Verb Meaning Example

ask someone out invite on a date

Brian asked Judy out to dinner and a
movie.
ask around
ask many people the same
question
I asked around but nobody has seen
my wallet.
add up to
something
equal Your purchases add up to $205.2.
back something up reverse
You!ll have to back up your car so that
I can "et out.
back someone up support
#y wi$e backed me up over my
decision to quit my %ob.
blow up e&plode
'he racin" car blew up a$ter it crashed
into the $ence.
blow something up add air
(e have to blow 50 balloons up $or the
party.
break down
stop $unctionin" )vehicle*
machine+
,ur car broke down at the side o$ the
hi"hway in the snowstorm.
break down "et upset
'he woman broke down when the
police told her that her son had died.
break something
down
divide into smaller parts
,ur teacher broke the $inal pro%ect
down into three separate parts.
break in $orce entry to a buildin"
-omebody broke in last ni"ht and stole
our stereo.
break into
something
enter $orcibly
'he $iremen had to break into the
room to rescue the children.
break something in
wear somethin" a $ew times so
that it doesn!t look.$eel new
I need to break these shoes in be$ore
we run ne&t week.
break in interrupt
'he '/ station broke in to report the
news o$ the president!s death.
break up end a relationship
#y boy$riend and I broke up be$ore I
moved to 0merica.
break up start lau"hin" )in$ormal+
'he kids %ust broke up as soon as the
clown started talkin".
break out escape
'he prisoners broke out o$ %ail when
the "uards weren!t lookin".
break out in
something
develop a skin condition
I broke out in a rash a$ter our campin"
trip.
bring someone
down
make unhappy 'his sad music is bringing me down.
bring someone up raise a child
#y "randparents brought me up a$ter
my parents died.
bring something up start talkin" about a sub%ect
#y mother walks out o$ the room when
my $ather brings up sports.
bring something up vomit
1e drank so much that he brought his
dinner up in the toilet.
call around
phone many di$$erent
places.people
(e called around but we weren!t able
to $ind the car part we needed.
call someone back return a phone call
I called the company back but the
o$$ices were closed $or the weekend.
call something off cancel
Jason called the weddin" off because
he wasn!t in love with his $ianc2.
call on someone ask $or an answer or opinion
'he pro$essor called on me $or
question 3.
call on someone visit someone
(e called on you last ni"ht but you
weren!t home.
call someone up phone
4ive me your phone number and I will
call you up when we are in town.
calm down rela& a$ter bein" an"ry
You are still mad. You need to calm
down be$ore you drive the car.
not care for
someone/something
not like )$ormal+ I don!t care for his behaviour.
catch up
"et to the same point as someone
else
You!ll have to run $aster than that i$ you
want to catch up with #arty.
check in
arrive and re"ister at a hotel or
airport
(e will "et the hotel keys when we
check in.
check out leave a hotel
You have to check out o$ the hotel
be$ore 33500 0#.
check
someone/something
out
look at care$ully* investi"ate
'he company checks out all new
employees.
check out
someone/something
look at )in$ormal+ Check out the cra6y hair on that "uy7
cheer up become happier
-he cheered up when she heard the
"ood news.
cheer someone up make happier I brou"ht you some $lowers to cheer
you up.
chip in help
I$ everyone chips in we can "et the
kitchen painted by noon.
clean something up tidy* clean
8lease clean up your bedroom be$ore
you "o outside.
come across
something
$ind une&pectedly
I came across these old photos when I
was tidyin" the closet.
come apart separate
'he top and bottom come apart i$ you
pull hard enou"h.
come down with
something
become sick
#y nephew came down with chicken
po& this weekend.
come forward
volunteer $or a task or to "ive
evidence
'he woman came forward with her
husband!s $in"er prints.
come from
somewhere
ori"inate in 'he art o$ ori"ami comes from 0sia.
count on
someone/something
rely on
I am counting on you to make dinner
while I am out.
cross something out draw a line throu"h
8lease cross out your old address and
write your new one.
cut back on
something
consume less
#y doctor wants me to cut back on
sweets and $atty $oods.
cut something
down
make somethin" $all to the
"round
(e had to cut the old tree in our yard
down a$ter the storm.
cut in interrupt
Your $ather cut in while I was dancin"
with your uncle.
cut in
pull in too closely in $ront o$
another vehicle
'he bus driver "ot an"ry when that car
cut in.
cut in
start operatin" )o$ an en"ine or
electrical device+
'he air conditioner cuts in when the
temperature "ets to 229:.
cut something off remove with somethin" sharp
'he doctors cut off his le" because it
was severely in%ured.
cut something off stop providin"
'he phone company cut off our phone
because we didn!t pay the bill.
cut someone off take out o$ a will
#y "randparents cut my $ather off
when he remarried.
cut something out
remove part o$ somethin"
)usually with scissors and paper+
I cut this ad out o$ the newspaper.
do
someone/something
over
beat up* ransack )Br.;.*
in$ormal+
1e!s lucky to be alive. 1is shop was
done over by a street "an".
do something over do a"ain )<.0mer.+
#y teacher wants me to do my essay
over because she doesn!t like my topic.
do away with
something
discard
It!s time to do away with all o$ these
old ta& records.
do something up $asten* close
Do your coat up be$ore you "o outside.
