English Phrasal Verbs – Complete List with Meanings

🔎 Search for a verb:

Verb	Meaning
to abide by	to respect, accept, remain faithful to
to account for	to explain, justify, represent
to accrue up	to accumulate
to act on	to follow, to comply with
to act out	to act out, to live through, to express, to mime
to act up	to misbehave (person), to act
to act upon	to follow, to comply with
to add in	to include, to add, to take into account
to add on	to add
to add to	to increase, to add to
to add together	to sum, to add up
to add up	to add up, to make sense
to add up to	to amount to, to total, to boil down to
to admit of	to allow, to permit
to admit to	to admit to, to acknowledge doing
to alight on	to land on, to descend upon
to allude to	to allude to, to hint at
to aim at	to aim at
to apologize for	to apologize for
to appeal for	to make an appeal for
to appeal to	to appeal to
to apologize to	to apologize to
to apply for	to apply for
to apply to	to apply to, to relate to
to approve of	to approve of, to endorse, to ratify
to argue against	to argue against
to argue about	to argue about, to quarrel over
to argue from	to deduce from
to argue out	to discuss thoroughly
to argue over	to argue over
to argue with	to argue with
to arrange for	to arrange for
to arrive at	to reach, to come to, to arrive at
to arse about	to mess around
to ascend to	to ascend to
to ascend toward	to ascend toward
to assign to	give to, assign to
to atopne for	atone for, redeem, make amends
to ask after	ask for news of, inquire about
to ask along	ask to come along
to ask back	ask back
to ask for	ask for, ask to see
to ask in	invite in
to ask out	invite out
to ask over	invite (to the house)
to ask round	invite (to the house)
to back away	step back
to back down	give up, back down, withdraw
to back off	step back
to back on to	back onto, reverse out
to back out	reverse out, go back on one's commitments
to back out of	go back on, back out of
to back up	back up, support, push back, reverse
to bail out	bail out, rescue, bail (parachute)
to bale out	put in storage
to balance out	offset, compensate
to ball up	screw up, mess up
to balls up	screw up, mess up
to band togethere	gather, form a group
to bandy about	spread around, bring up
to bandy around	spread around, bring up
to bang about	make noise
to bang around	make noise
to bang away	thunder, make a racket
to bang down	slam down, throw down
to bang into	bump into / hit
to bang on	go on talking
to bang on about sth	go on and on
to bang out	type, bang out
to bang to	slam shut
to bang together	bang together
to bang up	lock up, damage
to bank on	rely on
to bank up	pile up, arrange in tiers
to barge about	move around noisily
to barge in	burst in, interrupt conversation, meddle
to barge into	crash into, bump into
to barge through	push through like a storm
to bark out	bark out
to barter away	sell off, traffic in
to bash about	beat up, mistreat, abuse
to bash around	beat up, mistreat, abuse
to bash in	smash in, dent, break open
to bash on (with sth)	keep going (with sth)
to bash up	mess up, beat up
to bask in	revel in, enjoy
to batten down	to knock down, close, board up
to batter about	to thrash, beat up
to batter down	to demolish, knock down, break down
to batter in	to drive in, break down
to battle out	to fight out, compete
to bawl out	to shout, yell, bawl, scold
to be down with	to have (an illness)
to beam down	to radiate, shine rays
to bear down	to weigh, push, press firmly
to bear down on	to come upon, charge at
to bear in on	to relate to, pertain to
to bear in upon	to relate to, pertain to
to bear on	to relate to, pertain to
to bear out	to confirm, corroborate
to bear up	not to be discouraged, keep up spirits
to bear upon	to relate to, pertain to
to bear with	to endure patiently
to beat back	to repel
to beat down	to hit hard, to lower (price)
to beat in	to break down
to beat off	to repel
to beat out	to extinguish
to beat up	to whip, beat, assault
to beat up on	to beat, intimidate
to bed down	to (go to) bed / put to bed
to bawl out	yell at, scold
to be along	arrive
to be around	be nearby
to be away	be gone
to be back	be back
to be behind	be behind
to be down	be down
to be fed up	be fed up
to be in	be home, be in
to be in on	be part of
to be into	be interested in
to be off	be gone, be off
to be on	be happening, be on
to be out	be out
to be over	be over
to be through	be done
to be up	be up
to be with	be with
to beat about the bush	beat around the bush
