phrasal verb

0

seek sb/sth out

seek sb/sth out [ phrasal verb]

to look for someone or something, especially for a long time until you find them

Example:

While he was at the library, Steve decided to seek out some information on accommodation in the area.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

seek sb/sth out — phrasal verb with seek / siːk / verb ( sought , sought ) formal

to look for someone or something, especially for a long time until you find them:

While he was at the library, Steve decided to seek out some information on accommodation in the area.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

seek out

PHRASAL VERB
If you seek out someone or something or seek them out, you keep looking for them until you find them.
[V P n (not pron)] Now is the time for local companies to seek out business opportunities in Europe...
[V n P] Ellen spent the day in the hills and sought me out when she returned.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

seek

seek /ˈsiːk/ verb seeks; sought /ˈsɑːt/; seek·ing [+ obj] somewhat formal
1 : to search for (someone or something) : to try to find (someone or something)
• He is seeking employment. [=he is looking for a job]
• The office is seeking a salesperson.
• The prince is seeking a wife.
• Snakes seek the sun to warm their bodies.
• thrill-seeking travelers [=travelers who want to have very exciting/thrilling experiences]
2 : to ask for (help, advice, etc.)
• You should visit your doctor and seek his advice.
• You should seek medical help immediately if you experience any chest pain or shortness of breath.
• The church is seeking donations/volunteers.
3 a : to try to get or achieve (something)
• He sought revenge for his son's murder.
• During the war, she sought asylum in Spain.
• They sought refuge in Canada.
• The company is seeking new ways to improve service.
• The mayor is seeking reelection.
• She seeks perfection in her work.
• attention-seeking behavior
• Immigrants come to America to seek their fortune. [=to try to become rich]
• They are seeking compensation/damages [=they are trying to get money] for their loss.
b : to make an attempt to do something
• Doctors have been seeking [=trying] to find a cure.
• The builders sought to make the bridge stronger.
seek out [phrasal verb] seek (someone or something) out or seek out (someone or something) : to search for and find (someone or something)
• His parents sought out the best doctors in the field.
• White blood cells seek out and destroy infections.

- see also heat-seeking

- seek·er noun, pl -ers [count]
• seekers of perfection
• job/thrill/pleasure/autograph seekers

American English

British English

B2 (Upper-intermediate)

phrasal verb

0

walk away

walk away [phrasal verb] (DIFFICULT SITUATION)

to stop being involved in a situation because it is difficult to deal with or does not give you any advantages

US

/wɑːk/

UK

/wɔːk/

Example:

You can't just walk away from a marriage at the first sign of a problem.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

walk away

walk away phrasal verb (see also ↑walk)
1. to leave a bad or difficult situation, instead of trying to make it better
walk away from
You can’t just walk away from 15 years of marriage!
When the business started to have problems, it was very tempting to walk away.
2. to come out of an accident or very bad situation without being harmed:
Miraculously, both drivers walked away without a scratch.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

walk away (from somebody)

ˌwalk aˈway (from sb/sth) derived
to leave a difficult situation or relationship, etc. instead of staying and trying to deal with it
• He was tempted to walk away from the problem.

Main entry: walk_derived

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

walk away disapproving (DIFFICULT SITUATION) — phrasal verb with walk / wɔːk / / wɑːk / verb

to stop being involved in a situation because it is difficult to deal with or does not give you any advantages:

You can't just walk away from a marriage at the first sign of a problem.

walk away (ACCIDENT) — phrasal verb with walk / wɔːk / / wɑːk / verb

to escape an accident without being badly hurt:

She overturned the car, but walked away from it without a scratch .

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

walk away

PHRASAL VERB
If you walk away from a problem or a difficult situation, you do nothing about it or do not face any bad consequences from it.
[V P from n] The most appropriate strategy may simply be to walk away from the problem...
[V P] No one knows you're a part of this. You can just walk away.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

walk away [phrasal verb]
1 : to decide not to do or be involved in something
• If you don't like the deal, you can just walk away.
- often + from
• He walked away from a chance to play professional baseball to join the Peace Corps.
• You can't just walk away from your responsibilities!
• She is not one to walk away from a challenge.
2 walk away with (something) informal : to win (something) especially in a easy way
• She walked away with the election.
• He walked away with first place.
• She had the winning ticket and walked away with $50,000!

