This document provides verb definitions and examples. Some key verbs defined include: ask someone out, break up, call off, cheer up, cut down, dress up, figure out, get back, give in, grow up, hand in, hold back, keep up, let down, look down, make up.

1. PRASAL VERB
Verb Meaning Example
Brian asked Judy out to
ask someone out invite on a date
dinner and a movie.
ask many people the same I asked around but nobody
ask around
question has seen my wallet.
Your purchases add up to
add up to something equal
$205.32.
You'll have to back up your
back something up reverse
car so that I can get out.
My wife backed me up over
back someone up support
my decision to quit my job.
The racing car blew up
blow up explode after it crashed into the
fence.
We have to blow 50
blow something up add air
balloons up for the party.
Our car broke down at the
stop functioning (vehicle,
break down side of the highway in the
machine)
snowstorm.
The woman broke down
break down get upset when the police told her that
her son had died.
Our teacher broke the final
break something down divide into smaller parts project down into three
separate parts.
Somebody broke in last
break in force entry to a building
night and stole our stereo.
The firemen had to break
break into something enter forcibly into the room to rescue the
children.
wear something a few times
I need to break these shoes
break something in so that it doesn't look/feel
in before we run next week.
new
break in interrupt The TV station broke in to

2. report the news of the
president's death.
My boyfriend and I broke
break up end a relationship up before I moved to
America.
The kids just broke up as
break up start laughing (informal) soon as the clown started
talking.
The prisoners broke out of
break out escape jail when the guards weren't
looking.
I broke out in a rash after
break out in something develop a skin condition
our camping trip.
This sad music is bringing
bring someone down make unhappy
me down.
My grandparents brought
bring someone up raise a child me up after my parents
died.
My mother walks out of the
bring something up start talking about a subject room when my father
brings up sports.
He drank so much that he
bring something up vomit brought his dinner up in
the toilet.
We called around but we
phone many different
call around weren't able to find the car
places/people
part we needed.
I called the company back
call someone back return a phone call but the offices were closed
for the weekend.
Jason called the wedding
call something off cancel off because he wasn't in
love with his fiancé.
ask for an answer or The professor called on me
call on someone
opinion for question 1.
We called on you last night
call on someone visit someone
but you weren't home.

3. Give me your phone
call someone up phone number and I will call you
up when we are in town.
You are still mad. You need
calm down relax after being angry to calm down before you
drive the car.
not care for I don't care for his
not like (formal)
someone/something behaviour.
You'll have to run faster
get to the same point as
catch up than that if you want to
someone else
catch up with Marty.
arrive and register at a We will get the hotel keys
check in
hotel or airport when we check in.
You have to check out of
check out leave a hotel
the hotel before 11:00 AM.
check The company checks out
look at carefully, investigate
someone/something out all new employees.
check out Check out the crazy hair on
look at (informal)
someone/something that guy!
She cheered up when she
cheer up become happier
heard the good news.
I brought you some flowers
cheer someone up make happier
to cheer you up.
If everyone chips in we can
chip in help get the kitchen painted by
noon.
Please clean up your
clean something up tidy, clean bedroom before you go
outside.
I came across these old
come across something find unexpectedly photos when I was tidying
the closet.
The top and bottom come
come apart separate apart if you pull hard
enough.
come down with become sick My nephew came down

4. with chicken pox this
something
weekend.
The woman came forward
volunteer for a task or to
come forward with her husband's finger
give evidence
prints.
The art of origami comes
come from somewhere originate in
from Asia.
count on I am counting on you to
rely on
someone/something make dinner while I am out.
Please cross out your old
cross something out draw a line through address and write your new
one.
My doctor wants me to cut
cut back on something consume less back on sweets and fatty
foods.
We had to cut the old tree
make something fall to the
cut something down in our yard down after the
ground
storm.
Your father cut in while I
cut in interrupt was dancing with your
uncle.
pull in too closely in front of The bus driver got angry
cut in
another vehicle when that car cut in.
The air conditioner cuts in
start operating (of an
cut in when the temperature gets
engine or electrical device)
to 22°C.
The doctors cut off his leg
remove with something
cut something off because it was severely
sharp
injured.
The phone company cut off
cut something off stop providing our phone because we
didn't pay the bill.
My grandparents cut my
cut someone off take out of a will father off when he
remarried.
cut something out remove part of something I cut this ad out of the
(usually with scissors and newspaper.