to beat back	drive back, repel
to beat down	beat down, bring down
to beat off	fend off, repel
to beat out	beat, extinguish
to beat up	beat up
to beef about	complain about
to beef up	reinforce, strengthen
to believe in	believe in
to belt along	move quickly
to bell out	to announce, proclaim
to belly up	to go bankrupt, collapse
to belt out	sing loudly
to bend down	bend down
to bend over	bend over
to bet on	to bet on
to better off	to be better off, to be more comfortable
to black out	faint, lose consciousness
to blank out	block out, forget
to blaze away	shoot away, blaze away
to blaze up	flare up, blaze up
to bleed sb dry	bleed someone dry
to blend in	blend in
to block in	box in
to block off	block off
to block out	block out
to block up	clog up, block up
to blow away	blow away, impress
to blow down	blow down
to blow in	blow in, drop by
to blow off	blow off, dismiss
to blow out	blow out, extinguish
to blow over	blow over, pass
to blow up	explode, blow up
to blurt out	blurt out
to board up	board up
to boil away	boil away
to boil down	boil down
to boil down to	come down to
to boil over	boil over
to boil up	boil up
to bone up on	study intensively, brush up on
to book in	check in
to book into	check into
to book out	check out
to boot out	kick out
to border on	border on
to boss about	boss around
to boss around	boss around
to botch up	mess up
to bottle out	chicken out
to bottle up	bottle up
to bottom out	reach the lowest point
to bounce back	bounce back
to bounce out	bounce out
to bow out	step down
to bowl along	cruise along
to bowl over	knock over, amaze
to box in	trap, hem in
to box up	pack up
to brace up	cheer up, pull oneself together
to branch off	branch off
to branch out	expand
to break away	break away
to break down	break down
to break in	break in
to break into	break into
to break off	break off
to break out	break out
to break through	break through
to break up	break up
to breeze in	walk in casually
to breeze into	walk into casually
to breeze through	succeed easily in
to brighten up	light up, cheer up
to bring about	cause, bring about
to bring along	bring along
to bring around	convince, bring over
to bring back	bring back
to bring down	bring down
to bring forward	bring forward
to bring in	bring in
to bring off	succeed in
to bring on	cause
to bring out	bring out
to bring over	bring over
to bring round	bring round
to bring to	revive
to bring together	bring together
to bring up	raise, mention
to brush aside	dismiss
to brush down	brush down
to brush off	dismiss
to brush up	refresh one's knowledge
to brush up on	review
to bubble over	overflow with emotion
to bucket down	rain heavily
to buckle down	get to work seriously
to buckle under	give in under pressure
to build in	integrate, include
to build on	rely on, base on
to build up	increase, accumulate
to bump into	bump into
to bump off	kill (informal)
to bump up	increase
to bundle off	send off quickly
to bundle out	push out, expel
to bundle up	wrap up warmly
to buoy up	lift, support
to burn away	burn away
to burn down	burn down
to burn off	burn off
to burn out	burn out
to burn up	consume, get very hot
to burst in	burst in
to burst into	burst into
to burst out	burst out
to butt in	interrupt, butt in
to butter up	flatter, suck up to
to button up	button up
to buy in	buy in
to buy off	bribe
to buy out	buy out
to buy up	buy up
to buzz around	move around busily
to buzz off	go away (informal)
to call after	name after
to call at	stop at (a place)
to call away	summon away
to call back	return a call
to call by	visit briefly
to call down	rebuke
to call for	require, demand
to call forth	provoke, elicit
to call in	summon, call in
to call off	cancel
to call on	visit, appeal to
to call out	shout, summon
to call round	visit
to call up	phone, summon
to calm down	calm down
to cancel out	neutralize
to cap off	finish, complete
to care for	look after, like
to carry away	get carried away
to carry off	succeed in doing, steal
to carry on	continue
to carry out	perform, execute
to carry over	transfer
to carry through	complete successfully
to cart away	take away, carry away
to cart off	carry off, take away
to cash in	profit from
to cash in on	take advantage of
to cash up	count the money
to cast aside	discard
to cast away	throw away
to cast off	get rid of, cast off
to cast out	expel, throw out
to catch on	become popular, understand
to catch out	trap, catch in the act
to catch up	catch up