American English

British English

causing something to end

B2 (Upper-intermediate)

phrasal verb

0

clock in

clock in [phrasal verb]

to record the time you arrive at work on a special machine

US

/klɑːk/

UK

/klɒk/

Example:

What time did you clock in this morning?

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

clock in/on phrasal verb especially British English
to record on a special card the time you arrive at or begin work SYN punch in American English:
I clock on at 8:30.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

clock in

ˌclock ˈin/ˈon derived
(BrE) (NAmE ˌpunch ˈin) to record the time at which you arrive at work, especially by putting a card into a machine
• Staff should clock in on arrival.
• I clock on at 8 a.m.

Main entry: clock_derived

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

clock in ( UK also clock on ) informal — phrasal verb with clock / klɒk / / klɑːk / verb [ T ]

to record the time you arrive at work on a special machine:

What time did you clock in this morning?

Clocking-in time is 9.00 a.m.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

clock in

PHRASAL VERB
When you clock in at work, you arrive there or put a special card into a device to show what time you arrived.
[V P] I have to clock in by eight.
Ant:
clock off

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

clock in/on [phrasal verb] chiefly Brit : to record on a special card the time that you start working
• What time did you clock on?
• I clocked in [=(US) punched in] 10 minutes late.

American English

British English

working hours and periods of work

B2 (Upper-intermediate)

phrasal verb

0

come up with sth

come up with sth [phrasal verb]

to suggest or think of an idea or plan

US

/kʌm/

UK

/kʌm/

Example:

She's come up with some amazing scheme to double her income.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

come up with something phrasal verb

1 to think of an idea, answer etc

Is that the best excuse you can come up with?

We’ve been asked to come up with some new ideas.

2 informal to produce an amount of money

We wanted to buy the house but we couldn’t come up with the cash.

How am I supposed to come up with $10,000?

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

come up with sth — phrasal verb with come / kʌm / verb ( came , come )

B2 to suggest or think of an idea or plan:

She's come up with some amazing scheme to double her income.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

come up with

1) PHRASAL VERB If you come up with a plan or idea, you think of it and suggest it.
  [V P P n] Several of the members have come up with suggestions of their own...
  [V P P n] 30 years ago, scientists came up with the theory that protons and neutrons are composed of three smaller particles.
2) PHRASAL VERB If you come up with a sum of money, you manage to produce it when it is needed.
  [V P P n] If Warren can come up with the $15 million, we'll go to London.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

come up with something

[no passive] to find or produce an answer, a sum of money, etc.

She came up with a new idea for increasing sales.

How soon can you come up with the money?

American English

British English

suggestions and proposals

B2 (Upper-intermediate)

phrasal verb

0

shell (sth) out

shell (sth) out [phrasal verb]

to pay or give money for something, usually unwillingly

US

/ʃel/

UK

/ʃel/

Usage:

informal

Example:

Having shelled out £50 for the tickets, I wasn't going to miss the show.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

shell out (something) phrasal verb informal
to pay a lot of money for something, especially unwillingly:
If you want the repairs done right, you’ll have to shell out at least $800.
shell out (something) for
She ended up shelling out for two rooms.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

shell out (for something)

ˌshell ˈout (for sth) | ˌshell sthˈout (for sth) derived

(informal) to pay a lot of money for sth

Syn: fork out

• The band shelled out $100 000 for a mobile recording studio.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

shell (sth) out informal — phrasal verb with shell / ʃel / verb [ T ]

to pay or give money for something, usually unwillingly:

Having shelled out £50 for the tickets, I wasn't going to miss the show.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

shell out

PHRASAL VERB
If you shell out for something, you spend a lot of money on it. [INFORMAL]
  [V P n for/on n] You won't have to shell out a fortune for it...
  [V P n] If I'm shelling out a few hundred pounds, I don't want someone telling me what I can or can't do.
  [V P for/on n] ...an insurance premium which saves you from having to shell out for repairs...
  [V P n to-inf] The very fact that you shelled out money to come and see us is a good sign. [Also V P to-inf]
Syn:
fork out

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

shell out [phrasal verb] shell out or shell out (money) informal : to pay a large amount of money for something - usually + for
• I'm going to have to shell out for these shoes.
• He shelled out $400 for the tickets.