It!s snowin"7
dress up wear nice clothin"
It!s a $ancy restaurant so we have to
dress up.
drop back move back in a position."roup
0ndrea dropped back to third place
when she $ell o$$ her bike.
drop in/by/over come without an appointment
I mi"ht drop in/by/over $or tea
sometime this week.
drop
someone/something
off
take someone.somethin"
somewhere and leave them.it
there
I have to drop my sister off at work
be$ore I come over.
drop out quit a class* school etc
I dropped out o$ -cience because it
was too di$$icult.
eat out eat at a restaurant
I don!t $eel like cookin" toni"ht. =et!s
eat out.
end up eventually reach.do.decide
(e ended up rentin" a movie instead
o$ "oin" to the theatre.
fall apart break into pieces
#y new dress fell apart in the washin"
machine.
fall down $all to the "round
'he picture that you hun" up last ni"ht
fell down this mornin".
fall out separate $rom an interior
'he money must have fallen out o$ my
pocket.
fall out
)o$ hair* teeth+ become loose and
unattached
1is hair started to fall out when he was
only 5.
figure something
out
understand* $ind the answer
I need to figure out how to $it the
piano and the bookshel$ in this room.
fill something in
to write in$ormation in blanks
)Br.;.+
8lease fill in the $orm with your name*
address* and phone number.
fill something out
to write in$ormation in blanks
)<.0mer.+
'he $orm must be filled out in capital
letters.
fill something up $ill to the top
I always fill the water %u" up when it is
empty.
find out discover
(e don!t know where he lives. 1ow
can we find out>
find something out discover
(e tried to keep the time o$ the party a
secret* but -amantha found it out.
get something
across/over
communicate* make
understandable
I tried to get my point across/over to
the %ud"e but she wouldn!t listen.
get along/on like each other
I was surprised how well my new
"irl$riend and my sister got along/on.
get around have mobility
#y "rand$ather can get around $ine in
his new wheelchair.
get away "o on a vacation
(e worked so hard this year that we
had to get away $or a week.
get away with
something
do without bein" noticed or
punished
Jason always gets away with cheatin"
in his maths tests.
get back return
(e got back $rom our vacation last
week.
get something back
receive somethin" you had
be$ore
=i6 $inally got her -cience notes back
$rom my room?mate.
get back at
someone
retaliate* take reven"e
#y sister got back at me $or stealin"
her shoes. -he stole my $avourite hat.
get back into
something
become interested in somethin"
a"ain
I $inally got back into my novel and
$inished it.
get on something step onto a vehicle
(e!re "oin" to $ree6e out here i$ you
don!t let us get on the bus.
get over something
recover $rom an illness* loss*
di$$iculty
I %ust got over the $lu and now my
sister has it.
get over something overcome a problem
'he company will have to close i$ it
can!t get over the new re"ulations.
get round to
something
$inally $ind time to do )<.0mer.5
get around to something+
I don!t know when I am "oin" to get
round to writin" the thank you cards.
get together meet )usually $or social reasons+
=et!s get together $or a BB@ this
weekend.
get up "et out o$ bed
I got up early today to study $or my
e&am.
get up stand
You should get up and "ive the elderly
man your seat.
give someone away
reveal hidden in$ormation about
someone
1is wi$e gave him away to the police.
give someone away take the bride to the altar
#y $ather gave me away at my
weddin".
give something
away
ruin a secret
#y little sister gave the surprise party
away by accident.
give something
away
"ive somethin" to someone $or
$ree
'he library was giving away old books
on Ariday.
give something
back
return a borrowed item
I have to give these skates back to
Aran6 be$ore his hockey "ame.
give in
reluctantly stop $i"htin" or
ar"uin"
#y boy$riend didn!t want to "o to the
ballet* but he $inally gave in.
give something out
"ive to many people )usually at
no cost+
'hey were giving out $ree per$ume
samples at the department store.
give something up quit a habit
I am giving up smokin" as o$ January
3st.
give up stop tryin"
#y maths homework was too di$$icult
so I gave up.
go after someone $ollow someone
#y brother tried to go after the thie$ in
his car.
go after something try to achieve somethin"
I went after my dream and now I am a
published writer.
go against someone compete* oppose
(e are going against the best soccer
team in the city toni"ht.
go ahead start* proceed
8lease go ahead and eat be$ore the
$ood "ets cold.
