Phrasal Verb Dictionary

[Brian Bezdicek]

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Phrasal verbs (also called multi-word verbs) are idiomatic expressions, combining verbs and prepositions to make new verbs whose meaning is often not obvious from the dictionary definitions of the individual words. They are widely used in both written and spoken English, and new ones are formed all the time as they are a flexible way of creating new terms.

A phrasal verb consists of a verb and a preposition or adverb that modifies or changes the meaning; 'give up' is a phrasal verb that means 'stop doing' something, which is very different from 'give'. The word or words that modify a verb in this manner can also go under the name particle.

Our phrasal verbs list includes entries from around the world submitted by numerouscontributors. It covers both modern language and older phrases. If you know of phrasal verbs inEnglish that you feel should be included here, please use our online form to let us know about it. Please note that all submissions arereviewed for validity and accuracy by our Editor.

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4. Some transitive phrasal verbs are separable. The object is placed between the verb and the preposition. In this Phrasal Verb Dictionary, separable phrasal verbs are marked by placing a * between the verb and the preposition / adverb.

5. Some transitive phrasal verbs are inseparable. The object is placed after the preposition. In this Phrasal Verb Dictionary, inseparable phrasal verbs are marked by placing a + after the preposition / adverb.

Good question! It's hard to know what the word "up" means in the phrasal verb "ring up." We know what the verb "ring" means by itself (usually: to make a sound), and we know what the preposition "up" means by itself (usually: toward a higher point), but as with many phrasal verbs, when you put the parts together, their meanings can change.

Here are three different meanings that the phrasal verb "ring up" can have, taken from the Merriam-Webster Learner's Dictionary. Compare them to the usual meaning of the preposition "up" by itself (: toward a higher point):

For meanings 1 and 2 above, both of which suggest the idea of reaching something higher - either by adding numbers or by achieving a good result - I think there is a connection to the usual meaning of "up." But for meaning 3, "to make a telephone call to someone or something," it's hard to find a connection with the usual meaning of "up."

This makes "ring up" a good example of a phrasal verb. For in some cases, the preposition (or adverb) in a phrasal verb preserves much of its usual meaning, but in other cases it does not, and in those cases, the meaning of the phrasal verb can seem unrelated to the meaning of its parts.

This article describes the various ways in which the Macmillan Phrasal Verbs Plus dictionary deals with pronunciation and stress. It also explains some simple rules that will help you to pronounce phrasal verbs confidently when they form part of a sentence.

The main pronunciation question with phrasal verbs concerns the placement and distribution of stress on the verb, the particle and the other words in the sentence. Here are some guidelines to help you.

These phrasal verbs are 'separable': that is, the verb and the particle can be separated, with the object of the verb coming between them. Separable phrasal verbs can be used in three possible ways, and this affects where the stress falls. The dictionary tells you which of these three ways you can use for a particular phrasal verb.

The term citation form refers to the pronunciation and stress pattern that is shown in a dictionary entry. This information is accurate when the phrasal verb is spoken in isolation, and even when a phrasal verb is used in context, it is still likely to follow the stress pattern of its citation form. But it is also possible that in connected speech the speaker may choose to place the stress differently in order to convey a particular meaning. In such cases the normal rules of stress shift apply.

It is common in English for nouns and adjectives to be formed from verbs. For example: verb noun adjective protect protection protective act action active mean meaning meaningful The same is true for phrasal verbs, and Macmillan Phrasal Verbs Plus includes many nouns and adjectives that are formed from phrasal verbs. These are shown at the end of a phrasal verb entry. For example, the entry for the verb black out also shows the related noun blackout.

A phrasal verb is simply a verb made up of more than one word, a type of compound verb. It is two or three words that make up one main verb. A phrasal verb is only a verb, not anything else in the sentence.

Usually, the words that constitute a phrasal verb are a verb and a preposition, but that is not always the case. Sometimes, the first word in a phrasal verb is not a verb at all, but when paired with the preposition, the whole phrase becomes a verb.

If the two words can be understood literally, it's a verb and a preposition. If they have to be taken together with a meaning that has little or nothing to do with the meaning of the verb alone, then it's a phrasal verb.

Phrasal verbs might seem complex at first, but reading through a bunch of examples can help define this part of speech. Use verb worksheets to help you understand other kinds of verbs such as transitive verbs and helping verbs.

Collins COBUILD Phrasal Verbs Dictionary gives learners of English detailed help with this often tricky area of the English language. Revised and updated to reflect changes in the English language, this new edition provides learners with detailed information on phrasal verbs in a language that is easy to understand.

The dictionary also includes an index of 200 single-word verbs and their phrasal verb equivalents, plus information on when you should use a single-word verb (for example, in academic writing) and when a phrasal verb would be more appropriate (for example, during an informal conversation with a friend).

There are also collocations boxes, which provide students with the language they need to build natural-sounding sentences in English. There is also a self-study exercise section at the back of the book so that students can practise and consolidate what they have learnt. The particles index provides students with in-depth information on what particles mean, boosting their vocabulary and understanding of the language.

This authoritative reference offers thousands of American English phrasal verbs, two-word verbs, prepositional verbs, and verbs that are used together. Entries include definitions and examples of phrasal verbs used in context. With help from McGraw-Hill's Essential American Phrasal Verbs Dictionary, you will become familiar with English as it is used in the media, at work, around the house, and in everyday conversations. This knowledge will help you comprehend English as it is spoken in the United States and add variety to your word usage.

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