American English

British English

paying and spending money

B2 (Upper-intermediate)

0

chip (sth) in

chip (sth) in [phrasal verb]

to give some money when several people are giving money to pay for something together

US

/tʃɪp/

UK

/tʃɪp/

Example:

1- They all chipped in £100 and bought their mother a trip to Greece.

2- Oh, oh, oh, guys, would you, uh, chip in for some new air filters for the purifier? ّI mean, after all, we are all using it.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

chip in

chip in phrasal verb (see also ↑chip)
1. to interrupt a conversation by saying something that adds more detail
chip in with
Other committee members chipped in with suggestions.
‘It won’t be easy,’ Jeff chipped in.
I’d just like to chip in, Bill, if I might.
2. if each person in a group chips in, they each give a small amount of money so that they can buy something together:
We all chipped in to buy Amy a graduation present.
chip in (with) something
Fifty-two people in the music industry each chipped in $250 apiece.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

chip in (with something)

ˌchip ˈin (with sth) derived

(informal)

1. to join in or interrupt a conversation; to add sth to a conversation or discussion
• Pete and Anne chipped in with suggestions.

• + speech ‘That's different,’ she chipped in.

2. (also ˌchip ˈin sth) to give some money so that a group of people can buy sth together
Syn: contribute
• If everyone chips in we'll be able to buy her a really nice present.
• We each chipped in (with) £5.

Main entry: chip_derived

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

chip (sth) in informal — phrasal verb with chip / tʃɪp / verb [ I or T ] ( -pp- )

C2 to give some money when several people are giving money to pay for something together:

They all chipped in £100 and bought their mother a trip to Greece.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

chip in

1) PHRASAL VERB When a number of people chip in, each person gives some money so that they can pay for something together. [INFORMAL]
  [V P] They chip in for the petrol and food...
  [V P n (not pron)] The brothers chip in a certain amount of money each month to hire a home health aide. [Also V P with n]
  Syn:
  contribute
2) PHRASAL VERB If someone chips in during a conversation, they interrupt it in order to say something. [INFORMAL]
  [V P with quote] `That's true,' chipped in Quaver...
  [V P] He chipped in before Clements could answer.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

chip in [phrasal verb]
1 chip in or chip in (something) : to give something (such as money) to help a person, group, or cause
• We all chipped in [=contributed] to buy him a gift.
• If we all chip in [=help (out)], the work will get done quickly.
• We each chipped in 10 dollars.
2 chiefly Brit : to add your comment or opinion to a conversation or discussion
• “He left hours ago,” Sue chipped in. [=chimed in]

American English

British English

paying and spending money

0

get to sb

get to sb [phrasal verb] (SUFFER)

If something gets to you, it makes you suffer

US

/ɡet/

UK

/ɡet/

Usage:

informal

Example:

The heat was beginning to get to me, so I went indoors.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

get to somebody/something phrasal verb informal1 to make someone feel annoyed or upset I’m under a lot of pressure at work, and sometimes it gets to me a bit. Don’t let things get to you.2 get to thinking/wondering something informal to start thinking something He got to thinking how disappointed his parents would be.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

get to somebody

ˈget to sb derived
(informal) to annoy or affect sb

• The pressure of work is beginning to get to him.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

get to sb

informal

— phrasal verb with get UK /ɡet/ US /ɡet/ verb present participle getting, past tense got, past participle gotor us usually gotten

(SUFFER)

If something gets to you, it makes you suffer:

The heat was beginning to get to me, so I went indoors.

American English

British English

treating people or animals badly

phrasal verb

0

hang around

hang around [phrasal verb] (somewhere)

To wait or spend time somewhere, usually for no particular reason

US

/hæŋ/

UK

/hæŋ/

Example:

I spent most of my youth hanging around the bars of Dublin.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

hang about

hang about phrasal verb British English (see also ↑hang)
1. spoken to move slowly or take too long doing something:
Come on, we haven’t got time to hang about!
2. hang about (something) to spend time somewhere without any real purpose:
There were always groups of boys hanging about in the square.
He normally hung about the house all day.
3. hang about! spoken
a) used to ask someone to wait or stop what they are doing
b) used when you have just noticed or thought of something that is interesting or wrong:
Hang about – that can’t be right.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

hang around ( … )

ˌhang aˈround (…) derived

(informal) to wait or stay near a place, not doing very much

• You hang around here in case he comes, and I'll go on ahead.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

hang around (somewhere ) ( UK also hang about ) — phrasal verb with hang / hæŋ / verb

B1 to wait or spend time somewhere, usually for no particular reason:

I spent most of my youth hanging around the bars of Dublin.

