in

Phrasal Verb Dictionary: M

Phrasal Verb Dictionary: M

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.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M

N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Note: When a word entry includes a p-word enclosed in parentheses, the phrasal verb is a phrasal-prepositional verb.

Phrasal VerbDefinitionCategoryExample
magic awaymake disappear quicklyseparable transitiveHer assistant magicked the situation away.
major instudy primarilyinseparable transitiveI majored in English studies.
make away withstealinseparable transitiveThe robber made away with all the jewels.
make off withstealinseparable transitiveA thief made off with my purse.
make outdecipherseparable transitiveI cannot make out your handwriting.
make outwriteseparable transitiveMy boss made a check out to me.
make outsucceedintransitiveHe makes out pretty well with his writing.
make outprogressintransitiveHow is your son making out at college?
make out (with)kiss passionatelyintransitiveHarry made out with Ginny.
make overredo, do againseparable transitivePlease make the biscuits over.
make upinventseparable transitiveDid you make the story up?
make upcomplete something previously missedseparable transitiveWill the teacher let you make the exam up?
make upput on cosmeticsseparable transitiveShe makes her face up in just minutes.
make up (for)compensate forintransitiveMy husband made up for forgetting my birthday.
make up (with)reconcileintransitiveYou should make up with him.
map outplan in detailseparable transitiveWe mapped our vacation out.
march on (with)continueintransitiveI marched on with my plans.
mark downlower in priceseparable transitiveThe store marked pineapples down.
mark downwrite, make note ofseparable transitiveI marked the date down on my calendar.
mark offseparateseparable transitiveThe police marked the crime scene off.
mark offcheck as finished, finish, deleteseparable transitiveI marked some items off the list.
mark outseparateseparable transitiveShe marked the spot for the garden out.
mark outindicate, denoteseparable transitiveThe teacher marked the mistakes out.
mark upincrease in priceseparable transitiveThe store has marked school supplies up.
marry offgive away for marriageseparable transitiveHer father married her off.
mash upcrush togetherseparable transitiveHe mashed the ingredients up.
match upcoordinateseparable transitiveThe woman matched the couples up.
max outuse allseparable transitiveI maxed my credit cards out.
measure upbe good enoughintransitiveHe will never measure up.
meet up (with)joinintransitiveCan Dad meet up with me tomorrow night?
mellow downrelax, calm downseparable transitiveHe mellowed down after a few drinks.
mellow outrelax, calm downseparable transitiveYou need to mellow your wife out.
melt downturn to waterseparable transitiveShe melted the candles down.
melt downcollapseintransitiveHe melted down during the meeting.
mess aroundbehave stupidly, silly, or without purposedintransitiveThe twins just mess around after school.
mess upmake untidy, dirty, or damagedseparable transitiveThe baby messed the TV up again.
mess withbecome involved (usually negative)intransitiveDo not mess with the toxic chemicals.
mill aboutspend time aimlesslyintransitiveI want to mill about this weekend.
mill aroundspend time aimlesslyintransitiveThe old men milled around during the afternoon.
minor instudy secondarilyinseparable transitiveI minored in creative writing.
miss out (on)lose out, fail to benefitintransitiveI missed out on a great deal.
mist overbecome covered with waterintransitiveHer eyes misted over.
mix inaddseparable transitiveMix the chocolate chips in by hand.
mix upconfuseseparable transitiveShe mixed the dates up.
mix upblend, combineseparable transitiveThe baker mixed the cake batter up.
mix upmake livelyseparable transitiveMix the party up with some disco music.
mock upcreate a modelseparable transitiveThe builder mocked a sample design up.
monkey aroundact sillyintransitiveThe children monkeyed around all day.
mop upclean (usually liquid)separable transitiveShe mopped the spill up.
mouth offspeak rudelyintransitiveThe little boy mouthed off again.
move aheadprogressseparable transitiveWe moved the start date ahead.
move alongprogressseparable transitiveThe police moved the gawkers along.
move awayleaveseparable transitiveHer parents moved her away.
move inbegin living in a new placeintransitiveThe neighbors just moved in.
move in onapproachinseparable transitiveThe lion moved in on its prey.
move in withstart living withinseparable transitiveHer fiancé moved in with her.
move onleave, go elsewhereintransitiveThe squatters moved on.
move on tostart a new activityintransitiveHe moved on to fractions last week.
move outleaveintransitiveThe annoying neighbors finally moved out.
move overchange placesseparable transitiveShe moved the cake over on the counter.
move uplift, increase, advanceseparable transitiveThey moved the wedding date up.
mow downkill a large numberseparable transitiveThe gunman mowed down the crowd.
muck upmess up, spoil, ruinseparable transitiveAn accident mucked my travel plans up.
muddle throughcontinue despite difficultiesinseparable transitiveHe muddled through his homework.
mull overthink about carefully, consider carefullyseparable transitiveShe mulled the idea over.
muss upmess up, spoil, ruinseparable transitiveThe wind mussed my hair up.
muster upgather, congregateseparable transitiveMuster the troops up for battle!

 

A B C D E F G H I J K L M

N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Phrasal Verb Dictionary: L

Phrasal Verb Dictionary: L

Phrasal Verb Dictionary: N

Phrasal Verb Dictionary: N