Phrasal Verbs with Up: Meaning, Examples, and Exercises for English Learners

What comes to mind when you hear about phrasal verbs with up? 🤔 Many teachers sigh, thinking of those “tricky” little constructions that confuse students every single day. Honestly, in my early teaching days, I avoided the topic too. But times change—and today I’ll show you how to turn English verbs with up from a headache into an exciting adventure, with personal stories, practical examples, and even a few exercises 💡. Let’s dive in!

What Are English Phrasal Verbs with Up?

Phrasal verbs with up are combinations of a verb plus a small word (a particle like a preposition or adverb) that create a completely new meaning. For example, to grow up doesn’t mean “to grow something upward” but “to become an adult.” These expressions are everywhere in natural English, and our job as teachers is to help students understand them—without endless memorization 😊.

I remember explaining the difference between to look and to look up. My students looked confused and tried to translate it literally as “to look up.” 🙈 That’s when I realized: you can’t just translate phrasal verbs, you have to show them in context. And that’s how I developed my favorite method—teaching phrasal verbs through real-life situations and humor.

The Meaning of Phrasal Verbs with Up: Logic or Pure Memorization?

Here’s the secret: there is both logic and chaos. Each verb has its own meaning, but up often adds a recognizable “flavor.” 🎯 If students catch the nuance of up, learning becomes much easier.

 Completion of an Action

Up often signals finishing something completely. For example: to use up means “to consume entirely,” and to eat up means “to finish eating.” I once joked in class: “Don’t eat up the cake, leave me a piece!”—and suddenly, everyone remembered it 😂.

 Growth, Increase, or Improvement

Up can indicate improvement or upward movement. For instance, to speed up (“to go faster”) or to cheer up (“to feel happier”). Both show progress or positivity. I like to tell my students: “Up is like a button that boosts energy or volume.” 💡

 Sudden Appearance

Sometimes up signals something unexpected. To show up means “to appear,” while to come up means “to arise suddenly.” Example: “A last-minute task came up, so I had to cancel class.” Students see the real-life context and immediately understand.

Top 10 Phrasal Verbs with Up (Teacher’s Choice)

1. Wake up – to wake from sleep. Great for starting lessons: “Wake up, it’s English time!”
2. Give up – to quit. A motivational favorite: “Never give up” 🚀.
3. Grow up – to become an adult. Works well with children’s future dreams: “When I grow up…”
4. Bring up – to raise a child or a topic. Bring up a child vs. bring up an issue.
5. Set up – to arrange or organize. For meetings, businesses, or systems.
6. Pick up – to collect or learn quickly. Pick up a pen, pick up a friend, pick up new words.
7. Catch up – to reach the same level. Example: catch up with the class.
8. Make up – to invent or reconcile. Make up a story vs. make up with a friend.
9. Turn up – to appear or increase volume. Turn up at a party or turn up the music.
10. Wrap up – to finish. Perfect for ending lessons: “Let’s wrap up”.

Phrasal Verbs with Up: Exercises to Energize Your Lessons

• Fill-in-the-blank stories: Create a funny story with missing phrasal verbs for students to complete.
• Phrasal charades: Students act out verbs like stand up or grow up, while others guess.
• Explain without translation: Groups describe meanings using gestures, synonyms, or mini-skits. 🎯

These activities keep lessons engaging and help learners remember naturally. I usually start teaching phrasal verbs with up at the Intermediate (B1) level, when students are ready for more natural English.

Conclusion: Motivation and Real Experience

I used to be afraid of phrasal verbs myself. But experience, practice, and professional development—especially earning my TEFL certification—changed everything. This certificate not only improved my teaching skills but also opened doors worldwide. 🌍

If you’re a teacher (or planning to become one), don’t fear phrasal verbs. Use them as a tool to make your classes dynamic and authentic. Watching a student’s eyes light up when they finally understand to give up or to grow up is priceless. So don’t give up—keep growing up as a teacher too 💖.