to catch up on	get up to date with
to cater for	provide for, cater to
to cater to	serve, satisfy
to cave in	collapse, give in
to chalk out	plan, sketch out
to chalk up	score, achieve
to chance on	stumble upon
to change around	rearrange
to change into	transform into
to change out of	change clothes
to change over	switch, change over
to chase about	run around chasing
to chase after	pursue
to chase away	drive away
to chase down	track down
to chase off	send away
to chase up	follow up
to cheat on	be unfaithful to
to check in	check in
to check into	register at
to check off	tick off, mark
to check on	verify, check on
to check out	leave, verify
to check over	inspect
to check up	check, investigate
to check up on	verify, follow up
to cheer along	encourage, cheer on
to cheer up	cheer up, become happier
to chew off	gnaw off, chew off
to chew on	chew, think about
to chew out	scold, reprimand
to chew over	think over
to chew up	grind up, damage
to chicken out	back out, get scared
to chill out	relax, calm down
to chip in	contribute, pitch in
to chip off	break off, chip off
to chip away	gradually remove
to chop down	cut down (a tree)
to chop off	cut off
to chop up	cut into pieces
to clean off	remove dirt
to clean out	empty, clean thoroughly
to clean up	tidy, make a lot of money
to clear away	remove, tidy away
to clear off	go away (informal)
to clear out	leave quickly, empty out
to clear up	tidy, become clear
to climb down	back down
to cling to	hold onto
to close down	shut down permanently
to close in	approach, surround
to close off	block, seal off
to close up	shut, close tightly
to cloud over	become cloudy
to clown around	act foolishly
to coast along	go along effortlessly
to cobble together	assemble quickly, put together roughly
to code in	include in the programming
to code into	embed into the code
to coil up	wind up, curl up
to colour in	fill with colour
to colour up	blush, turn red
to come about	happen, occur
to come across	find by chance, appear
to come after	follow, pursue
to come along	arrive, progress
to come apart	break into pieces
to come around	change opinion, regain consciousness
to come at	attack, approach
to come away	detach, leave
to come back	return
to come before	precede, appear before
to come between	interfere, separate
to come by	obtain, visit
to come down	fall, be reduced
to come down on	punish harshly
to come down to	be reduced to, depend on
to come down with	become ill with
to come forward	offer help, volunteer
to come from	originate from
to come in	enter, arrive
to come in for	receive (criticism, praise)
to come into	inherit
to come off	succeed, detach
to come on	start, make progress
to come on to	flirt with
to come out	be released, be revealed
to come out in	develop (rash, spots)
to come out of	result from, emerge from
to come over	visit, be affected by
to come round	regain consciousness, visit, change opinion
to come through	survive, succeed
to come to	regain consciousness, amount to
to come under	be subjected to
to come up	arise, appear
to come up against	encounter (a problem)
to come up to	approach, reach, live up to
to come up with	think of, produce
to con into	trick into
to con out of	trick someone out of
to connect to	link to
to connect with	establish a connection with
to contact with	get in touch with
to contract out	delegate, outsource
to contract out of	opt out of
to cook up	invent, fabricate
to cool down	cool, calm down
to cool off	become less angry or hot
to copy in	cc (in an email)
to copy out	transcribe
to copy over	copy (data/files)
to copy up	rewrite neatly
to cotton on	begin to understand
to count against	be a disadvantage
to count down	count backwards to zero
to count in	include
to count off	count in turn
to count on	rely on
to count out	exclude
to count up	calculate the total
to cover over	cover up, conceal
to cover up	cover up, hide
to cover with	cover with
to cram into	stuff into, cram into
to cross off	cross off, remove
to cross out	cross out
to cross over	cross over
to cross through	strike through
to crowd around	surround, gather around
to crowd out	push out, exclude
to crowd round	gather around
to crowd together	press together, cluster
to crunch numbers	calculate, analyze data
to cry out	exclaim, shout out
to cry over	weep for
to cry up	publicly praise
to cut across	cross, cut through
to cut back	reduce, cut back
to cut back on	reduce consumption of
to cut down	cut down, reduce
to cut down on	reduce (smoking, etc.)
