Phrasal verbs are a common English verb form that consist of a verb followed by a p-word that functions as a particle. To learn more about some of the most common phrasal verbs in the English language, click on a letter in the following menu to browse the Phrasal Verb Dictionary in alphabetical order.
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Note: When a word entry includes a p-word enclosed in parentheses, the phrasal verb is a phrasal-prepositional verb.
Phrasal Verb | Definition | Category | Example |
keel over | fall over | intransitive | The drunk man keeled over. |
keel over | flip | intransitive | The boat keeled over in the storm. |
keep at | continue, persevere | inseparable transitive | She kept at her studies. |
keep away | hold back | separable transitive | The dam kept the river back. |
keep down | not vomit | separable transitive | Some pregnant women cannot keep food down. |
keep on | continue | inseparable transitive | The little boy keeps on singing. |
keep to | continue, persist | inseparable transitive | He kept to his studies and graduated with honors. |
keep up | continue | inseparable transitive | Keep up the good work! |
keep up (with) | stay on schedule | intransitive | Keep up with your studies to maintain good grades. |
kick around | discuss, consider | separable transitive | The committee kicked the proposed idea around. |
kick back | relax | intransitive | I just want to kick back after work. |
kick in | begin taking effect | intransitive | The medicine will kick in immediately. |
kick off | start | separable transitive | The MC kicked the festival off with a bang. |
kick out | make leave | separable transitive | The bouncer kicked the annoying girl out. |
kid around | behave silly | intransitive | Stop kidding around! |
kill off | destroy all | separable transitive | I finally killed the ants in my kitchen off. |
kiss up to | flatter for personal gain | inseparable transitive | The brown-noser kissed up to her boss. |
knit together | join, connect, create | separable transitive | Can you knit a proposal together tonight? |
knock back | drink a lot quickly | separable transitive | She knocked back a few beers. |
knock down | make fall | separable transitive | The storm knocked my mailbox down. |
knock off | quit | separable transitive | Knock that noise off! |
knock out | make unconscious | separable transitive | Antihistamines knock me out. |
knock over | make fall | separable transitive | The wind knocked the tree over. |
knock together | join, connect, crate | separable transitive | She knocked a cake together when unexpected guests arrived. |
knock up | make pregnant, impregnate | separable transitive | He knocked her up. |
knuckle down | get serious about | intransitive | The student finally knuckled down. |
knuckle in on | force a way in | inseparable transitive | She knuckled in on the party. |