go back return to a place
I have to go back home and "et my
lunch.
go out
leave home to "o on a social
event
(e!re going out $or dinner toni"ht.
go out with
someone
date
Jesse has been going out with =uke
since they met last winter.
go over something review
8lease go over your answers be$ore
you submit your test.
go over visit someone nearby
I haven!t seen 'ina $or a lon" time. I
think I!ll go over $or an hour or two.
go without
something
su$$er lack or deprivation
(hen I was youn"* we went without
winter boots.
grow apart stop bein" $riends over time
#y best $riend and I grew apart a$ter
she chan"ed schools.
grow back re"row #y roses grew back this summer.
grow up become an adult
(hen Jack grows up he wants to be a
$ireman.
grow out of
something
"et too bi" $or
;li6abeth needs a new pair o$ shoes
because she has grown out of her old
ones.
grow into
something
"row bi" enou"h to $it
'his bike is too bi" $or him now* but he
should grow into it by ne&t year.
hand something
down
"ive somethin" used to someone
else
I handed my old comic books down to
my little cousin.
hand something in submit I have to hand in my essay by Ariday.
hand something out to distribute to a "roup o$ people
(e will hand out the invitations at the
door.
hand something
over
"ive )usually unwillin"ly+
'he police asked the man to hand over
his wallet and his weapons.
hang in
stay positive )<.0mer.*
in$ormal+
Hang in there. I!m sure you!ll $ind a %ob
very soon.
hang on wait a short time )in$ormal+
Hang on while I "rab my coat and
shoes7
hang out spend time rela&in" )in$ormal+
Instead o$ "oin" to the party we are %ust
"oin" to hang out at my place.
hang up end a phone call
1e didn!t say "oodbye be$ore he hung
up.
hold
someone/something
back
prevent $rom doin"."oin"
I had to hold my do" back because
there was a cat in the park.
hold something
back
hide an emotion
Jamie held back his tears at his
"rand$ather!s $uneral.
hold on wait a short time
8lease hold on while I trans$er you to
the -ales Bepartment.
hold onto
someone/something
hold $irmly usin" your hands or
arms
Hold onto your hat because it!s very
windy outside.
hold
someone/something
up
rob
0 man in a black mask held the bank
up this mornin".
keep on doing continue doin" eep on stirrin" until the liquid comes
something to a boil.
keep something
from someone
not tell
(e kept our relationship from our
parents $or two years.
keep
someone/something
out
stop $rom enterin"
'ry to keep the wet do" out o$ the
livin" room.
keep something up continue at the same rate
I$ you keep those results up you will
"et into a "reat colle"e.
let someone down
$ail to support or help*
disappoint
I need you to be on time. Bon!t let me
down this time.
let someone in allow to enter
:an you let the cat in be$ore you "o to
school>
log in )or on+
si"n in )to a website* database
etc+
I can!t log in to Aacebook because I!ve
$or"otten my password.
log out )or off+
si"n out )o$ a website* database
etc+
I$ you don!t log off somebody could "et
into your account.
look after
someone/something
take care o$
I have to look after my sick
"randmother.
look down on
someone
think less o$* consider in$erior
;ver since we stole that chocolate bar
your dad has looked down on me.
look for
someone/something
try to $ind
I!m looking for a red dress $or the
weddin".
look forward to
something
be e&cited about the $uture
I!m looking forward to the :hristmas
break.
look into something investi"ate
(e are "oin" to look into the price o$
snowboards today.
look out
be care$ul* vi"ilant* and take
notice
=ook out7 'hat car!s "oin" to hit you7
look out for
someone/something
be especially vi"ilant $or
Bon!t $or"et to look out for snakes on
the hikin" trail.
look something
over
check* e&amine
:an you look over my essay $or
spellin" mistakes>
look something up
search and $ind in$ormation in a
re$erence book or database
(e can look her phone number up on
the Internet.
look up to someone have a lot o$ respect $or
#y little sister has always looked up to
me.
make something up invent* lie about somethin"
Josie made up a story about why we
were late.
make up $or"ive each other
(e were an"ry last ni"ht* but we made
up at break$ast.
make someone up apply cosmetics to
#y sisters made me up $or my
"raduation party.
mix something up con$use two or more thin"s I mixed up the twins! names a"ain7
pass away die
1is uncle passed away last ni"ht a$ter
a lon" illness.
pass out $aint
It was so hot in the church that an
elderly lady passed out.
pass something out
"ive the same thin" to many
people
'he pro$essor passed the te&tbooks out
be$ore class.
pass something up
decline )usually somethin"
"ood+
I passed up the %ob because I am a$raid
o$ chan"e.
pay someone back return owed money
'hanks $or buyin" my ticket. I!ll pay
you back on Ariday.
pay for something
be punished $or doin" somethin"
bad
'hat bully will pay for bein" mean to
my little brother.
