What Is a Phrasal Verb? An Easy Guide for English Learners

Phrasal verbs can be really frustrating if you’re a non-native speaker!

Let’s backtrack for a moment. Even most native speakers don’t know the term “phrasal verb”, although they use them every day.

So, what is a phrasal verb?

A phrasal verb starts with an ordinary verb, such as “run” or “give”. But then that verb is combined with a preposition, an adverb, or some other particle. Some of them even have a verb plus two particles! The end result is a phrase like “run into” or “give up” or “get around to”.

Phrasal verbs are confusing mainly because the combined meaning of the verb and its particle(s) can differ from their individual definitions. For example, the phrasal verb “give up” doesn’t mean “to give something in an upward direction.” Instead, it translates to “to quit or stop trying.” The phrasal verb “run into” is even more idiomatic—it means to encounter someone or something. Most of the time, nobody is actually running.

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Why are phrasal verbs important?

Learning phrasal verbs is essential for anyone aiming for fluency in English. You’re likely to hear them in casual conversations, on TV, and in movies. You are also likely to see them in written form via social media, news articles, internet posts, and in business emails.

Phrasal verbs can seem difficult, but by learning and using them, you can sound more like a native speaker.

Now let’s take a look at 15 common phrasal verbs that non-native speakers often find confusing:

PHRASES	DEFINITION	EXAMPLE	CONTEXT/NUANCE
Ask for	To make a request	Did you remember to ask for the tax returns?	This is straightforward, but make sure the correct preposition is used.
Break down	To stop working (often used regarding vehicles and other machines)	I’m afraid this truck is going to break down again.	Don’t confuse “break down” with “break up” which refers to ending relationships.
Call off	To cancel an event that had been planned	We must call off the staff meeting.	Used in both professional and informal settings.
Catch up	To get up to date or to reach the same level as others	I’ve been away from the office for two weeks, so I need to catch up on the ABC account.	Typically used when someone is behind or late.
Cheer up	To become happy after feeling sad	Cheer up! That awful meeting is over and now we can go out for a drink.	You might also hear “cheer her up”, “cheer him up”, and similar variations.
Dress up	To dress in a formal way/wear a nice outfit	Is she going to dress up for the awards ceremony?	Can also refer to wearing costumes, like for Halloween or Comic-Con.
Figure out	To understand something or solve a problem	Can you figure out why the printer isn’t working?	Common in “business casual” and other less formal communications.
Get around to	To finally do something that could have been done earlier	The marketing team needs to get around to finishing their campaign.	Note that this phrasal verb consists of one verb plus two particles.
Give up	To quit or stop trying	Graduate school is so difficult. Sometimes I want to give up!	This phrase can sound negative, so you might want to combine it with some positive encouragement.
Look up to	To respect or admire someone	The kids on the team look up to their football coach.	Used to show deep respect, not just a passing admiration.
Put up with	To tolerate something that is inconvenient/annoying	The staff had to put up with Tyler’s rude remarks during the meeting.	Implies endurance or patience with something bothersome.
Set up	To organize or make arrangements	Juanita arrived early to set up the visual aids for the group’s presentation.	Usually refers to arranging something in advance, such as a meeting, system, or account.
Think over	To consider something carefully	Be sure to think over your college plans!	Gives a sense of deep contemplation.
Turn down	To refuse an offer	Michael said he had to turn down the job offer from XXX Corporation.	This is sometimes used as a polite, more professional way to say “no” to a request or invitation.
Work out	To solve a problem	We need to work out these issues with the new software.	It can also mean to exercise or train for a sport.

This is not a list of all the phrasal verbs in the English language—there are many more! The next time you’re reading an article online, see if you can find any other phrasal verbs that are not listed here.

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Pro Tip: Many English learners get confused about phrasal verbs because they look up each word individually and then try to make a direct translation. For example, they will search for “work” on Google or in their online dictionary. Then they’ll search for “out” and try to put the two pieces together, hoping it will make sense. It’s better to type every part of the phrasal verb (such as “work out”) into the search window.

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What if you’re using a phrasal verb in your writing and you want to make sure the meaning is correct? Click the blue box below. Our TextRanch editors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We will let you know if you’re on the right track!

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