English Phrasal Verbs for Meetings

Q: How do I start a meeting in English?

To start, you can kick off the meeting and go over the agenda. You might also open up the floor to invite others to speak. For example: “Let’s kick off with the sales figures, then I’ll go over the agenda.”

Q: What does “sum up” mean?

To sum up means to summarise the main points or decisions, usually near the end of a meeting. For example: “Let me sum up the action points before we finish.” It is one of the most useful closing phrasal verbs in business English.

Q: What is the difference between “go over” and “run over”?

Go over means to review something, such as the agenda or figures. Run over means to exceed the planned time. They look similar but have very different meanings, so it is worth learning each with its own example sentence.

Q: What does “put forward” mean in a meeting?

To put forward a plan, idea or proposal means to suggest it for consideration. For example: “I’d like to put forward an alternative approach.” It is a polite, professional way to introduce a suggestion in a meeting.

Q: How do I close a meeting in English?

To close, you can sum up the decisions and then wrap up the meeting. You might also agree to follow up by email. For example: “Let me sum up the action points, then we can wrap up.”

Q: What does “follow up on” mean?

To follow up on something means to take further action after a meeting, such as checking progress or sending information. Because it ends in a preposition, the object stays after the whole phrase: follow up on it, not follow it up on.

Vocabulary LexFizz Team 9 min read 15 June 2026

Part of the Business Vocabulary Series

Practise with our Reading & Writing exercises and Grammar Quiz. See also Phrasal Verbs for Business and English for Business Meetings.

Key Takeaways

Phrasal verbs are extremely common in meeting English and make you sound natural.
Use open up and kick off to start, bring up and put forward for ideas.
Run over means to exceed the planned time; sum up means to summarise.
Many meeting phrasal verbs are separable — you can put the object between the verb and particle.
Learn phrasal verbs in chunks with example sentences rather than as isolated words.

Want to practise straight away? Try a Grammar Quiz →

Phrasal verbs — verbs combined with a particle such as up, on or over — are everywhere in spoken business English, and meetings are full of them. Knowing the right phrasal verb makes you sound natural and helps you follow fast-moving discussions. This guide covers the most useful phrasal verbs for opening, running and closing a meeting, with clear examples you can start using today.

Starting a Meeting

To begin, speakers often kick off (start) the meeting and go over (review) the agenda.

Let's kick off with the sales figures.

First, I'll go over the agenda for today.

You might also open up the floor, meaning you invite others to speak.

Raising Ideas

When you introduce a topic, you bring it up. When you suggest a plan, you put it forward.

Idea Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verb	Meaning
bring up	introduce a topic
put forward	suggest an idea or plan
point out	draw attention to a fact
follow up on	take further action on something

Managing the Discussion

Discussions need management. You can move on to the next point, come back to an issue later, or note that you are running over time.

Can we move on to the next item?

We are running over, so let's be brief.

Closing a Meeting

At the end, you sum up (summarise) the decisions and wrap up (finish) the meeting.

Let me sum up the action points.

I think we can wrap up here.

You may also agree to follow up by email afterwards.

Separable or Not?

Many meeting phrasal verbs are separable: the object can go between the verb and particle. You can say bring up the issue or bring the issue up. With a pronoun, separation is required: bring it up (not bring up it).

Tip: If a phrasal verb is followed by a preposition (like follow up on), the object usually stays after the whole phrase: follow up on it.

Common Mistakes

A frequent error is putting a pronoun after a separable phrasal verb, as in bring up it — the pronoun must go in the middle. Another is confusing similar verbs such as go over (review) and run over (exceed time). Finally, learners sometimes use overly formal single verbs in speech when a phrasal verb sounds far more natural. Learn each verb with an example sentence so the meaning and grammar stay together.

Putting It Together in a Meeting

The real value of these phrasal verbs appears when you string them together in a single, natural-sounding meeting. Notice how a chairperson might move smoothly from one phrasal verb to the next while keeping the discussion on track.

"Right, let's kick off. I'll quickly go over the agenda, then I'd like to bring up the budget. Sam, would you like to put forward your proposal? — Good. We're running over a little, so let's move on and come back to the details by email. To sum up, we've agreed three actions. I'll follow up tomorrow, and with that we can wrap up."

Reading short scripts like this aloud is one of the fastest ways to absorb the verbs, because you learn their rhythm, the typical word order, and the situations that trigger each one. Try writing a similar paragraph for a meeting in your own field, then say it several times until the phrasal verbs feel automatic. Over time, you will reach for bring up or wrap up without translating from your first language — the clearest sign that the vocabulary has truly become yours.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are phrasal verbs for meetings?

Phrasal verbs for meetings are verb-plus-particle combinations used in business discussions, such as kick off (start), bring up (introduce a topic), sum up (summarise) and wrap up (finish). They are very common in spoken English and make you sound natural in professional settings.

How do I start a meeting in English?

To start, you can kick off the meeting and go over the agenda. You might also open up the floor to invite others to speak. For example: “Let’s kick off with the sales figures, then I’ll go over the agenda.”

What does “sum up” mean?

To sum up means to summarise the main points or decisions, usually near the end of a meeting. For example: “Let me sum up the action points before we finish.” It is one of the most useful closing phrasal verbs in business English.

What is the difference between “go over” and “run over”?

Go over means to review something, such as the agenda or figures. Run over means to exceed the planned time. They look similar but have very different meanings, so it is worth learning each with its own example sentence.

Are meeting phrasal verbs separable?

Many are separable, meaning the object can go between the verb and the particle: you can say bring up the issue or bring the issue up. However, when the object is a pronoun, separation is required, so you must say bring it up, not bring up it.

What does “put forward” mean in a meeting?

To put forward a plan, idea or proposal means to suggest it for consideration. For example: “I’d like to put forward an alternative approach.” It is a polite, professional way to introduce a suggestion in a meeting.

How do I close a meeting in English?

To close, you can sum up the decisions and then wrap up the meeting. You might also agree to follow up by email. For example: “Let me sum up the action points, then we can wrap up.”

What does “follow up on” mean?

To follow up on something means to take further action after a meeting, such as checking progress or sending information. Because it ends in a preposition, the object stays after the whole phrase: follow up on it, not follow it up on.

Why are phrasal verbs important in business English?

Phrasal verbs are extremely common in natural spoken English, so understanding them helps you follow fast-moving meetings, and using them helps you sound fluent and professional. Replacing them with formal single verbs can sound stiff or unnatural in conversation.

How can I practise meeting phrasal verbs?

Learn each phrasal verb with a full example sentence, then practise it in context. LexFizz’s Reading & Writing and Grammar Quiz exercises give free practice, and you can review related guides on business vocabulary and meetings.