to cut in	interrupt, cut in
to cut in on	interrupt someone
to cut into	make a dent in, reduce drastically
to cut off	disconnect, sever
to cut out	omit, stop doing
to cut up	cut into pieces
to dart about	dash around
to dash off	leave quickly, write quickly
to dash out	rush out
to dash up	rush to
to deal in	trade in
to deal with	handle, cope with
to decide on	choose, settle on
to dish out	serve, distribute
to dive in	start eagerly
to dive into	immerse in, explore deeply
to do away with	abolish, get rid of
to do up	fasten, renovate
to do without	manage without
to doll up	dress up
to doze off	fall asleep
to drag about	carry around unwillingly
to drag along	force someone to come
to drag around	carry around unwillingly
to drag away	pull away forcibly
to drag down	demoralize, reduce
to drag in	involve unwillingly
to drag off	remove forcefully
to drag on	continue slowly
to drag out	prolong, extract
to drag over	criticize, discuss thoroughly
to drag through	make endure something unpleasant
to drag to	carry to a place unwillingly
to drain away	gradually disappear
to drain off	flow away
to drain out	empty out
to dream about	dream about
to dream of	yearn for
to dream on	keep dreaming (sarcastic)
to dress down	criticize severely
to dress up	dress elegantly, put on a costume
to drift apart	grow distant
to drift off	fall asleep gradually
to drift out	move away slowly
to drift through	pass through aimlessly
to drift into	begin something unintentionally
to drill down	examine in detail
to drink in	absorb, enjoy fully
to drive at	intend, aim at
to drive away	force to leave
to drive back	repel, force back
to drive by	pass by in a vehicle
to drive down	reduce, lower
to drive off	cause to go away
to drive on	continue driving
to drive out	expel, remove
to drive up	increase
to drop by	visit briefly
to drop in	visit informally
to drop off	deliver, fall asleep
to drop out	leave, quit
to dry up	dry out, stop talking
to dumb down	simplify excessively
to eat away	erode, corrode
to eat out	eat at a restaurant
to eat up	consume, use up
to end up	finish, end up
to face up to	confront
to fade away	disappear gradually
to fade in	appear gradually
to fade out	disappear gradually (sound, image)
to fall apart	break down, collapse
to fall back on	rely on as backup
to fall behind	lag, not keep up
to fall for	be deceived by, fall in love
to fall into	begin, slip into
to fall off	decrease, drop off
to fall out	argue, separate
to fall over	trip and fall
to fall through	fail to happen
to figure out	understand, solve
to fill in	complete (form), substitute
to fill out	fill completely (form)
to fill up	fill completely
to find out	discover, learn
to finish off	complete, finish completely
to finish up	conclude, tidy up
to fit in	fit, belong
to fit into	enter, fit into
to fix up	repair, arrange
to flag up	draw attention to
to flare up	erupt, intensify suddenly
to flesh out	add detail to
to flick through	scan quickly, flip through
to fill in for	substitute for
to flog off	sell quickly
to fly about	move quickly around
to fly at	attack verbally or physically
to fly by	pass quickly
to fly into	become angry suddenly
to fly out	leave by plane
to fly through	complete quickly and easily
to focus on	concentrate on
to follow up	follow up, pursue further
to follow through	complete (a promise, plan)
to form out	form clearly
to frame around	surround, set up context
to freak out	become very upset or excited
to freeze up	become stiff, unable to think
to freshen up	refresh, tidy (oneself)
to fret about	worry about
to fritter away	waste little by little
to frown on	disapprove of
to funnel into	channel into
to gear up for	prepare for
to get across	communicate, make understood
to get ahead	progress, be successful
to get along	have a good relationship
to get around	travel, circumvent
to get at	intend, imply
to get away	escape, go on holiday
to get back	return, retaliate
to get by	manage, survive
to get down	depress, write down
to get in	enter, arrive
to get into	become involved in, fit into
to get off	leave (transport), avoid punishment
to get on	board (transport), progress, have relationship
to get out	leave, reveal
to get over	recover from
to get round to	find time for
to get through	complete, connect by phone, survive
to get to	affect emotionally, reach a place
to get together	meet, gather, assemble
to get up	rise, stand up
to give away	donate, reveal
to give back	return (something)
to give in	yield, surrender
to give off	emit, give off
to give out	distribute, stop functioning
to give up	stop trying, surrender
to go after	pursue, try to catch
to go against	oppose, conflict with
to go ahead	proceed, start
to go along with	agree with, accompany
to go away	leave, disappear
to go back	return, revert
to go by	pass, judge by
to go down	descend, decrease, be remembered
to go for	choose, attack