I thought I'd hang around for a while and see if she comes.

hang around ( UK also hang about ) informal — phrasal verb with hang / hæŋ / verb

to move or do things slowly:

Go and pack but don't hang around - we have to go in an hour.

hang around with sb ( UK also hang about with sb ) — phrasal verb with hang / hæŋ / verb

to spend time with someone:

I got into drugs because I was hanging around with the wrong people.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

hang around

(in BRIT, also use hang about, hang round)
1) PHRASAL VERB If you hang around, hang about, or hang round, you stay in the same place doing nothing, usually because you are waiting for something or someone. [INFORMAL]
  [V P -ing] He got sick of hanging around waiting for me...
  [V P] On Saturdays we hang about in the park.
  [V P n] ...those people hanging round the streets at 6 am with nowhere to go.
2) PHRASAL VERB If you hang around, hang about, or hang round with someone or in a particular place, you spend a lot of time with that person or in that place. [INFORMAL]
  [V P together] They usually hung around together most of the time...
  [V P with n] Helen used to hang round with the boys.
  [V P n] ...the usual young crowd who hung around the cafe day in and day out.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

hang around or Brit hang about/round [phrasal verb] informal
1 hang around/about/round or hang around/about/round (a place) : to be or stay in a place for a period of time without doing much
• We just hung around all afternoon, listening to music.
• They hung around the theater after the play was over.
2 hang around/about/round with (someone) : to spend time relaxing, talking, or doing things with (someone)
• She hangs around with older kids.
• Who does he usually hang around with?

0

look forward to sth

look forward to sth [verb]

to feel pleased and excited about something that is going to happen

US

/lʊk/

UK

/lʊk/

Example:

I look forward to seeing you again.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

look forward to something to wait for something with pleasure:
I'm looking forward to seeing you again.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

look forward to something phrasal verb
to be excited and pleased about something that is going to happen:
I’m really looking forward to our vacation.
look forward to doing something
My mother says she’s looking forward to meeting you.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

look forward to sth — phrasal verb with look / lʊk / verb

B1 to feel pleased and excited about something that is going to happen:

I'm really looking forward to my holiday.

[ + -ing verb ] She was looking forward to see ing the grandchildren again.

I'm not looking forward to Christmas this year.

B2 [ + -ing verb ] formal used at the end of a formal letter to say you hope to hear from or see someone soon, or that you expect something from them:

I look forward to hearing from you .

In the circumstances, I look forward to receiving your client's cheque for the sum of £570 within the next seven days.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

look forward to

1) PHRASAL VERB If you look forward to something that is going to happen, you want it to happen because you think you will enjoy it.
[V P P -ing/n] He was looking forward to working with the new Prime Minister.
2) PHRASAL VERB If you say that someone is looking forward to something useful or positive, you mean they expect it to happen.
[V P P n] Motor traders are looking forward to a further increase in vehicle sales.

American English

British English

hoping and hopefulness

B1 (Intermediate)

look forward

phrasal verb

0

fade away

fade away [phrasal verb]

to slowly disappear, lose importance, or become weaker

US

/feɪd/

UK

/feɪd/

Example:

In the last weeks of her life she simply faded away.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

fade

fade /feɪd/ BrE AmE verb
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: fader, from Latin fatuus; ⇨ ↑fatuous]
1. [intransitive] (also fade away) to gradually disappear:
Hopes of a peace settlement are beginning to fade.
Over the years her beauty had faded a little.
2. [intransitive and transitive] to lose colour and brightness, or to make something do this:
the fading evening light
a pair of faded jeans
The sun had faded the curtains.
3. [intransitive] (also fade away) to become weaker physically, especially so that you become very ill or die
4. [intransitive] if a team fades, it stops playing as well as it did before
5. fade into insignificance to seem unimportant:
Our problems fade into insignificance when compared with those of the people here.
fade in phrasal verb
to appear slowly or become louder, or to make a picture or sound do this
fade something ↔ in
Additional background sound is faded in at the beginning of the shot.
—ˈfade-in noun [countable]
fade out phrasal verb
to disappear slowly or become quieter, or to make a picture or sound do this
fade something ↔ out
He slid a control to fade out the music.
—ˈfade-out noun [countable]

