A1 English Phrasal Verbs

To leave your bed in the morning.

“I get up at seven o’clock every morning.”

Synonyms: rise, wake

To stop sleeping.

“I wake up as soon as the alarm rings.”

Synonyms: rouse, stir

To rest your body on a bed or sofa.

“I’m tired, so I’ll lie down for a while.”

Synonyms: recline, rest

To move into a seated position.

“Please sit down and make yourself at home.”

Synonyms: be seated, take a seat

To rise to your feet.

“We all stand up when the teacher comes in.”

Synonyms: rise, get to your feet

To sit with a straight back.

“Sit up straight while you are eating.”

Synonyms: straighten, perk up

To go to bed later than usual.

“I stayed up late to watch the film.”

Synonyms: keep awake

To do something more quickly.

“Hurry up, or we’ll miss the bus!”

Synonyms: rush, be quick

To wash the dishes after a meal.

“I always wash up after dinner.”

Synonyms: clean the dishes

To make a place neat and clean.

“Let’s tidy up the room before the guests arrive.”

Synonyms: neaten, clear up

To start a machine, light or device.

“Could you turn on the television, please?”

Synonyms: switch on, activate

To stop a machine, light or device.

“Please turn off the lights when you leave.”

Synonyms: switch off, shut off

To make a device start working.

“She switched on the radio to hear the news.”

Synonyms: turn on, power up

To make a device stop working.

“Switch off the heater before you go out.”

Synonyms: turn off, power down

To return something to its proper place.

“Please put away your books after the lesson.”

Synonyms: store, tidy away

To get rid of something in the bin.

“Don’t throw away those empty bottles.”

Synonyms: discard, bin

To remove something, especially rubbish.

“Can you take out the rubbish tonight?”

Synonyms: remove, carry out

To make a place completely clean.

“We clean up the kitchen together every evening.”

Synonyms: tidy, clear up

To lift something from a surface or floor.

“Pick up your clothes from the floor, please.”

Synonyms: lift, collect

To try to find someone or something.

“I’m looking for my house keys.”

Synonyms: search for, seek

To place clothing onto your body.

“Put on your jacket; it’s cold outside.”

Synonyms: dress in, don

To remove a piece of clothing.

“Please take off your wet shoes at the door.”

Synonyms: remove, strip off

To put on clothing to see if it fits.

“Can I try on this shirt before I buy it?”

Synonyms: test, fit

To fasten a piece of clothing.

“Do up your coat before you go out.”

Synonyms: fasten, button

To close something with a zip.

“Zip up your bag so nothing falls out.”

Synonyms: fasten, close

To put on smart or special clothes.

“The children dressed up for the party.”

Synonyms: smarten up

To put on warm clothes.

“Wrap up warm; it’s snowing outside.”

Synonyms: bundle up

To fasten the buttons of clothing.

“Button up your shirt before the interview.”

Synonyms: fasten, do up

To fold something neatly.

“Please fold up your clothes and put them away.”

Synonyms: fold, double over

To put on clothing quickly and easily.

“She slipped on her shoes and ran outside.”

Synonyms: pull on

To enter a place.

“Come in and take a seat.”

Synonyms: enter, step in

To leave your home, often for fun.

“We go out for dinner every Friday.”

Synonyms: head out, leave

To return to a place.

“I’ll come back in a few minutes.”

Synonyms: return

To return to a place you came from.

“Let’s go back home; it’s getting late.”

Synonyms: return, head back

To enter a car or small vehicle.

“Get in the car; we’re leaving now.”

Synonyms: board, climb in

To leave a car or small vehicle.

“She got out of the taxi at the station.”

Synonyms: exit, climb out

To board a bus, train or plane.

“We got on the bus at the corner.”

Synonyms: board

To leave a bus, train or plane.

“Get off at the next stop for the museum.”

Synonyms: alight, exit

To leave a place or person.

“Please go away; I need to study.”

Synonyms: leave, depart

To escape by running.

“The little dog ran away from the noise.”

Synonyms: flee, escape

To telephone someone again or in return.

“I’m busy now, but I’ll call you back later.”

Synonyms: phone back, return a call

To end a telephone call.

“She hung up before I could say goodbye.”

Synonyms: ring off

To wait for a short time.

“Hold on a moment while I find a pen.”

Synonyms: wait, hang on

To talk more loudly.

“Could you speak up? I can’t hear you.”

Synonyms: raise your voice

To record something in writing.

“Write down your name and phone number here.”

Synonyms: note, jot down

To write information in the spaces on a form.

“Please fill in this form with a black pen.”

Synonyms: complete, fill out

To draw a line through something written.

“Cross out the wrong answer and write the right one.”

Synonyms: delete, strike out

To show or mention something.

“The guide pointed out the famous tower.”

Synonyms: indicate, highlight

To discover a fact or piece of information.

“I want to find out when the shop opens.”

Synonyms: discover, learn

To say that you want something.

“Ask for help if the exercise is difficult.”

Synonyms: request, call for

To give completed work to a teacher.

“Please hand in your homework on Monday.”

Synonyms: submit, turn in

To give something to each person in a group.

“The teacher handed out the exam papers.”

Synonyms: distribute, give out

To search for information in a book or online.

“Look up the new word in your dictionary.”

Synonyms: check, search

To find the answer to a problem.

“I can’t work out this maths problem.”

Synonyms: solve, figure out

To remove pencil marks with an eraser.

“Rub out your mistake and try again.”

Synonyms: erase, delete

To take part in an activity with others.

“Everyone joined in the singing.”

Synonyms: participate, take part

To distribute things to people.

“She gave out sweets to the whole class.”

Synonyms: hand out, pass out

To calculate the total of numbers.

“Add up these numbers and tell me the total.”

Synonyms: total, sum up

To subtract one number from another.

“If you take away three from ten, you get seven.”

Synonyms: subtract, deduct

To form a line, one behind another.

“The children lined up at the classroom door.”

Synonyms: queue, form a line