When it comes to achieving a high score in the IELTS Speaking and Writing sections, vocabulary plays a crucial role. But beyond knowing individual words, examiners expect you to use natural and advanced English expressions—and that’s where phrasal verbs come in.

Phrasal verbs make your English sound more fluent, less robotic, and closer to how native speakers actually communicate. By mastering them, you not only expand your vocabulary but also demonstrate flexibility and depth in your language skills—two things the IELTS examiners look for when assessing your lexical resource.

What is a Phrasal Verb?

A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb + one or more particles (prepositions or adverbs) that, when put together, create a meaning different from the original verb.

  • Verb + Preposition = Phrasal verb (Look after)
  • Verb + Adverb = Phrasal verb (Turn off)
  • Verb + Preposition + Adverb = Phrasal verb (Put up with)

For example:

  • Give up = stop doing something (“I decided to give up smoking.”)

  • Look after = take care of someone (“She looks after her younger brother.”)

  • Bring up = mention a topic (“He brought up an interesting point during the discussion.”)

Notice how the meaning changes entirely when the verb is combined with a small word like up, after, or in. This is why they’re tricky for learners but extremely useful in sounding natural and fluent.

Why Are Phrasal Verbs Important for IELTS?

  • Boosts Fluency: Using phrasal verbs shows you can speak naturally and confidently.

  • Improves Writing Quality: They allow you to avoid repetition of simple words and instead use more advanced expressions.

  • Demonstrates Range: IELTS scoring heavily depends on how varied and accurate your vocabulary is.

  • Makes Answers More Engaging: Examiners prefer answers that sound natural, not memorized.

For example, instead of saying “I cancelled my trip”, you could say “I called off my trip.” This slight change shows maturity in language use.

