Boost Your English with 100 Phrasal Verbs: Meanings and Tips for Exam Success

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Introduction

Phrasal verbs are a vital component of English fluency, combining a verb with a preposition or adverb to create unique meanings. These versatile expressions, such as “turn up” or “give in,” are frequently tested in competitive exams like SSC, IELTS, TOEFL, and GRE, making them essential for students and candidates. Mastering phrasal verbs enhances your ability to communicate naturally and score high in grammar, vocabulary, and speaking sections. This article provides 100 phrasal verbs with their meanings, along with practical tips to help you excel in exams and beyond.

What Are Phrasal Verbs?

Phrasal verbs are combinations of a verb and one or more particles (prepositions or adverbs) that convey a specific meaning, often different from the original verb. For example, “look” means to see, but “look after” means to care for. They are widely used in both formal and informal English, making them crucial for SSC sentence completion, IELTS speaking tasks, and TOEFL writing.

100 Phrasal Verbs with Meanings

Below is a comprehensive list of 100 phrasal verbs, including common and exam-relevant examples, with their meanings to strengthen your vocabulary:

1. Back up – To support or reinforce.
2. Break down – To stop functioning (machine) or collapse emotionally.
3. Break up – To end a relationship or disperse.
4. Bring up – To raise a topic or child.
5. Call off – To cancel an event.
6. Carry on – To continue doing something.
7. Catch up – To reach the same level or point.
8. Check in – To register at a hotel or airport.
9. Check out – To leave a hotel or investigate something.
10. Come across – To find or meet unexpectedly.
11. Come up – To arise or be mentioned.
12. Cut down – To reduce in quantity.
13. Cut off – To disconnect or isolate.
14. Drop off – To deliver or fall asleep.
15. Drop out – To withdraw from a course or activity.
16. Fill in – To complete a form or substitute temporarily.
17. Find out – To discover information.
18. Get up – To rise from bed or stand.
19. Give in – To surrender or agree reluctantly.
20. Give up – To quit or abandon something.
21. Go on – To continue or happen.
22. Hang out – To spend time casually.
23. Hold on – To wait or grip tightly.
24. Keep up – To maintain pace or stay informed.
25. Look after – To care for someone or something.
26. Look for – To search for something.
27. Look forward to – To anticipate eagerly.
28. Look up – To search for information or improve.
29. Make up – To invent a story or reconcile.
30. Pick up – To collect or learn informally.
31. Put off – To postpone or discourage.
32. Put up – To provide accommodation or display.
33. Run into – To meet unexpectedly or collide.
34. Run out – To exhaust a supply.
35. Set up – To establish or arrange.
36. Show up – To arrive or appear.
37. Take off – To leave (flight) or become successful.
38. Take up – To start a hobby or occupy space.
39. Turn down – To reject or lower volume.
40. Turn up – To arrive or increase volume.
41. Work out – To exercise or solve a problem.
42. Act up – To behave badly or malfunction.
43. Blow up – To explode or become angry.
44. Break in – To enter forcibly or interrupt.
45. Bring down – To reduce or cause to fall.
46. Call back – To return a phone call.
47. Carry out – To complete or execute a plan.
48. Clear up – To resolve or make tidy.
49. Come back – To return or regain popularity.
50. Count on – To rely on someone or something.
51. Cut up – To chop or behave playfully.
52. Do over – To repeat or redecorate.
53. Fall apart – To break or become emotionally unstable.
54. Get along – To have a good relationship.
55. Get over – To recover from something.
56. Give away – To donate or reveal a secret.
57. Go after – To pursue or chase.
58. Hand in – To submit work or documents.
59. Hang up – To end a phone call or suspend.
60. Hold back – To restrain or withhold.
61. Join in – To participate in an activity.
62. Keep on – To persist in doing something.
63. Let down – To disappoint someone.
64. Look into – To investigate or examine.
65. Pass out – To faint or distribute.
66. Pick out – To choose or select.
67. Put away – To store or save.
68. Run over – To hit with a vehicle or review.
69. Set off – To start a journey or trigger.
70. Stand out – To be noticeable or prominent.
71. Take after – To resemble someone.
72. Throw away – To discard or waste.
73. Turn off – To switch off or disinterest.
74. Wake up – To stop sleeping or become alert.
75. Wear out – To become exhausted or damaged.
76. Back off – To retreat or withdraw.
77. Break off – To end abruptly or detach.
78. Bring about – To cause or make happen.
79. Call on – To visit or request help.
80. Come down – To decrease or land.
81. Drop by – To visit casually.
82. Figure out – To solve or understand.
83. Get in – To enter or arrive.
84. Give out – To distribute or exhaust.
85. Go over – To review or visit.
86. Hold up – To delay or support.
87. Keep away – To avoid or stay distant.
88. Let in – To allow entry.
89. Look out – To be careful or watch for danger.
90. Pass up – To decline an opportunity.
91. Put on – To wear or organize an event.
92. Run away – To escape or flee.
93. Set out – To begin a journey or plan.
94. Show off – To display proudly or boast.
95. Take back – To retract or return something.
96. Throw up – To vomit or raise quickly.
97. Turn out – To result or attend.
98. Work up – To build enthusiasm or strength.
99. Wrap up – To finish or cover.
100. Zone out – To lose focus or daydream.