5. paper)
He's lucky to be alive. His
do someone/something beat up, ransack (Br.E.,
shop was done over by a
over informal)
street gang.
My teacher wants me to do
do something over do again (N.Amer.) my essay over because she
doesn't like my topic.
do away with It's time to do away with all
discard
something of these old tax records.
Do your coat up before you
do something up fasten, close
go outside. It's snowing!
It's a fancy restaurant so we
dress up wear nice clothing
have to dress up.
Andrea dropped back to
move back in a
drop back third place when she fell off
position/group
her bike.
come without an I might drop in/by/over for
drop in/by/over
appointment tea sometime this week.
take someone/something
drop I have to drop my sister off
somewhere and leave
someone/something off at work before I come over.
them/it there
I dropped out of Science
drop out quit a class, school etc
because it was too difficult.
I don't feel like cooking
eat out eat at a restaurant
tonight. Let's eat out.
We ended up renting a
end up eventually reach/do/decide movie instead of going to
the theatre.
My new dress fell apart in
fall apart break into pieces
the washing machine.
The picture that you hung
fall down fall to the ground up last night fell down this
morning.
The money must have
fall out separate from an interior
fallen out of my pocket.

6. (of hair, teeth) become His hair started to fall out
fall out
loose and unattached when he was only 35.
I need to figure out how to
figure something out understand, find the answer fit the piano and the
bookshelf in this room.
Please fill in the form with
to write information in
fill something in your name, address, and
blanks (Br.E.)
phone number.
to write information in The form must be filled out
fill something out
blanks (N.Amer.) in capital letters.
I always fill the water jug up
fill something up fill to the top
when it is empty.
We don't know where he
find out discover
lives. How can we find out?
We tried to keep the time of
find something out discover the party a secret, but
Samantha found it out.
I tried to get my point
get something communicate, make
across/over to the judge
across/over understandable
but she wouldn't listen.
I was surprised how well my
get along/on like each other new girlfriend and my sister
got along/on.
My grandfather can get
get around have mobility around fine in his new
wheelchair.
We worked so hard this
get away go on a vacation year that we had to get
away for a week.
Jason always gets away
get away with do without being noticed or
with cheating in his maths
something punished
tests.
We got back from our
get back return
vacation last week.
Liz finally got her Science
receive something you had
get something back notes back from my room-
before
mate.

7. My sister got back at me
get back at someone retaliate, take revenge for stealing her shoes. She
stole my favourite hat.
become interested in I finally got back into my
get back into something
something again novel and finished it.
We're going to freeze out
get on something step onto a vehicle here if you don't let us get
on the bus.
recover from an illness, I just got over the flu and
get over something
loss, difficulty now my sister has it.
The company will have to
get over something overcome a problem close if it can't get over the
new regulations.
finally find time to do I don't know when I am
get round to something (N.Amer.: get around to going to get round to
something) writing the thank you cards.
meet (usually for social Let's get together for a
get together
reasons) BBQ this weekend.
I got up early today to study
get up get out of bed
for my exam.
You should get up and give
get up stand
the elderly man your seat.
reveal hidden information His wife gave him away to
give someone away
about someone the police.
My father gave me away at
give someone away take the bride to the altar
my wedding.
My little sister gave the
give something away ruin a secret surprise party away by
accident.
give something to someone The library was giving
give something away
for free away old books on Friday.
I have to give these skates
give something back return a borrowed item back to Franz before his
hockey game.
give in reluctantly stop fighting or My boyfriend didn't want to
arguing go to the ballet, but he