List of Phrasal Verbs for IELTS (A-Z) with Meaning and Examples

Phrasal Verb Meaning Example
A
Account for Explain the reason Can you account for the delay in submission?
Act on Take action based on advice The company acted on the feedback quickly.
Add up to Equal, result in The expenses add up to a huge amount.
Aim at Direct toward a goal The policy aims at reducing pollution.
Allow for Consider, take into account We must allow for traffic when planning the trip.
Appeal to Attract or interest This option appeals to young professionals.
Ask after Inquire about someone’s health He asked after your parents yesterday.
Ask around Ask many people for information I asked around, but nobody knew the answer.
Attend to Deal with something Please attend to this issue immediately.
Average out Result in a balanced figure The costs average out at $500 per month.
B
Back down Withdraw from a position He finally backed down after strong opposition.
Bail out Help in a difficult situation The government bailed out the failing bank.
Bank on Rely on You can bank on her support.
Bear out Confirm The evidence bears out his claim.
Block out Stop from entering She blocked out the noise with headphones.
Blow over Pass without causing harm The scandal soon blew over.
Boil down to Simplify to the main point It all boils down to money.
Branch out Expand into new areas The company branched out into new markets.
Break off End suddenly They broke off negotiations.
Bring about Cause to happen The reforms brought about major change.
C
Call for Demand or require This job calls for patience.
Call off Cancel The match was called off due to rain.
Carry off Succeed in doing something difficult She carried off the performance brilliantly.
Carry on Continue He carried on despite difficulties.
Carry out Perform or complete They carried out an investigation.
Catch on Become popular The song quickly caught on.
Check in Register at a hotel or airport We checked in two hours early.
Check out Investigate I’ll check out the new restaurant.
Clear up Resolve or become better The misunderstanding cleared up.
Come about Happen How did this situation come about?
D
Deal with Handle, manage She dealt with the issue professionally.
Decide on Choose We decided on the blue design.
Die down Become weaker The storm died down by evening.
Dig into Explore deeply He dug into the research material.
Do away with Abolish They did away with old policies.
Do without Manage without We can do without luxury items.
Double up Share or use together They doubled up to save costs.
Drag on Continue unnecessarily long The meeting dragged on for hours.
Draw up Prepare a document They drew up a contract.
Dress up Wear formal clothes We dressed up for the party.
E
Eat out Dine at a restaurant We ate out last night.
Embark on Start a new project She embarked on a new career.
End up Eventually reach a situation He ended up working abroad.
Engage in Participate They engaged in heated debate.
Enter into Begin (a discussion/contract) They entered into negotiations.
Excel at Be very good at She excels at problem-solving.
Expand on Provide more detail Can you expand on that point?
Explain away Justify wrongly He explained away his mistakes.
Eye up Look at with interest He eyed up the painting carefully.
Ease off Reduce pressure The pain eased off after medicine.
F
Face up to Accept bravely He faced up to his mistakes.
Fall apart Break into pieces The plan fell apart quickly.
Fall back on Depend in emergencies I fell back on my savings.
Fall behind Fail to keep up He fell behind in payments.
Figure out Understand I figured out the problem.
Fill in Complete Please fill in the form.
Fit in Belong or be accepted He fits in well with the team.
Focus on Pay attention Focus on your strengths.
Follow through Complete as promised She followed through with her plan.
Freeze up Become unable to act He froze up during the speech.
G
Gear up Prepare “They geared up for the exam.”
Get across Communicate clearly “She got her ideas across well.”
Get ahead Succeed “Hard work helped him get ahead.”
Get along Have good relations “They get along very well.”
Get around Travel/move easily “He gets around by bike.”
Get at Suggest indirectly “What are you getting at?”
Get away with Escape punishment “He got away with cheating.”
Get down to Start focusing seriously “Let’s get down to business.”
Get over Recover from “She got over the illness.”
Give in Surrender “He gave in to temptation.”
H
Hand down Pass on to next generation “The ring was handed down.”
Hand in Submit “Please hand in your homework.”
Hand out Distribute “They handed out leaflets.”
Hang around Spend time idly “He hangs around the park.”
Hang on Wait “Hang on a second.”
Head off Prevent “They headed off a crisis.”
Hear out Listen fully “Hear me out before deciding.”
Help out Assist “She helped out with chores.”
Hit on Discover unexpectedly “He hit on a great idea.”
Hold back Control or restrain “She held back her tears.”
I
Iron out Resolve differences “They ironed out the issues.”
Identify with Relate closely “She identifies with the character.”
Insist on Demand firmly “He insisted on paying the bill.”
Interfere with Hinder “Noise interferes with sleep.”
Invest in Put effort/money into “She invested in her education.”
Invite over Ask someone to your home “We invited them over for dinner.”
Issue out Distribute “The manager issued out new ID cards.”
Improve on Make better “He improved on his previous score.”
Inform against Give evidence “The thief was informed against.”
Inch along Move slowly “The traffic inched along the road.”
J
Jack up Raise prices suddenly “They jacked up the rent.”
Jot down Write quickly “I jotted down the address.”
Join in Participate “She joined in the discussion.”
Jump at Accept eagerly “He jumped at the opportunity.”
Jump in Intervene suddenly “She jumped in with a question.”
Jump on Criticize quickly “The boss jumped on the mistake.”
Joke around Playfully misbehave “They joked around in class.”
Jumble up Mix confusingly “The notes were jumbled up.”
Jazz up Make more exciting “He jazzed up the presentation.”
Judge against Evaluate based on “He was judged against strict standards.”
K
Keep at Continue doing “Keep at your studies.”
Keep back Withhold “He kept back important details.”
Keep down Control, limit “They tried to keep costs down.”
Keep off Avoid “Keep off the grass.”
Keep on Continue “She kept on talking.”
Keep out Prevent entry “Keep out of the restricted area.”
Keep to Follow rules “He kept to the deadline.”
Keep up Maintain progress “Keep up the good work.”
Kick off Start something “The event kicked off at noon.”
Knock out Eliminate “They knocked out the opponents.”
L
Lay off Dismiss employees “The firm laid off workers.”
Lead to Result in “Stress can lead to illness.”
Leave out Omit “He left out important details.”
Let down Disappoint “She let me down badly.”
Let in on Share a secret “He let me in on the plan.”
Light up Illuminate / become happy “Her face lit up with joy.”
Live down Overcome shame “He lived down his mistake.”
Live up to Meet expectations “She lived up to her reputation.”
Look after Take care of “She looks after her siblings.”
Look back on Remember fondly “He looked back on his childhood.”
M
Make for Result in “Honesty makes for trust.”
Make out Understand “I can’t make out his handwriting.”
Make up Reconcile / invent “They made up after the fight.”
Measure up Meet standards “He measured up to expectations.”
Mix up Confuse “I mixed up the dates.”
