Phrasal Verbs/A
Phrasal verbs beginning with A. Select a phrasal verb for more details.account for FORMAL
If you account for something, you explain how it came to be the way it is.
act as
to perform the same function as a particular person or thing
act for
If you act for someone, you represent them.
act on
If you act on somebody's advice, you do as they suggest.
act out
If you act out, you express your feelings through acts or words.
act up INFORMAL
If a part of your body or a piece of equipment acts up, it doesn't work properly.
add to
If something adds to something, it makes it better, greater, stronger or more extreme in some way.
add up
to add two or more numbers in order to find the total amount
add up to
If two or more numbers add up to another number, this is the total you get if you add them together.
adhere to FORMAL
If you adhere to a law, a rule or a contract, you obey it or follow it.
advise against FORMAL
to suggest to someone that they should not do something they are thinking of doing
advise of FORMAL
If you advise someone of something, you tell them about it.
agree with
If a certain place or lifestyle agrees with you, it suits you and is good for you.
aim at
If you aim a product or a creative work at a particular group of people, you see those people as your market or your audience.
allow for
to consider something, or take it into account, when making plans or making a decision
allude to FORMAL
to mention or refer to something or someone in an indirect way
amount to
to be similar to, or to have the same effect as
answer back
to reply rudely to someone who is in a position of authority, such as a teacher, a parent or a coach
answer for
to be held responsible for something
appeal for
to ask for something, usually in order to help deal with a crisis or an emergency
appeal to
If something appeals to you, you like it.
apply to
If something applies to you, it is relevant to you or you are affected by it.
arrive at
to reach a result, a conclusion or a decision after considering relevant factors or details
ask after
If you ask after someone, you ask about them when you talk to someone who's seen them recently.
ask for
to let someone know that you'd like them to give you something
ask out
If you ask somebody out, you ask someone you like to go on a date with you.
ask over
If you ask some people over, you invite them to your house.
associate with
If you associate with someone, you regularly spend time with them.
attach to
to believe that something has importance or significance in relation to something else
attend to
to deal with something or someone
attribute to
to believe that something results directly from a certain event or fact
auction off
to sell something to the highest bidder at an auction
average out at
to come to a certain amount on average