What Is a Phrasal Verb?
A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb and one or two particles (prepositions or adverbs) that together carry a meaning different from the individual words. For example, give up means to quit, not to give something upward. Phrasal verbs are central to natural, fluent English and appear in conversation, business writing, and academic texts.
This guide covers 60 of the most important phrasal verbs for CEFR B1 and B2 learners, grouped alphabetically. Each entry includes the primary meaning, grammar notes (separable vs inseparable, transitive vs intransitive), register guidance, and practice links.
All 60 Phrasal Verbs
To request something from someone
To stop working (machine/vehicle)
To end a romantic relationship
To raise a child
To cancel a planned event or activity
To continue doing something
To perform or complete a task or plan
To reach the same level as someone ahead of you
To register your arrival at a hotel, airport, or event
To leave a hotel after paying; to look at something of interest
To find or meet someone/something by chance
To think of or produce an idea, plan, or solution
To separate by cutting
To handle a situation, problem, or person
To reach a final state or place, often unintentionally
To understand or solve something after thinking about it
To break into pieces; to fail or collapse completely
To fail to keep up with a schedule or standard
To complete a form with information
To discover information or learn a fact
To have a friendly relationship with someone
To recover from an illness, shock, or difficult situation
To remove or dispose of something unwanted
To stop doing or having something
To proceed with a plan
To experience a difficult situation
To develop from a child into an adult
To spend time relaxing in a place or with friends, without a specific purpose
To wait
To continue doing something, often with persistence or repetition
To maintain the same pace or standard as someone else
To disappoint someone by failing to do what was expected
To take care of a person, animal, or thing
To feel excited or pleased about something that is going to happen
To investigate or examine something carefully
To search for information in a book or online
To invent a story
To stop thinking about something from the past and focus on the present or futur
To die (a polite or gentle way of expressing death)
To lift something from a surface
To draw attention to something or someone
To postpone something
To place clothing on your body
To tolerate an unpleasant situation or person without complaining
To meet someone by chance
To use all of a supply and have none left
To prepare, arrange, or establish something
To arrive or appear, especially unexpectedly
To resolve a problem or organise something
To defend or support a person, principle, or belief
To remove clothing
To accept responsibility or work
To assume control of something
To consider or reflect on something
To discard something
To refuse an offer or request
To arrive, especially unexpectedly
To exercise
To finish or conclude something
To magnify a view using a camera, screen, or lens
Tips for Learning Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs are most effectively learned in context rather than from abstract lists. For each verb, focus on the most common meaning first, then explore secondary meanings once the primary usage is secure. Pay attention to whether a verb is separable or inseparable -- this is the single biggest source of grammar errors for intermediate learners.
Group phrasal verbs thematically: work (set up, take on, deal with), relationships (break up, make up, get along), and progress (move on, carry on, keep up). Thematic grouping creates mental hooks that aid long-term retention.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many phrasal verbs are there in English?
Estimates range from 5,000 to over 10,000 phrasal verbs in English, depending on how you count variants and regional usage. The good news is that you do not need to learn all of them. Research suggests that around 200 phrasal verbs cover approximately 80% of everyday use. This guide focuses on the 60 most important for CEFR B1–B2 learners, which gives a solid foundation for conversation, exams, and business communication.
What are the most common phrasal verbs in English?
The most frequently used phrasal verbs in everyday English are: get up (rise from bed), give up (stop trying), look up (search for information), find out (discover a fact), go on (continue or happen), and come back (return). Other high-frequency verbs include pick up, turn on/off, put on, take off, break down, and go through. These appear in everyday conversation, news, and business writing.
How do I learn phrasal verbs faster?
The most effective technique is to group phrasal verbs by base verb rather than learning random lists. For example, learn get up, get out, and get away together — the particle shifts the meaning, but sharing the base verb creates mental connections that aid retention. After grouping, use each phrasal verb in your own sentences about real situations. Passive list reading is far less effective than active production: say the sentence aloud, write it in a context you recognise.
Are phrasal verbs formal or informal?
Most phrasal verbs are informal or neutral in register, which is why formal academic and legal writing tends to prefer single Latinate verbs instead. For example, give up (informal) becomes cease or abandon in formal writing; look into becomes investigate; put off becomes postpone. However, some phrasal verbs — such as carry out, set up, and take on — are standard in business English and are not considered informal.
Do phrasal verbs appear in IELTS?
Yes. Phrasal verbs appear prominently in IELTS Listening and Speaking sections, where natural conversational English is used. In the Listening test, speakers frequently use phrasal verbs in instructions, discussions, and interviews — misunderstanding a phrasal verb can lead to a wrong answer. In Speaking, examiners reward lexical range, so using phrasal verbs accurately and naturally raises your Lexical Resource band score. In Writing, phrasal verbs are less common but do appear in informal Task 1 letter writing (General Training).