Phrasal Verbs Overview

Phrasal Verbs

• Phrasal verbs are verbs that are made up of a main verb and one or more particles (prepositions or adverbs).
• They have a different meaning than the base verb.
• Examples: Look after (take care of)
• look forward to (anticipate)
• look out for (be careful of)
• Find out (discover)

Examples of Phrasal Verbs

• Break down: To stop working (e.g., a car). To become emotionally upset.

• Break in: To enter a place illegally. To cause someone to become involved in a situation.

• Break out (from): To escape from a place. To suddenly develop (e.g., a war).

• Check in: To register at a hotel, airport, etc. To contact someone to report your location.

• Check out: To leave a hotel, etc. To examine something carefully.

• Come apart: To break into pieces. To fall apart.

• Cry out: To shout loudly. To express a sudden need.

• Die down: To become quieter. To subside.

• Die out: To become extinct. To disappear completely.

• Dress up: To wear fancy clothes. To get ready for a special occasion.

• Eat in: To eat at home.

• Eat out: To eat at a restaurant.

• Fall down: To fall to the ground. To come down.

• Fall off: To detach or drop from something. To decline.

• Get away: To escape. To leave a place.

• Get together: To meet. To come together.

• Get up: To rise from bed or a seat. To stand up.

• Go off: To explode. To ring a bell.

• Grow up: To mature. To become an adult.

• Hang on: To hold on. To wait.

• Hang up: To end a phone call.

• Hold on: To continue waiting for something.

• Lie down: To recline. To rest.

• Log out: To end your session on a computer.

• Run away: To leave a place suddenly and without permission.

• Set off: To start a journey.

• Settle down: To start a stable and quiet life.

• Show up: To appear. To arrive somewhere.

• Stay up: To stay awake past the usual time.

• Step down: To resign from a position of leadership.

• Take in: To understand something. To accept someone.

• Take off: To leave the ground (airplane). To have a sudden, rapid increase in popularity, etc.

• Turn up: To arrive. To appear.

• Watch out: To be careful. To look out for something.

• Wear off: To lose effectiveness or strength.

• End up: To arrive at a certain result or condition.