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.
Quick Quiz
Think you’ve got a handle on phrasal verbs? Give the quiz a go and see how many you can nail—no pressure, just a friendly check to spot any gaps.
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Browse the Full List
| Word | Meaning | Example | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| work out | to exercise or find a solution | I work out at the gym three times a week. | |
| work up | develop or gradually excite | She worked up the courage to ask for a raise. | |
| write down | To record something in writing. | Write down the address before you forget it. | |
| write off | cancel as a loss or dismiss | The company wrote off the unpaid debts. | |
| write up | to write a report or description of something | The officer will write up a report of the accident. |
Free Most Common Phrasal Verbs in English PDF and Flashcards
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