Tips for Using Phrasal Verbs in Competitive Examinations

Phrasal verbs are frequently tested in SSC, IELTS, TOEFL, and GRE exams through sentence completion, cloze tests, and speaking tasks. Here are key tips to master them:

1. Learn Contextual Meanings: Phrasal verbs have multiple meanings (e.g., “turn up” means arrive or increase). Practice their use in sentences to understand context, crucial for SSC cloze tests.
2. Group by Verb or Particle: Organize phrasal verbs by common verbs (e.g., “take up,” “take off”) or particles (e.g., “up” in “give up,” “pick up”) for easier memorization.
3. Practice Sentence Completion: Solve SSC-style questions where you choose the correct phrasal verb (e.g., “She ___ the meeting” – A) called off B) called on). This builds exam readiness.
4. Use in Writing: Incorporate phrasal verbs like “carry out” or “look into” in IELTS essays to sound natural, but avoid overly informal ones like “hang out” in formal tasks.
5. Enhance Speaking Fluency: Use phrasal verbs like “get over” or “look forward to” in IELTS/TOEFL speaking to sound conversational and fluent.
6. Avoid Overuse: Balance phrasal verbs with single-word verbs (e.g., use “investigate” instead of “look into” in formal writing) to maintain variety in GRE essays.
7. Learn Separable vs. Inseparable: Some phrasal verbs are separable (e.g., “pick it up”), while others are not (e.g., “look after him”). Practice for SSC grammar questions.
8. Memorize for Vocabulary Sections: Phrasal verbs appear in synonym/antonym questions. Know synonyms (e.g., “give up” = surrender) for GRE/SSC vocabulary tests.
9. Practice with Mock Tests: Use SSC/IELTS practice papers to identify phrasal verbs in context, improving speed and accuracy in exams.
10. Read and Listen Actively: Read English newspapers or listen to podcasts to spot phrasal verbs in real-life contexts, reinforcing their usage for TOEFL comprehension.

Conclusion

Phrasal verbs are a cornerstone of English fluency, adding versatility and natural flow to your communication. By mastering the 100 phrasal verbs listed above and applying the provided tips, students and candidates can confidently tackle competitive exams like SSC, IELTS, TOEFL, and GRE. Practice using phrasal verbs in context, balance their use in formal and informal settings, and enhance your grammar and vocabulary skills. With dedication, you’ll turn phrasal verbs into a powerful tool for exam success and effective communication.

Also Read: Mastering Auxiliary Verbs: 100 Examples with Meanings for Exam Success

Mastering Modal Verbs: 100 Examples with Meanings for Exam Success

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