to go in	enter, be understood
to go off	explode, leave suddenly, spoil
to go on	continue, happen
to go out	leave home, stop burning
to go over	review, examine
to go through	experience, examine carefully
to go with	match, accompany
to go without	manage without
to grow apart	become less close
to grow back	grow again
to grow into	develop into, become
to grow out of	outgrow, develop from
to grow up	mature, become an adult
to hand back	return
to hand down	pass on, give as a legacy
to hand in	submit, deliver
to hand out	distribute
to hand over	give control or responsibility
to hang about	loiter, wait
to hang around	linger, stay nearby
to hang back	hesitate, stay behind
to hang on	hold tightly, wait
to hang out	spend time relaxing
to hang up	end a phone call
to have on	deceive, joke
to have out	settle (a quarrel)
to hear about	learn news
to hear of	know by reputation
to help out	assist
to hold back	restrain, hesitate
to hold on	wait, grip tightly
to hold out	last, extend
to hold up	delay, rob
to hurry up	move quickly
to jack up	raise, increase suddenly
to jot down	write quickly
to keep on	continue
to keep up	maintain, continue
to kick off	start
to knock down	demolish, hit to the ground
to knock out	make unconscious, impress greatly
to lay off	fire, dismiss
to let down	disappoint, lower
to let in	allow to enter
to let off	excuse from punishment, cause to explode
to let out	make larger, release
to look after	take care of
to look down on	despise, consider inferior
to look for	search
to look forward to	anticipate with pleasure
to look into	investigate
to look out	be careful, watch
to look over	examine quickly
to look up	search for information, improve
to look up to	respect, admire
to make out	discern, understand, pretend
to make up	reconcile, invent, compensate
to move in	take up residence
to move out	leave residence
to nod off	fall asleep
to pass away	die
to pass out	faint, distribute
to pay back	return money, retaliate
to pay off	pay in full, be worthwhile
to pick out	choose, identify
to pick up	lift, collect, learn
to point out	indicate, show
to put away	store, save
to put back	return to original place
to put down	criticize, write down, kill
to put off	postpone, discourage
to put on	wear, gain weight, pretend
to put out	extinguish, inconvenience
to put up	provide accommodation, raise
to run across	meet by chance
to run away	escape
to run into	meet unexpectedly, collide with
to run out (of)	have none left
to run over	hit with a vehicle, review quickly
to see off	accompany someone leaving
to see out	accompany someone to the door
to set off	start a journey, cause to explode
to set up	establish, arrange
to show off	display proudly
to shut down	close, stop operating
to shut up	stop talking
to sit down	take a seat
to stand by	support, be ready
to stand for	represent, tolerate
to stand out	be noticeable
to stand up	rise to feet
to take after	resemble
to take apart	disassemble
to take back	return, retract
to take down	write, dismantle
to take in	understand, deceive, provide shelter
to take off	remove, leave the ground (plane), become successful
to take on	accept responsibility, employ
to take out	remove, invite on a date
to take over	assume control
to take up	begin a hobby, occupy space/time
to tear down	demolish, criticize harshly
to tear up	rip into pieces, become very emotional
to think over	consider carefully
to throw away	discard
to throw out	discard, eject
to throw up	vomit, build quickly
to try on	test clothing
to try out	test
to turn around	change direction, improve
to turn down	reject, reduce volume
to turn in	submit, go to bed
to turn into	become
to turn off	stop machine, repel
to turn on	start machine, excite
to turn out	prove to be, produce
to turn up	appear, increase volume
to wake up	stop sleeping
to wash up	wash dishes
to watch out	be careful
to wear out	use until no longer usable
to work out	exercise, solve
to write down	record in writing
to write up	prepare a final version of a document
to zip up	close with a zipper
to zone out	become inattentive, lose focus
to zero in on	focus attention on
to zap through	change TV channels quickly
to yank out	pull out suddenly
to wind up	end up, conclude, tighten a spring
to wind down	relax, bring to a close
to whip up	stimulate, prepare quickly
to watch over	protect, supervise
to weigh down	make heavy, burden
to wear off	gradually disappear
to wave off	dismiss with a wave
to wash off	clean by washing
to warm up	heat, prepare for activity
to wind back	rewind
to work up	develop, become excited
to write off	consider worthless, cancel a debt
to write up	prepare a detailed report
to zero out	reset to zero
to zoom in	focus closely
to zoom out	reduce magnification
to zip along	move quickly
to zone in	focus on
to zap away	spend time idly on TV or internet
to zip around	move quickly around