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

fade away

ˌfade aˈway derived
(of a person) to become very weak or ill/sick and die
• In the last weeks of her life she simply faded away.

Main entry: fade

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

fade away — phrasal verb with fade / feɪd / verb [ I or T ]

B2 to slowly disappear, lose importance, or become weaker:

The voices became louder and closer and then faded away again.

As the years passed, the memories faded away.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

fade

[fe͟ɪd]

fades, fading, faded
1) V-ERG When a coloured object fades or when the light fades it, it gradually becomes paler.
  All colour fades - especially under the impact of direct sunlight...
  [V n] No matter how soft the light is, it still plays havoc, fading carpets and curtains in every room.
  [V-ing] ...fading portraits of the Queen and Prince Philip.
  Derived words:
  faded ADJ-GRADED ...a girl in a faded dress. ...faded painted signs on the sides of some of the buildings.
2) VERB When light fades, it slowly becomes less bright. When a sound fades, it slowly becomes less loud.
  Seaton lay on his bed and gazed at the ceiling as the light faded...
  [V into n] The sound of the last bomber's engines faded into the distance.
3) VERB When something that you are looking at fades, it slowly becomes less bright or clear until it disappears.
  [V from/into n] They observed the comet for 70 days before it faded from sight...
  [V from/into n] They watched the familiar mountains fade into the darkness.
PHRASAL VERB
Fade away means the same as fade. Also V P V P into n We watched the harbour and then the coastline fade away into the morning mist.
4) VERB If someone or something fades, for example, into the background, they become hardly noticeable or very unimportant.
  [V into/from n] She had a way of fading into the background when things got rough...
  [V into/from n] The most prominent poets of the Victorian period had all but faded from the scene.
PHRASAL VERB
Fade away means the same as fade. Also V P V P into n The sound comes up and slowly fades away into the distance.
5) VERB If memories, feelings, or possibilities fade, they slowly become less intense or less strong.
  Sympathy for the rebels, the government claims, is beginning to fade...
  Prospects for peace had already started to fade.
  [V-ing] ...fading memories of better days.
6) VERB If someone's smile fades, they slowly stop smiling.
  Jay nodded, his smile fading.
  Phrasal Verbs:
  - fade away
  - fade out

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

¹fade /ˈfeɪd/ verb fades; fad·ed; fad·ing
1 [no obj]
a : to lose strength or freshness
• The flowers were fading in the vase. : to become weaker
• the fading light of late afternoon
• She was fading fast from the effects of the pneumonia.
• Her hearing gradually faded (away) as she grew older.
• His voice faded off into a whisper. = His voice faded to a whisper.
b : to disappear gradually
• We watched the ship gradually fade from view as it sailed away.
• The smile faded from his face.
• Hopes for a quick end of the crisis are fading fast.
• Their reasons for leaving have faded from memory.
• He's trying to recapture the faded glory of his youth.
• The band's popularity has faded in recent years.
2 : to become less bright : to lose color

[no obj]

• The fabric will fade unless you protect it from the sunlight.
• The colors of the photograph have faded with time.

[+ obj]

• Exposure to the elements has faded the car's finish.
• blue jeans faded by wear
• She was wearing faded blue jeans.
3 [no obj] : to change gradually in loudness, strength, or appearance - used to describe a radio signal, a picture in a movie, etc.
• As the hero rides into the sunset, the screen fades to black. [=the image gradually changes until the screen is completely black]
- often + in or out
• One scene fades out as the next fades in.
• The radio signal faded out as we got further from the station.
• The sound of her voice gradually faded out.

American English

British English

becoming and making less strong

B2 (Upper-intermediate)

fade away

phrasal verb

Search form

phrasal verb

come up with something

get to sb

(SUFFER)

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