What are the 50 Phrasal Verbs with Meaning and Examples?
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.
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.
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“Give up” means to stop trying (not just “give”).
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The phrase "look after" goes beyond simply looking—it means taking care of someone or something and making sure they're okay.
Why Are Phrasal Verbs Important?
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Used in daily conversations
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Found in movies, TV shows, and music
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Frequently asked in competitive exams and interviews
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Make your spoken and written English sound natural and fluent
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.
1. Give up – To stop trying 2. Look after – To take care of 3. Turn on – To switch something on 4. Turn off – To switch something off 5. Pick up – To collect / learn 6. Put off – To postpone 7. Break down – To stop working (machine) 8. Carry on – To continue 9. Check in – To register at a hotel/airport 10. Check out – To leave a hotel 11. Call off – To cancel 12. Bring up – To mention a topic / raise a child 13. Come across – To find by chance 14. Drop out – To quit school/college 15. Find out – To discover 16. Get along – To have a good relationship 17. Go on – To continue 18. Hang up – To end a phone call 19. Hold on – To wait / to hold tightly 20. Keep up – To maintain 21. Let down – To disappoint 22. Make up – To reconcile / invent 23. Pass out – To faint 24. Put on – To wear 25. Take off – To remove / to depart (plane) 26. Run into – To meet by chance / crash 27. Set up – To arrange or establish 28. Show up – To appear 29. Take over – To take control 30. Work out – To exercise / solve 31. Cut down – To reduce 32. Look up – To search for information 33. Back up – To support / save data 34. Go through – To experience / examine 35. Bring out – To release / highlight 36. Give in – To surrender 37. Knock out – To make unconscious 38. Call back – To return a phone call 39. Figure out – To understand 40. Look forward to – To await eagerly 41. Turn up – To arrive / increase volume 42. Cut off – To disconnect 43. Break up – To end a relationship 44. Bring in – To introduce 45. Carry out – To perform a task 46. Come up with – To think of an idea 47. Get away – To escape 48. Hold back – To restrain / hide 49. Lay off – To fire someone 50. Speak up – To speak louder / express | ||
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How to Learn Phrasal Verbs Easily
Here are some quick tips:
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Learn 5 phrasal verbs a day.
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Make your own sentences.
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Watch English shows with subtitles.
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Use them in conversation and writing.
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Read articles and note their usage.
Related Resource:
Looking to expand your vocabulary further?
Check this helpful post:
1500 Vocabulary Words for Speaking
External Learning Resource:
For more examples and interactive exercises, explore:
BBC Learning English - Phrasal Verbs
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!
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