Phrasal Verbs List for Competitive Exams

Phrasal verbs are an essential part of English language proficiency, especially for competitive exams. Here are some important phrasal verbs, along with explanations and examples:

1. Break down

Explanation: To stop functioning (for machinery); to lose control of emotions. Example:

• "The car broke down on the way to the exam center."

• "She broke down in tears after hearing the bad news."

2. Bring up

Explanation: To raise a topic for discussion; to raise a child. Example:

• "She brought up an interesting point during the debate."

• "They brought up their children in a small town."

3. Call off

Explanation: To cancel something. Example: "The meeting was called off due to the storm."

4. Carry on

Explanation: To continue doing something. Example: "Despite the interruptions, she carried on with her presentation."

5. Come across

Explanation: To find or meet by chance. Example: "I came across an old friend at the market."

6. Drop out

Explanation: To leave school or an activity before completing it. Example: "He dropped out of college to start his own business."

7. Figure out

Explanation: To understand or solve something. Example: "She finally figured out how to use the new software."

8. Give up

Explanation: To stop trying; to quit. Example: "After several failed attempts, he gave up on fixing the car."

9. Go on

Explanation: To continue. Example: "She went on talking even though nobody was listening."

10. Look after

Explanation: To take care of someone or something. Example: "She looks after her younger brother while their parents are at work."

11. Look forward to

Explanation: To be excited about something in the future. Example: "He is looking forward to his vacation next month."

12. Make up

Explanation: To invent a story or excuse; to reconcile after a quarrel. Example:

• "She made up an excuse for being late."

• "After their argument, they made up and became friends again."

13. Pick up

Explanation: To lift something; to learn something new; to collect someone. Example:

• "She picked up the book from the floor."

• "He picked up Spanish while living in Mexico."

• "I'll pick you up at the airport."

14. Put off

Explanation: To postpone or delay. Example: "They decided to put off the meeting until next week."

15. Run out of

Explanation: To exhaust the supply of something. Example: "We ran out of milk, so I need to go to the store."

16. Set up

Explanation: To arrange or establish something. Example: "They set up a new office in the city center."

17. Take after

Explanation: To resemble a family member in appearance or behavior. Example: "She takes after her mother in both looks and personality."

18. Turn down

Explanation: To reject or refuse something. Example: "She turned down the job offer because it required too much travel."

19. Turn up

Explanation: To arrive or appear unexpectedly; to increase the volume. Example:

• "He turned up at the party uninvited."

• "Can you turn up the music?"

20. Work out

Explanation: To exercise; to find a solution. Example:

• "She works out at the gym every morning."

• "They worked out a solution to the problem."

These phrasal verbs are common in competitive exams and everyday English usage, making them crucial for building strong language skills.

here are additional phrasal verbs with the same verbs, providing a broader understanding:

1. Get

• Get along: To have a good relationship.

  • Example: "I get along well with my colleagues."

• Get away: To escape.

  • Example: "The thief managed to get away."

• Get by: To manage to survive or live.

  • Example: "He gets by on a small salary."

• Get over: To recover from something.

  • Example: "It took her months to get over the flu."

• Get up: To rise from bed.

  • Example: "I get up at 6 a.m. every day."

2. Look

• Look into: To investigate.

  • Example: "The police are looking into the matter."

• Look up to: To admire or respect someone.

  • Example: "He looks up to his older brother."

• Look down on: To regard someone with a feeling of superiority.

  • Example: "She looks down on people who don't share her views."

• Look out: To be careful.

  • Example: "Look out for the cars when you cross the road."

3. Take

• Take after: To resemble a family member.

  • Example: "She takes after her grandmother."

• Take apart: To disassemble something.

  • Example: "He took the machine apart to see how it worked."

• Take back: To retract a statement.

  • Example: "I take back what I said about her."

• Take off: To remove clothing; to become successful or popular; to leave the ground (aircraft).

  • Example: "She took off her jacket."

  • Example: "His career took off after the release of his second album."