Move on Progress “It’s time to move on.”
Mull over Think deeply “She mulled over the offer.”
Map out Plan carefully “They mapped out a strategy.”
Miss out on Fail to take advantage “He missed out on the trip.”
Mark down Reduce price “They marked down the items.”
N
Nail down Confirm details “They nailed down the agreement.”
Name after Call after someone “He was named after his grandfather.”
Narrow down Reduce choices “We narrowed down the options.”
Note down Write quickly “Note down the key points.”
Nod off Fall asleep “He nodded off in class.”
Nose around Search secretly “He nosed around the office.”
Notch up Achieve “She notched up a victory.”
Notify of Inform “They notified us of the changes.”
Nullify out Cancel “The contract was nullified out.”
Number among Include as part “He numbers among the best lawyers.”
O
Occur to Come into someone’s mind “It never occurred to me to ask.”
Open up Share feelings / become accessible “She opened up about her problems.”
Opt for Choose “We opted for a smaller car.”
Opt out Choose not to participate “He opted out of the competition.”
Order around Give commands bossily “He hates being ordered around.”
Own up Admit guilt “She owned up to the mistake.”
Offer up Present for use “He offered up his skills for free.”
Offset against Balance with “The loss was offset against profits.”
Operate on Perform surgery “The doctor operated on the patient.”
Open onto Lead directly to “The room opens onto a garden.”
P
Pack up Stop work / put things away “We packed up early today.”
Pair up Form a pair “The students paired up for the task.”
Pass away Die “His grandmother passed away last year.”
Pass off Pretend / happen “He passed himself off as a doctor.”
Pass out Faint “She passed out in the heat.”
Pay back Repay “I’ll pay back the loan soon.”
Pick on Bully / single out “He was picked on at school.”
Point out Indicate “She pointed out the mistake.”
Pull off Succeed against odds “They pulled off a surprise victory.”
Put up with Tolerate “I can’t put up with this noise.”
Q
Quieten down Become calmer “The class quietened down quickly.”
Queue up Line up “They queued up for tickets.”
Quench out Extinguish “They quenched out the fire.”
Quick off Start quickly “The team was quick off the mark.”
Quibble over Argue about small issues “They quibbled over details.”
Quit on Abandon “The machine quit on me suddenly.”
Qualify for Be eligible “He qualified for the finals.”
Quash down Suppress “The protest was quashed down.”
Quote back Repeat someone’s words “She quoted back his own arguments.”
Queue into Enter in order “Fans queued into the stadium.”
R
Rely on Depend on “You can rely on her honesty.”
Rule out Eliminate “They ruled out the first option.”
Run into Meet unexpectedly “I ran into an old friend.”
Run out of Exhaust supply “We ran out of time.”
Run over Hit with a vehicle “The dog was run over by a car.”
Run through Practice quickly “Let’s run through the speech once.”
Root out Eliminate completely “The policy aims to root out corruption.”
Rope in Persuade to help “He roped me in for the project.”
Round up Gather together “The police rounded up the suspects.”
Rub off on Pass qualities “Her enthusiasm rubbed off on us.”
S
Set about Begin doing “They set about cleaning the house.”
Set aside Save or reserve “She set aside money for travel.”
Set out Begin a journey “They set out early in the morning.”
Show off Boast “He always shows off his car.”
Show up Arrive “He showed up late for class.”
Speak out Express openly “She spoke out against injustice.”
Speak up Talk louder “Please speak up, I can’t hear.”
Spell out Explain clearly “The rules were spelled out.”
Stand out Be noticeable “Her dress stood out in the crowd.”
Stick to Follow consistently “He stuck to his promises.”
T
Take after Resemble “She takes after her mother.”
Take apart Dismantle “He took apart the old machine.”
Take back Retract “I take back what I said.”
Take in Understand / deceive “I couldn’t take in the lecture.”
Take off Become successful “Her career took off quickly.”
Take on Accept responsibility “He took on extra work.”
Take over Gain control “A new manager took over.”
Take up Start a hobby “She took up painting.”
Talk into Persuade “He talked me into going.”
Think over Consider carefully “Think over the proposal.”
U
Use up Consume fully “We used up all the milk.”
Urge on Encourage “The crowd urged on the runners.”
Utter against Speak against “He uttered against the plan.”
Uphold by Support “The judgment was upheld by the court.”
Undertake to Promise to do “He undertook to complete it.”
Uncover up Reveal “The truth was uncovered up.”
Unleash on Release forcefully “They unleashed criticism on him.”
Unwind from Relax “She unwound from stress by reading.”
Use against Employ negatively “They used his words against him.”
Usher in Introduce formally “The reforms ushered in a new era.”
V
Vote in Elect “They voted in a new mayor.”
Vote out Remove by voting “The party was voted out.”
Venture into Try something new “He ventured into business.”
Vouch for Guarantee “I vouch for his honesty.”
Volunteer for Offer freely “She volunteered for the task.”
Vie for Compete strongly “They vied for first place.”
Voice out Express “He voiced out his opinion.”
Veer off Change direction “The car veered off the road.”
Visit with Spend time socially “We visited with our relatives.”
Vacate for Leave for someone “He vacated the seat for her.”
W
Wait on Serve “The waiter waited on us politely.”
Wait up Stay awake for “She waited up for her son.”
Walk out Leave suddenly “He walked out of the meeting.”
Ward off Prevent “This medicine wards off colds.”
Warm up Prepare physically “They warmed up before the game.”
Wash away Erase completely “The rain washed away the dirt.”
Watch out Be careful “Watch out for cars!”
Wear off Fade away “The pain wore off.”
Work out Exercise / solve “He works out daily at the gym.”
Wrap up Finish “Let’s wrap up the meeting.”
X
X out Delete “He X’d out the wrong word.”
Xerox off Copy “She xeroxed off the documents.”
X-ray for Examine “He was X-rayed for injuries.”
X in Include in writing “They X’d in corrections.”
X out of Exclude “He was X’d out of the plan.”
X over Check again “They X’d over the report.”
X mark Cancel “She X-marked the errors.”
X across Cross through “He X’d across the page.”
X sign Approve “They gave an X sign to proceed.”
Xerox up Duplicate “She xeroxed up multiple copies.”
Y
Yawn away Waste time yawning “He yawned away the lecture.”
Yearn for Strongly desire “She yearned for freedom.”
Yell at Shout angrily “The coach yelled at the players.”
Yield to Give way “He yielded to pressure.”
Yoke together Join forcibly “They were yoked together in business.”
Yawn through Be bored “He yawned through the movie.”
Yell out Shout loudly “She yelled out in pain.”
Yoke in Involve forcibly “He was yoked in the conspiracy.”
Young up Appear youthful “The actor younged up for the role.”
Yank out Pull suddenly “He yanked out the plug.”
Z
Zero in on Focus closely “The camera zeroed in on her face.”
Zone out Lose concentration “He zoned out during the lecture.”
Zoom in Focus closely with lens “The camera zoomed in on the bird.”
Zoom out Show wider view “The lens zoomed out slowly.”
Zip up Fasten zipper “She zipped up her jacket.”
Zap through Do quickly “He zapped through his homework.”
Zone into Focus deeply “She zoned into her studies.”
Zero out Cancel / remove “The debt was zeroed out.”
Zone off Divide into parts “The city was zoned off.”
Zip through Finish quickly “He zipped through the exam.”

