40. Look forward to – To await eagerly Example: I look forward to your reply. 41. Turn up – To arrive / increase volume Example: He turned up unexpectedly. 42. Cut off – To disconnect Example: The power was cut off. 43. Break up – To end a relationship Example: They broke up last year. 44. Bring in – To introduce Example: The manager brought in new rules. 45. Carry out – To perform a task Example: The soldier carried out his duty. 46. Come up with – To think of an idea Example: She came up with a clever plan. 47. Get away – To escape Example: The thief got away. 48. Hold back – To restrain / hide Example: Don’t hold back your emotions. 49. Lay off – To fire someone Example: The company laid off 50 workers. 50. Speak up – To speak louder / express Example: Speak up, I can’t hear you.

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How to Learn Phrasal Verbs Easily

Here are some quick tips:

• Learn 5 phrasal verbs a day.

• Make your own sentences.

• Watch English shows with subtitles.

• Use them in conversation and writing.

• Read articles and note their usage.

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Related Resource:

Looking to expand your vocabulary further?
Check this helpful post:
1500 Vocabulary Words for Speaking

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External Learning Resource:

For more examples and interactive exercises, explore:
BBC Learning English - Phrasal Verbs

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Final Thoughts

If you've ever wondered what are the 50 phrasal verbs with meaning and examples, don't worry—learning them doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. With regular practice, real-life usage, and a solid grasp of context, you can make these essential phrasal verbs a natural part of your English. 

Start using them today, and you’ll see a real difference in your spoken English!