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
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Browse the Full List
| Word | Meaning | Example | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| pick up | to lift something | Pick up the pencil. | |
| pile up | To form a heap or a multi-vehicle accident. | Dirty dishes piled up in the sink. | |
| point out | to draw attention to something | She pointed out the mistake in the report. | |
| pull off | succeed in achieving something difficult | She managed to pull off the surprise party. | |
| pull up | To bring to a stop or retrieve information. | The car pulled up right in front of the house. | |
| put aside | To keep something for future use or disregard. | Put aside some money each month. | |
| put away | store something in its place | Please put away your toys before dinner. | |
| put back | To return something to its original place. | Please put the books back on the shelf. | |
| put down | To place something down or insult someone. | Put down your luggage and rest for a while. | |
| put off | to delay doing something | Don't put off your homework until the last minute. | |
| put on | to dress oneself in clothing | He put on his jacket and left. | |
| put out | To extinguish something or inconvenience someone. | Please put out your cigarette before entering. | |
| put up with | tolerate something unpleasant | I can't put up with his complaining any longer. | |
| rip off | To overcharge or forcefully remove. | They ripped off tourists with high prices. | |
| rule out | To decide something is not possible. | We can't rule out the possibility of rain. | |
| run across | find by chance | I ran across some old photos while cleaning the attic. | |
| run into | to meet someone by chance, or to hit something | I ran into an old friend at the grocery store. | |
| run off | To leave quickly or produce copies. | The kids ran off to play in the park. | |
| run out | to be used up or exhausted | We ran out of milk, can you buy some? | |
| run over | hit with a vehicle | Be careful not to run over that cat on the road. | |
| save up | To keep money for a future purpose. | She's saving up for a new car. | |
| send out | To distribute or dispatch something. | We sent out invitations to all our friends. | |
| set aside | reserve for a specific purpose | They set aside funds for their vacation. | |
| set off | To start a journey or trigger something. | We set off on our road trip at dawn. | |
| set out | To begin a journey or task with intention. | They set out early to avoid traffic. |
Free Most Common Phrasal Verbs in English PDF and Flashcards
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