Tips to Learn Phrasal Verbs

Learning phrasal verbs can feel overwhelming because there are hundreds of them. Here are some strategies to make the process effective and less stressful:

  1. Learn in Context, Not Isolation
    Instead of memorizing random lists, study phrasal verbs within sentences or real-life situations. For example: “She broke down in tears after the exam.”

  2. Group by Theme
    Categorize phrasal verbs under topics like “Travel,” “Work,” “Emotions,” or “Technology.” This helps you recall them faster in IELTS Speaking when relevant topics appear.

  3. Use Them in Daily Conversations
    The best way to remember phrasal verbs is by using them regularly. Try incorporating at least 2–3 new ones each day when speaking with friends or practicing IELTS mock tests.

  4. Practice Through Writing
    Write short paragraphs or essays using newly learned phrasal verbs. For example, in a “Work from Home” essay, you could write: “Many companies have cut down on office expenses by allowing remote work.”

  5. Make Flashcards or Use Apps
    Digital flashcards or vocabulary apps can help you revise consistently. Add the phrasal verb, meaning, and an example sentence for best results.

  6. Focus on Commonly Used Ones in IELTS
    Some phrasal verbs appear frequently in IELTS speaking tests, like “look into,” “carry out,” “bring up,” “come across.” Prioritize these before moving on to less common ones.

Conclusion

Phrasal verbs are not just extra vocabulary—they are a powerful tool to showcase fluency and confidence in your IELTS exam. By mastering them, you’ll stand out from other test-takers, improve both your speaking and writing scores, and sound much closer to a native speaker.

Ready to Boost Your IELTS Score?

At Abroad Gateway, we provide expert IELTS coaching with personalized strategies to help you master phrasal verbs, speaking skills, and overall exam techniques. Join Abroad Gateway’s IELTS Coaching Classes today and take the first step toward your study abroad dream!