Phrasal verbs with out
126 phrasal verbs · 180 meanings · A2 to C2
What does "out" add to phrasal verbs?
When you add "out" to a verb, something very powerful happens — it creates movement away from a centre or starting point. This movement can be physical, but it often goes much deeper than that.
The most obvious pattern is physical movement. You get out of a car, come out of a building, or go out for dinner. But "out" also shows movement from hidden to visible. Secrets come out, you find out information, and problems turn out differently than expected. This is the same idea — something moves from inside (hidden) to outside (known).
"Out" often means completion or exhaustion too. When supplies run out, they're completely finished. When you work out a problem, you solve it completely. When machines burn out, they stop working because they've reached their limit. You can even wear out your clothes through use.
There's also a pattern of distribution or sharing. You hand out papers, send out invitations, and give out information. Here, "out" shows things spreading from one source to many recipients.
Understanding these patterns helps enormously. When you see a new phrasal verb with "out", ask yourself: Is something moving away? Becoming visible? Reaching completion? Being distributed? This approach will help you guess meanings and remember them more easily. The particle "out" consistently adds these ideas of movement, revelation, completion, or distribution to whatever the main verb means.
All phrasal verbs with "out"
act out (sth) show hidden feelings or inner conflict through bad or attention-seeking behaviour C2 ask sb out invite someone to go on a date B1 back out decide not to do something you promised or agreed to do B2 bear sth out support or prove that something is true with evidence C1 blurt sth out say something suddenly without thinking C1 bottom out reach the lowest point before starting to improve C1 bow out leave a job, role, or competition in a polite way C1 branch out start doing something new or different, especially in your work or business C1 buy sb out pay someone for their share of a business so you own all of it C1 carry sth out do or complete a task, plan, or experiment B1 carve sth out create a special role or position through hard work over time C1 catch sb out trick someone into making a mistake B2 check sb/sth out look at someone or something to see if you like them or to learn more B1 chill out relax and stop feeling worried or angry B2 churn sth out produce a lot of something quickly, often without caring about quality C2 crank sth out produce something quickly and in large amounts, often without much care C2 cross sth out draw a line through words to show they are wrong or not needed B1 die out slowly disappear or stop existing completely B2 dole sth out give something out in small amounts, often unwillingly C2 draw sth out bring out the deeper meaning or ideas in an argument C1 drop out of sth leave school, college, or an activity before finishing it B1 dry (sth) out become completely dry, or make something dry, after being wet B2 eat out have a meal at a restaurant instead of at home B1 edge sb/sth out beat someone or something by a small amount C1 eke sth out manage to live or survive with very little money or food C2 even sth out make something more equal or balanced B2 figure sth out understand something after thinking about it B1 fill sth out write the needed information on a form B1 find sth out learn something new or get information about something A2 fizzle out gradually lose energy and end in a weak or disappointing way C1 flesh sth out add more details or information to something to make it complete C1 fork out (sth) pay a lot of money for something, usually unwillingly C1 freak (sb) out suddenly become very scared, upset, or excited B2 freeze sb out push someone out of a group by being cold or unfriendly to them C1 geek out get very excited and talk a lot about a special interest or technical topic C2 get out of sth avoid doing something you should do or don't want to do B2 grow out of sth become too old for something (a habit, an interest) B2 hammer sth out reach an agreement or solution after long, difficult talks C1 hand sth out give something to each person in a group B1 hang out spend time relaxing with friends B1 hash sth out talk about something carefully until you reach an agreement C2 help sb out give someone assistance, especially when they have a problem B1 iron sth out solve small problems or difficulties through discussion B2 keep sb/sth out stop someone or something from going into a place B1 kick sb out make someone leave a place, group, or organisation B2 lash out suddenly attack someone with angry words or actions C1 leave sb/sth out not include someone or something B1 log out end your session on a computer or website A2 look out for sb/sth watch carefully so you notice someone or something B1 map sth out plan something carefully, step by step C1 mete sth out give punishment or harsh treatment to someone C2 miss out on sth lose the chance to enjoy or do something good B1 move (sb) out leave the place where you have been living B1 opt out choose not to take part in something B2 pan out develop or end in a certain way B2 peter out slowly become smaller or weaker until it stops C1 phase sth out slowly stop using or providing something over time C1 pick sb/sth out choose someone or something from a group B1 play out happen or develop in a particular way B2 point sth out tell someone about something they have not noticed B1 psych sb out make someone lose confidence by playing on their nerves or fears C2 reach out contact someone to offer help or start a conversation B2 read sth out read something aloud so other people can hear it B2 ride sth out get through a difficult time safely until things improve C1 roll sth out officially introduce a new product, service, or system, often step by step C1 root sth/sb out find and remove something harmful or unwanted (like corruption or waste) C1 rule sth out decide that something is not possible or not a choice B2 run out of sth use all of something so there is none left B1 send sb out send something to many people at the same time B1 shut sb out stop sharing your feelings with someone or keep them out of your emotional life C1 sign out record that you are leaving a place, or end access to a system or account B1 single sb out choose one person from a group for special attention or treatment C1 snap out of sth quickly stop feeling sad, angry, or upset C1 sort sth out deal with a problem or situation B1 sound sb out carefully try to find out someone's opinions or plans before doing something official C1 spell sth out explain something clearly and in detail, step by step C1 squeeze sb/sth out force someone or something out of a market or position by using pressure C1 stake sth out clearly claim a position, area, or topic as your own C1 stamp sth out get rid of something bad or harmful by taking strong action C1 start out begin a job, life, or activity in a particular way B1 straighten sth out sort out a problem, confusion, or difficult situation B2 talk sb out of sth persuade someone not to do something B2 tease sth out carefully separate and find single details from something complicated C1 thrash sth out discuss something fully and in detail until you reach an agreement C2 trot sth out present the same old argument or excuse in a tired, predictable way C2 walk out leave a place suddenly, often because you are angry B1 watch out be careful because something dangerous might happen B1 weed sb/sth out find and remove people or things that are not wanted or not good enough C1 write sth out write something in full or final form (a cheque, a list) B2 zone out stop paying attention and start daydreaming B2
bail out
blow out
break out
bring out
burn out
burst out
call out
clear out
come out
- 1 come out become known after being kept secret B1
- 2 come out publicly say what you really think or believe B2
- 3 come out become available to the public (film, book, song) B1
- 4 come out appear or be produced successfully (a photo) B1
- 5 come out be removed from cloth after washing (a stain or mark) B1
cut out
fall out
give out
go out
hold out
knock out
lay out
let out
live out
make out
pass out
pull out
put out
see out
sell out
set out
spread out
stand out
stay out
stick out
take out
throw out
try out
turn out
wear out
wipe out
work out
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