  • Example: "The plane took off at 7 a.m."

• Take on: To accept a challenge or responsibility; to employ someone.

  • Example: "She took on the project despite its difficulty."

  • Example: "They are taking on new staff for the summer."

• Take over: To assume control or responsibility.

  • Example: "She will take over the company next year."

• Take up: To start a new hobby or activity.

  • Example: "He took up painting in his free time."

4. Bring

• Bring about: To cause to happen.

  • Example: "The new law brought about significant changes."

• Bring down: To cause to fall or collapse.

  • Example: "The scandal brought down the government."

• Bring forward: To move to an earlier date or time.

  • Example: "The meeting has been brought forward to Monday."

• Bring out: To publish or release; to highlight or emphasize.

  • Example: "They are bringing out a new book next month."

  • Example: "The dress really brings out the color of her eyes."

• Bring up: To raise a topic; to raise a child.

  • Example: "She brought up an interesting point during the meeting."

  • Example: "They brought up their children with strong values."

5. Put

• Put aside: To save for later use.

  • Example: "She puts aside a portion of her salary each month."

• Put away: To store or tidy up.

  • Example: "Please put away your toys."

• Put off: To postpone.

  • Example: "They put off the meeting until next week."

• Put on: To wear clothing; to organize or present something.

  • Example: "He put on his coat."

  • Example: "The theater company is putting on a new play."

• Put out: To extinguish (a fire); to inconvenience someone.

  • Example: "The firefighters put out the blaze."

  • Example: "I don't want to put you out, but could you give me a ride?"

• Put up with: To tolerate or endure.

  • Example: "She has to put up with a lot of noise living in the city."

6. Turn

• Turn around: To change to the opposite direction or condition.

  • Example: "He turned the car around."

  • Example: "The company turned around after the new CEO was hired."

• Turn away: To refuse entry or acceptance.

  • Example: "They were turned away at the door because the venue was full."

• Turn down: To reject or refuse.

  • Example: "She turned down the job offer."

• Turn in: To submit; to go to bed.

  • Example: "Please turn in your assignments by Friday."

  • Example: "He turned in early last night."

• Turn off: To deactivate or stop a machine or device.

  • Example: "Please turn off the lights when you leave."

• Turn on: To activate or start a machine or device.

  • Example: "He turned on the TV to watch the news."

• Turn up: To appear or arrive; to increase volume or intensity.

  • Example: "She turned up late to the party."

  • Example: "Can you turn up the heat?"

7. Come

• Come across: To find or meet by chance.

  • Example: "I came across an old friend at the store."

• Come along: To accompany; to make progress.

  • Example: "Would you like to come along with us?"

  • Example: "Her English is coming along nicely."

• Come back: To return.

  • Example: "He came back home after a year abroad."

• Come down with: To become ill.

  • Example: "She came down with the flu."

• Come up with: To think of or produce (an idea, plan, etc.).

  • Example: "He came up with a brilliant solution to the problem."

8. Go

• Go after: To pursue or seek.

  • Example: "She went after her dream of becoming a doctor."

• Go ahead: To proceed.

  • Example: "You can go ahead with your presentation."

• Go along with: To agree or comply.

  • Example: "He decided to go along with the plan."

• Go away: To leave or depart.

  • Example: "They went away for the weekend."

• Go back: To return to a place.

  • Example: "She went back to her hometown after many years."

• Go over: To review or examine.

  • Example: "Let's go over the details of the contract."

• Go through: To experience; to examine carefully.

  • Example: "She went through a lot of hardship."

  • Example: "He went through the report thoroughly."

These phrasal verbs are crucial for enhancing language proficiency and are often tested in competitive exams.

Here are more phrasal verbs grouped by their common verbs:

1. Break

• Break away: To escape from captivity.

  • Example: "The prisoner broke away from the guards."

• Break in: To enter a building by force; to interrupt.

  • Example: "Someone broke in last night and stole the TV."

  • Example: "She broke in on our conversation."

• Break out: To escape; to start suddenly (usually something negative like war or disease).