pick something out choose
I picked out three sweaters $or you to
try on.
point
someone/something
out
indicate with your $in"er
I!ll point my boy$riend out when he
runs by.
put something
down
put what you are holdin" on a
sur$ace or $loor
You can put the "roceries down on the
kitchen counter.
put someone down insult* make someone $eel stupid
'he students put the substitute teacher
down because his pants were too short.
put something off postpone
(e are putting off our trip until
January because o$ the hurricane.
put something out e&tin"uish
'he nei"hbours put the $ire out be$ore
the $iremen arrived.
put something
together
assemble
I have to put the crib together be$ore
the baby arrives.
put up with
someone/something
tolerate
I don!t think I can put up with three
small children in the car.
put something on
put clothin".accessories on your
body
Bon!t $or"et to put on your new
earrin"s $or the party.
run into
someone/something
meet une&pectedly
I ran into an old school?$riend at the
mall.
run over
someone/something
drive a vehicle over a person or
thin"
I accidentally ran over your bicycle in
the driveway.
run over/through
something
rehearse* review
=et!s run over/through these lines one
more time be$ore the show.
run away leave une&pectedly* escape
'he child ran away $rom home and has
been missin" $or three days.
run out have none le$t
(e ran out o$ shampoo so I had to
wash my hair with soap.
send something
back
return )usually by mail+
#y letter "ot sent back to me because
I used the wron" stamp.
set something up arran"e* or"ani6e
,ur boss set a meetin" up with the
president o$ the company.
set someone up trick* trap
'he police set up the car thie$ by usin"
a hidden camera.
shop around compare prices
I want to shop around a little be$ore I
decide on these boots.
show off
act e&tra special $or people
watchin" )usually boast$ully+
1e always shows off on his skateboard
sleep over
stay somewhere $or the ni"ht
)in$ormal+
You should sleep over toni"ht i$ the
weather is too bad to drive home.
sort something out or"ani6e* resolve a problem
(e need to sort the bills out be$ore the
$irst o$ the month.
stick to something
continue doin" somethin"* limit
yoursel$ to one particular thin"
You will lose wei"ht i$ you stick to the
diet.
switch something
off
stop the ener"y $low* turn o$$
'he li"ht!s too bri"ht. :ould you
switch it off.
switch something
on
start the ener"y $low* turn on
(e heard the news as soon as we
switched on the car radio.
take after someone resemble a $amily member
I take after my mother. (e are both
impatient.
take something
apart
purposely break into pieces
1e took the car brakes apart and $ound
the problem.
take something
back
return an item
I have to take our new '/ back
because it doesn!t work.
take off start to $ly #y plane takes off in $ive minutes.
take something off
remove somethin" )usually
clothin"+
!ake off your socks and shoes and
come in the lake7
take something out remove $rom a place or thin"
:an you take the "arba"e out to the
street $or me>
take someone out
pay $or someone to "o
somewhere with you
#y "randparents took us out $or dinner
and a movie.
tear something up rip into pieces
I tore up my e&?boy$riend!s letters and
"ave them back to him.
think back
remember )o$ten C to*
sometimes C on+
(hen I think back on my youth* I
wish I had studied harder.
think something
over
consider
I!ll have to think this %ob o$$er over
be$ore I make my $inal decision.
throw something
away
dispose o$
(e threw our old $urniture away when
we won the lottery.
turn something
down
decrease the volume or stren"th
)heat* li"ht etc+
8lease turn the '/ down while the
"uests are here.
turn something
down
re$use
I turned the %ob down because I don!t
want to move.
turn something off stop the ener"y $low* switch o$$
Your mother wants you to turn the '/
off and come $or dinner.
turn something on start the ener"y* switch on
It!s too dark in here. =et!s turn some
li"hts on.
turn something up
increase the volume or stren"th
)heat* li"ht etc+
:an you turn the music up> 'his is my
$avourite son".
turn up appear suddenly
,ur cat turned up a$ter we put posters
up all over the nei"hbourhood.
try something on sample clothin"
I!m "oin" to try these %eans on* but I
don!t think they will $it.
try something out test
I am "oin" to try this new brand o$
deter"ent out.
use something up $inish the supply
'he kids used all o$ the toothpaste up
so we need to buy some more.
wake up stop sleepin"
(e have to wake up early $or work on
#onday.
warm
someone/something
up
increase the temperature
You can warm your $eet up in $ront o$
the $ireplace.
warm up prepare body $or e&ercise
I always warm up by doin" sit?ups
be$ore I "o $or a run.
wear off $ade away #ost o$ my make?up wore off be$ore I
"ot to the party.
work out e&ercise
I work out at the "ym three times a
week.
work out be success$ul ,ur plan worked out $ine.
work something out make a calculation
(e have to work out the total cost
be$ore we buy the house.