8. finally gave in.
They were giving out free
give to many people
give something out perfume samples at the
(usually at no cost)
department store.
I am giving up smoking as
give something up quit a habit
of January 1st.
My maths homework was
give up stop trying
too difficult so I gave up.
My brother tried to go after
go after someone follow someone
the thief in his car.
I went after my dream and
go after something try to achieve something
now I am a published writer.
We are going against the
go against someone compete, oppose best soccer team in the city
tonight.
Please go ahead and eat
go ahead start, proceed
before the food gets cold.
I have to go back home
go back return to a place
and get my lunch.
leave home to go on a We're going out for dinner
go out
social event tonight.
Jesse has been going out
go out with someone date with Luke since they met
last winter.
Please go over your
go over something review answers before you submit
your test.
I haven't seen Tina for a
go over visit someone nearby long time. I think I'll go over
for an hour or two.
When I was young, we
go without something suffer lack or deprivation
went without winter boots.
My best friend and I grew
grow apart stop being friends over time apart after she changed
schools.

9. My roses grew back this
grow back regrow
summer.
When Jack grows up he
grow up become an adult
wants to be a fireman.
Elizabeth needs a new pair
grow out of something get too big for of shoes because she has
grown out of her old ones.
This bike is too big for him
grow into something grow big enough to fit now, but he should grow
into it by next year.
I handed my old comic
give something used to
hand something down books down to my little
someone else
cousin.
I have to hand in my essay
hand something in submit
by Friday.
to distribute to a group of We will hand out the
hand something out
people invitations at the door.
The police asked the man to
hand something over give (usually unwillingly) hand over his wallet and
his weapons.
stay positive (N.Amer., Hang in there. I'm sure
hang in
informal) you'll find a job very soon.
Hang on while I grab my
hang on wait a short time (informal)
coat and shoes!
Instead of going to the party
spend time relaxing
hang out we are just going to hang
(informal)
out at my place.
He didn't say goodbye
hang up end a phone call
before he hung up.
hold I had to hold my dog back
someone/something prevent from doing/going because there was a cat in
back the park.
Jamie held back his tears
hold something back hide an emotion
at his grandfather's funeral.
hold on wait a short time Please hold on while I
transfer you to the Sales

10. Department.
Hold onto your hat
hold onto hold firmly using your
because it's very windy
someone/something hands or arms
outside.
hold A man in a black mask held
rob
someone/somethingup the bank up this morning.
keep on doing Keep on stirring until the
continue doing
something liquid comes to a boil.
We kept our relationship
keep something from
not tell from our parents for two
someone
years.
keep Try to keep the wet dog out
stop from entering
someone/something out of the living room.
If you keep those results up
keep something up continue at the same rate you will get into a great
college.
fail to support or help, I need you to be on time.
let someone down
disappoint Don't let me down this time.
Can you let the cat in
let someone in allow to enter
before you go to school?
look after I have to look after my sick
take care of
someone/something grandmother.
Ever since we stole that
think less of, consider
look down on someone chocolate bar your dad has
inferior
looked down on me.
look for I'm looking for a red dress
try to find
someone/something for the wedding.
look forward to I'm looking forward to the
be excited about the future
something Christmas break.
We are going to look into
look into something investigate the price of snowboards
today.
be careful, vigilant, and Look out! That car's going to
look out
take notice hit you!
look out for be especially vigilant for Don't forget to look out for

11. someone/something snakes on the hiking trail.
Can you look over my
look something over check, examine
essay for spelling mistakes?
search and find information
We can look her phone
look something up in a reference book or
number up on the Internet.
database
My little sister has always
look up to someone have a lot of respect for
looked up to me.
Josie made up a story
make something up invent, lie about something
about why we were late.
We were angry last night,
make up forgive each other but we made up at
breakfast.
My sisters made me up for
make someone up apply cosmetics to
my graduation party.
I mixed up the twins'
mix something up confuse two or more things
names again!
His uncle passed away last
pass away die
night after a long illness.
It was so hot in the church
pass out faint that an elderly lady passed
out.
give the same thing to The professor passed the
pass something out
many people textbooks out before class.
I passed up the job
decline (usually something
pass something up because I am afraid of
good)
change.
Thanks for buying my ticket.
pay someone back return owed money
I'll pay you back on Friday.
be punished for doing That bully will pay for being
pay for something
something bad mean to my little brother.
I picked out three sweaters
pick something out choose
for you to try on.
point I'll point my boyfriend out
indicate with your finger
someone/something out when he runs by.

