Phrasal verbs

Most phrasal verbs consist of two words, but a few consist of three words, which always stay together. This is a list of common phrasal verbs, with meanings and examples. Phrasal verbs are usually two-word phrases consisting of verb + adverb or verb + preposition.

Verb Meaning Example

ask someone out - invite on a date - Brian asked Judy out to dinner and a movie.

ask around - ask many people the same question - I asked around but nobody has seen my wallet.

add up to something - equal - Your purchases add up to $205.32.

back something up - reverse - You’ll have to back up your car so that I can get out.

back someone up - support - My wife backed me up over my decision to quit my job.

blow up - explode - The racing car blew up after it crashed into the fence.

blow something up - add air - We have to blow 50 balloons up for the party.

break down - stop functioning (vehicle, machine) - Our car broke down at the side of the highway  in the snowstorm.

break down - get upset - The woman broke down when the police told her that her son had died.

break something down - divide into smaller parts - Our teacher broke the final project down into three separate parts.

break in - force entry to a building - Somebody broke in last night and stole our stereo.

break into something - enter forcibly - The firemen had to break into the room to rescue the children.

break something in - wear something a few times so doesn’t look/feel new I need to break these shoes in before we run that it  next week.

break in - interrupt - The TV station broke in to report the news of the president’s death.

break up - end a relationship - My boyfriend and I broke up before I moved to America.