  • Example: "Three prisoners broke out of jail."

  • Example: "A fire broke out in the downtown area."

• Break through: To make a way through a barrier.

  • Example: "The sun broke through the clouds."

• Break up: To end a relationship; to break into pieces.

  • Example: "They decided to break up after five years together."

  • Example: "The ice will break up when the weather warms."

2. Fall

• Fall apart: To break into pieces; to become emotionally upset.

  • Example: "The chair fell apart when he sat on it."

  • Example: "She fell apart after hearing the bad news."

• Fall back on: To use something for support when other things have failed.

  • Example: "If the business fails, he'll fall back on his savings."

• Fall behind: To fail to keep up with.

  • Example: "He fell behind in his studies."

• Fall for: To be deceived by; to fall in love with.

  • Example: "He fell for the scam."

  • Example: "She fell for him the moment they met."

• Fall out: To have a disagreement and stop being friendly; to drop from a place.

  • Example: "They fell out over a trivial matter."

  • Example: "His wallet fell out of his pocket."

3. Hold

• Hold back: To restrain; to not reveal information.

  • Example: "He held back his anger."

  • Example: "She held back the truth from her parents."

• Hold on: To wait; to grip tightly.

  • Example: "Hold on for a moment while I find the address."

  • Example: "Hold on to the rail so you don't fall."

• Hold out: To extend; to resist or survive in a difficult situation.

  • Example: "He held out his hand to help her up."

  • Example: "The food supplies held out for a week."

• Hold up: To delay; to rob.

  • Example: "Sorry I'm late; I was held up in traffic."

  • Example: "The bank was held up by two armed men."

4. Keep

• Keep away: To stay at a distance.

  • Example: "Keep away from the edge of the cliff."

• Keep on: To continue doing something.

  • Example: "He kept on talking despite the interruptions."

• Keep up: To maintain the same level or speed.

  • Example: "She walks so fast that I can hardly keep up."

• Keep up with: To stay informed; to go at the same speed.

  • Example: "It's hard to keep up with the news these days."

  • Example: "He kept up with the leader for most of the race."

5. Run

• Run after: To chase or pursue.

  • Example: "The dog ran after the ball."

• Run away: To leave a place secretly; to escape.

  • Example: "She ran away from home at the age of sixteen."

• Run into: To meet by chance; to collide with.

  • Example: "I ran into an old friend at the store."

  • Example: "The car ran into a tree."

• Run out: To use up a supply of something.

  • Example: "We ran out of milk."

• Run over: To hit with a vehicle; to overflow.

  • Example: "The driver accidentally ran over a cat."

  • Example: "The bathtub is running over."

6. Set

• Set off: To start a journey; to cause something to begin.

  • Example: "We set off early to avoid traffic."

  • Example: "The smoke set off the fire alarm."

• Set up: To establish or arrange; to trap or trick someone.

  • Example: "They set up a new company."

  • Example: "He was set up by his business partner."

• Settle down: To become calm; to start living a stable life.

  • Example: "After traveling for years, he decided to settle down in a small town."

• Settle in: To become comfortable in a new environment.

  • Example: "It took a few weeks to settle in at my new job."

7. Take

• Take after: To resemble a family member.

  • Example: "She takes after her mother in looks and personality."

• Take apart: To disassemble something.

  • Example: "He took apart the machine to fix it."

• Take back: To retract a statement; to return something.

  • Example: "I take back what I said."

  • Example: "Can I take back this shirt for a refund?"

• Take off: To remove clothing; to leave the ground (aircraft); to become successful.

  • Example: "She took off her coat."

  • Example: "The plane took off on time."

  • Example: "His business took off after a year."

• Take on: To accept a task or responsibility; to hire.

  • Example: "She took on the new project."

  • Example: "They are taking on new staff."

• Take out: To remove; to invite someone out socially.

  • Example: "He took out the trash."

  • Example: "He took her out to dinner."

• Take over: To assume control.

  • Example: "She took over the company."

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