10 Most Common Phrasal Verbs

Master Everyday Conversations: Understanding the Meaning and Application of Common Phrasal Verbs. Elevate Your Language Fluency with Essential Phrasal Verbs Tailored for Everyday Life

Free English Speaking Club

Join our meeting to practice English, enhance English speaking skills, and build confidence in English conversations

Phrasal verbs generally have multiple meanings, and their understanding is often context-dependent. In this article, we will explore one definition for each phrasal verb, accompanied by examples of their usage in real conversations

Find Out

Meaning of the Phrasal Verb:

To discover or obtain information, usually through investigation or inquiry

Examples:

Let’s find out what time the train departs
She found out about the job offer yesterday
Can you find out if the meeting has been rescheduled?

Know more about this phrasal verb in the Cambridge Dictionary

Set Up

Meaning of the Phrasal Verb:

To arrange, establish, or organize something, such as a meeting, business, or system

Examples:

Let’s set up a meeting to discuss the project
She set up her own business last year yesterday
Can you help me set up the chairs for the event?

Know more about this phrasal verb in the Cambridge Dictionary

Put Away

Meaning of the Phrasal Verb:

To place or store something in its designated location; to tidy up or organize by returning items to their proper places

Examples:

After dinner, please put away the dishes in the cupboard
She put away her winter clothes in the closet when spring arrived
Before leaving the office, make sure to put away any documents left on the desk

Know more about this phrasal verb in the Cambridge Dictionary

Call Off

Meaning of the Phrasal Verb:

To cancel an event, activity, or arrangement

Examples:

They decided to call off the meeting because many participants were unavailable
The airline had to call off several flights due to technical issues with their aircraft
They had to call off the outdoor wedding ceremony because of a sudden thunderstorm

Know more about this phrasal verb in the Cambridge Dictionary

Fill In

Meaning of the Phrasal Verb:

To complete a form, document, or a vacant position; to provide missing information

Examples:

Could you please fill in this form with your contact details?
I’ll need you to fill in the details of your previous work experience on the application
I need to fill in the missing dates on the calendar

Know more about this phrasal verb in the Cambridge Dictionary

Go Ahead

Meaning of the Phrasal Verb:

To proceed or start; to give permission to proceed with an action

Examples:

I have finished my presentation. Can I go ahead and share it with the team?
The traffic signal turned green, so you can go ahead and cross the street
You can go ahead and start the meeting; everyone is here

Know more about this phrasal verb in the Cambridge Dictionary

Try On

Meaning of the Phrasal Verb:

To put on clothing or accessories to see how they fit or look

Examples:

I found a dress I like. I’m going to the fitting room to try it on
Before you buy those shoes, make sure to try them on to see if they’re comfortable
She spent the afternoon trying on different outfits for the party

Know more about this phrasal verb in the Cambridge Dictionary

Check Out

Meaning of the Phrasal Verb:

To examine something or get more information about it in order to be certain that it is true, safe, or suitable

Examples:

We should check out the new restaurant downtown; I heard they have great food
I need to check out the information before making a decision
They decided to check out the latest movie at the cinema

Know more about this phrasal verb in the Cambridge Dictionary

Put On

Meaning of the Phrasal Verb:

To cover part of the body with clothes, shoes, make-up, or something similar

Examples:

I need to put on a coat; it’s cold outside
Every morning, she carefully puts on her professional attire before heading to work
He realized it was a formal event, so he quickly put on a tie to match his suit

Know more about this phrasal verb in the Cambridge Dictionary

Turn Out

Meaning of the Phrasal Verb:

To happen in a particular way or to have a particular result, especially an unexpected one

Examples:

The event turned out to be more successful than we expected
The new recipe turned out delicious, and everyone enjoyed the meal
Despite the challenges, the team turned out a remarkable performance in the final game

Know more about this phrasal verb in the Cambridge Dictionary