12. You can put the groceries
put what you are holding on
put something down down on the kitchen
a surface or floor
counter.
The students put the
insult, make someone feel substitute teacher down
put someone down
stupid because his pants were too
short.
We are putting off our trip
put something off postpone until January because of the
hurricane.
The neighbours put the fire
put something out extinguish out before the firemen
arrived.
I have to put the crib
put something together assemble together before the baby
arrives.
I don't think I can put up
put up with
tolerate with three small children in
someone/something
the car.
put clothing/accessories on Don't forget to put on your
put something on
your body new earrings for the party.
run into I ran into an old school-
meet unexpectedly
someone/something friend at the mall.
run over drive a vehicle over a I accidentally ran over your
someone/something person or thing bicycle in the driveway.
Let's run over/through
run over/through
rehearse, review these lines one more time
something
before the show.
The child ran away from
run away leave unexpectedly, escape home and has been missing
for three days.
We ran out of shampoo so I
run out have none left had to wash my hair with
soap.
My letter got sent back to
send something back return (usually by mail) me because I used the
wrong stamp.

13. Our boss set a meeting up
set something up arrange, organize with the president of the
company.
The police set up the car
set someone up trick, trap thief by using a hidden
camera.
I want to shop around a
shop around compare prices little before I decide on
these boots.
act extra special for people
He always shows off on his
show off watching (usually
skateboard
boastfully)
You should sleep over
stay somewhere for the
sleep over tonight if the weather is too
night (informal)
bad to drive home.
We need to sort the bills
sort something out organize, resolve a problem out before the first of the
month.
continue doing something,
You will lose weight if you
stick to something limit yourself to one
stick to the diet.
particular thing
stop the energy flow, turn The light's too bright. Could
switch something off
off you switch it off.
We heard the news as soon
start the energy flow, turn
switch something on as we switched on the car
on
radio.
I take after my mother. We
take after someone resemble a family member
are both impatient.
He took the car brakes
take something apart purposely break into pieces apart and found the
problem.
I have to take our new TV
take something back return an item back because it doesn't
work.
My plane takes off in five
take off start to fly
minutes.
take something off remove something (usually Take off your socks and

14. clothing) shoes and come in the lake!
remove from a place or Can you take the garbage
take something out
thing out to the street for me?
pay for someone to go My grandparents took us
take someone out
somewhere with you out for dinner and a movie.
I tore up my ex-boyfriend's
tear something up rip into pieces letters and gave them back
to him.
When I think back on my
remember (often + to,
think back youth, I wish I had studied
sometimes + on)
harder.
I'll have to think this job
think something over consider offer over before I make my
final decision.
We threw our old furniture
throw something away dispose of away when we won the
lottery.
decrease the volume or Please turn the TV down
turn something down
strength (heat, light etc) while the guests are here.
I turned the job down
turn something down refuse because I don't want to
move.
Your mother wants you to
stop the energy flow, switch
turn something off turn the TV off and come
off
for dinner.
It's too dark in here. Let's
turn something on start the energy, switch on
turn some lights on.
increase the volume or Can you turn the music up?
turn something up
strength (heat, light etc) This is my favourite song.
Our cat turned up after we
turn up appear suddenly put posters up all over the
neighbourhood.
I'm going to try these jeans
try something on sample clothing on, but I don't think they will
fit.
try something out test I am going to try this new

15. brand of detergent out.
The kids used all of the
use something up finish the supply toothpaste up so we need
to buy some more.
We have to wake up early
wake up stop sleeping
for work on Monday.
warm You can warm your feet up
increase the temperature
someone/something up in front of the fireplace.
I always warm up by doing
warm up prepare body for exercise
sit-ups before I go for a run.
Most of my make-up wore
wear off fade away
off before I got to the party.
I work out at the gym three
work out exercise
times a week.
work out be successful Our plan worked out fine.
We have to work out the
work something out make a calculation total cost before we buy the
house.