‘Up’ Phrasal Verbs

Do you find it easy to pick up (learn) new phrasal verbs? Or do you sometimes screw up (make a mistake) when trying to use them? Well, cheer up (become happier), cause we’re going to clear it up (make it clear)!

Up is a small word with a wide use in English. In this lesson, we look at phrasal verbs and collocations that feature it with examples.

Phrasal verbs with “up” often suggest an increase, completion, or change in state. The more you hear and use them in context, the more natural they’ll feel.

10 Phrasal Verbs using Up

Here are ten useful phrasal verbs with “up” that will help your English sound more natural and confident in everyday conversation.

1. Take up: to start doing something
   • I’ve just taken up yoga.

2. Give up: to quit or stop doing something
   • He gave up smoking last year.

3. Make up: to invent something (often a lie)
   • She made up an excuse for being late.

4. Look up: to search for information
   • I looked up the word in the dictionary.

5. Show up: to arrive somewhere
   • She finally showed up at 9pm.

6. Set up: to arrange or organise
   • They set up the room for the meeting.

7. Keep up: to continue at the same pace
   • You’re walking too fast, I can’t keep up!

8. Blow up: to explode (literally or emotionally)
   • The balloon blew up. / He blew up when he heard the news.

9. Get up: to get out of bed
   • I usually get up at 7am.

10. End up: to finally do or become something
    • We ended up staying at home instead.