Complete Phrasal Verbs List
Phrasal
Verb Meaning Example
Abide by Accept or follow a decision or rule. We have to ABIDE BY what the court
says.
Account for To explain. They had to ACCOUNT FOR all the
money that had gone missing.
Ache for Want something or someone a lot. My partner's been away for a fortnight- I
am ACHING FOR her.
Act on To take action because of something like
information received.
The police were ACTING ON a tip from
an informer and caught the gang red-
handed.
Act on Affect. The medicine only ACTS ON infected
tissue.
Act out Perform something with actions and
gestures.. They ACTED OUT the story on stage.
Act out Express an emotion in your behaviour. Their anger is ACTED OUT in their
antisocial behaviour.
Act up Behave badly or strangely. My computer's ACTING UP; I think I
might have a virus.
Act upon To take action because of something like
information received.
The police were ACTING UPON a tip-
off.
Act upon Affect. The enzyme ACTS UPON certain
proteins.
Add on Include in a calculation. You have to ADD the VAT ON to the
price they give.
Add up To make a mathematical total. We ADDED UP the bill to check it was
correct.
Add up Be a satisfactory explanantion for
something.
She explained why the work wasn't ready,
but her story doesn't ADD UP.
Add up to Have a certain result.
Trains delays are getting worse and with
the high fares, it all ADDS UP TO misery
for the commuters.
Add up to Come to a certain amount or figure. The total costs ADD UP TO several
million euros.
Agree with
Affect- usually used in the negative to
show that something has had a negative
effect, especially is it makes you feel bad.
I feel terrible- that food didn't AGREE
WITH my stomach.
Aim at To target. The magazine is AIMED AT teenagers.
Aim at Intend to achieve. They're AIMING AT reducing costs by
ten percent.
Allow for Include something in a plan or calculation. You should ALLOW FOR delays when
planning a journey.
Allow of Make possible, permit. The rules don't ALLOW OF any
exceptions.
Angle for Try to get something indirectly, by hinting
or suggesting.
He's been ANGLING FOR an invitation,
but I don't want him to come.
Answer To reply rudely to someone in authority. Her mother was shocked when she started
