Phrasal verbs are the secret sauce that makes English sound natural—native speakers drop them into almost every sentence, from casual chats to work emails. This list gathers around 280 of the most common phrasal verbs you’ll actually hear and need, not the dusty ones from a textbook appendix. Whether you’re a beginner hungry for real-world expressions or an intermediate learner trying to stop translating word by word, this collection helps you understand and use these two‑part wonders with confidence.
Every entry in the interactive table comes with a plain‑English meaning, a realistic example sentence, and easy‑to‑read US IPA so you pronounce each phrasal verb clearly. Tap the play button next to any word to hear it spoken aloud—your ears need practice just as much as your eyes.
Ready to level up your English with a friendly pile of useful verb combos? Scroll to the bottom of the article for the free printable most common phrasal verbs in English vocabulary list PDF and the free downloadable printable most common phrasal verbs in English flashcards.
Words are great, but real English happens in chunks. Our free chunk‑based lessons turn vocabulary into speakable phrases—start with the lessons intro or jump right into Lesson 1—First Greetings to get your mouth moving.
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| Word | Meaning | Example | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| act up | Misbehave or malfunction. | My computer started to act up right before the deadline. | |
| add up | to calculate the total, or to seem logical | These numbers just don't add up. | |
| back down | Retreat from a position or claim. | He wouldn't back down even when proven wrong. | |
| back off | Move backwards or stop interfering. | The police told the crowd to back off. | |
| back up | To support someone or move a vehicle backwards. | You should back up your claims with evidence. | |
| bail out | Rescue from financial trouble or a situation. | The government decided to bail out the failing bank. | |
| beat up | Physically assault someone. | The bully threatened to beat up the smaller kid. | |
| blend in | Look similar to surroundings or people. | He tried to blend in with the locals by wearing simple clothes. | |
| blow out | To extinguish a flame or burst a tire. | She blew out the candles on her birthday cake. | |
| blow up | to explode, or to inflate, or to become angry | The bomb didn't blow up as planned. | |
| bounce back | Recover after a setback. | She managed to bounce back quickly after the surgery. | |
| break down | To stop functioning or lose control emotionally. | My car broke down on the highway yesterday. | |
| break in | enter forcibly or train | Thieves broke in and stole the jewelry. | |
| break off | To end a relationship or separate a piece from something. | They decided to break off their engagement. | |
| break out | to start suddenly, like a war or a rash | She broke out in hives after eating the nuts. | |
| break up | to end a relationship or separate | They decided to break up after years of fighting. | |
| bring about | cause something to happen | The new law brought about significant changes. | |
| bring back | to return something or make something return | Can you bring back the book you borrowed? | |
| bring down | cause to fall or reduce | The scandal could bring down the government. | |
| bring in | to introduce or earn money | They brought in a new policy to improve sales. | |
| bring out | To reveal or make something noticeable. | That dress really brings out the color of your eyes. | |
| bring up | to mention a topic or raise a child | Don't bring up politics at dinner. | |
| build up | To accumulate or strengthen gradually. | Exercising regularly will build up your stamina. | |
| burn down | To be destroyed by fire. | The old warehouse burned down last night. | |
| burn out | Become exhausted from overwork. | Many nurses burn out due to long hours. |
Free Most Common Phrasal Verbs in English PDF and Flashcards
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