Business Phrasal Verbs: 60+ Professional English Phrases for Work
You can have perfect grammar and still sound unprofessional in English. The reason? Native speakers in business use phrasal verbs constantly — in meetings, emails, negotiations, and casual office talk. If you do not know them, you miss half of what is being said.
This guide covers 60+ business phrasal verbs organized by workplace situation. Each one includes a clear meaning, a professional example, and a note on formality level. Whether you work in an international company, prepare for a job interview, or want to sound more natural in business English — this list is your reference.
- Total phrasal verbs: 60+
- Level: B2–C1 (upper-intermediate to advanced)
- Best for: professionals, job seekers, business English students, IELTS/BEC preparation
How These Phrasal Verbs Were Selected
Business phrasal verbs differ from general ones because they carry specific professional meaning. “Run into” in daily English means “to meet someone by chance.” In a business context, “run into problems” means “to encounter unexpected difficulties.”
We selected these phrasal verbs based on:
- Frequency in business communication — emails, meetings, reports, and presentations
- Professional contexts — finance, management, projects, negotiations, HR
- Formality — most are appropriate for both spoken and written business English
Meetings and Discussions
Phrasal verbs you hear and use in every meeting.
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| bring up | to introduce a topic for discussion | I would like to bring up the issue of overtime before we finish. |
| go over | to review or examine something in detail | Let us go over the quarterly numbers one more time. |
| come up | to be mentioned or arise unexpectedly | An interesting point came up during the discussion. |
| run through | to review quickly from beginning to end | Can you run through the agenda before we start? |
| wrap up | to finish or conclude | We need to wrap up by 3 PM — the room is booked after that. |
| follow up on | to take further action on something previously discussed | I will follow up on the client feedback and report back Friday. |
| touch base | to make brief contact to share updates | Let us touch base tomorrow morning about the status. |
| weigh in on | to offer your opinion on something being discussed | I would like everyone to weigh in on this proposal before we vote. |
| put forward | to suggest an idea or proposal for consideration | She put forward a plan to reduce costs by 15%. |
| shoot down | to reject an idea (informal) | Every suggestion I make gets shot down in these meetings. |
Formality note: “Touch base” and “shoot down” are informal — use them in spoken meetings, not in formal reports. “Put forward” and “follow up on” work in both spoken and written English.
Negotiations and Deals
Phrasal verbs for discussing terms, closing deals, and handling conflict.
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| back out of | to withdraw from a deal or commitment | The investor backed out of the agreement at the last minute. |
| come to | to reach (an agreement, decision, or amount) | After three rounds of talks, both sides came to an agreement. |
| give in | to agree to something you initially resisted | The supplier refused to lower prices, but eventually gave in. |
| go along with | to agree with or support a plan | The board decided to go along with the merger proposal. |
| hold out for | to refuse to accept less than what you want | They are holding out for a higher valuation before selling. |
| lay out | to present or explain clearly and in detail | The CEO laid out her vision for the next five years. |
| pull out of | to withdraw from a project, deal, or partnership | Two partners pulled out of the venture after the risk assessment. |
| settle on | to agree on something after discussion | We settled on a price of $45 per unit. |
| talk over | to discuss something thoroughly before deciding | Can we talk this over before giving them an answer? |
| work out | to resolve through discussion; to calculate | We need to work out the details of the payment schedule. |
Projects and Deadlines
Phrasal verbs for managing tasks, timelines, and workload.
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| carry on | to continue with something | We will carry on with phase two as planned. |
| fall behind | to fail to keep up with a schedule or target | We are falling behind on the delivery timeline. |
| hand over | to transfer responsibility to someone else | She handed over the project to her successor before leaving. |
| hold up | to delay or cause a delay | The legal review held up the launch by two weeks. |
| keep up with | to maintain the same pace or standard | It is hard to keep up with all the changes in regulation. |
| kick off | to start (a project, meeting, or campaign) | We will kick off the new marketing campaign next Monday. |
| push back | to delay a deadline; to resist or disagree | The client pushed back the deadline to the end of March. |
| put off | to postpone to a later time | We had to put off the product launch due to supply issues. |
| set up | to organize, establish, or arrange | I will set up a call with the London team for Thursday. |
| take over | to assume control or responsibility | When the CEO retired, the COO took over day-to-day operations. |
| turn around | to complete a process; to improve a bad situation | We can turn this project around if we add two more developers. |
Emails and Professional Communication
Phrasal verbs that appear constantly in business emails.
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| fill in | to provide missing information; to inform someone | Could you fill me in on what happened at the conference? |
| get back to | to respond or reply at a later time | Let me check the figures and get back to you by end of day. |
| look into | to investigate or research | We are looking into the issue and will provide an update soon. |
| pass on | to forward information to someone else | I will pass on your feedback to the product team. |
| point out | to draw attention to something important | I would like to point out that the budget does not include travel costs. |
| reach out to | to contact someone (often for the first time) | We reached out to three potential vendors for quotes. |
| send out | to distribute to a group of people | Please send out the meeting minutes to all attendees. |
| sort out | to resolve or organize | We need to sort out the invoicing error before month-end. |
| write up | to produce a written document from notes or discussions | I will write up the meeting notes and share them this afternoon. |
| cc in | to include someone in email communication | Please cc me in on any correspondence with the supplier. |
Email tip: “Get back to you,” “look into,” and “reach out” are among the most common phrasal verbs in professional emails. Using them naturally makes your writing sound polished and fluent.
Leadership and Management
Phrasal verbs for giving direction, managing teams, and making decisions.
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| bring on board | to hire or recruit someone to a team | We are bringing on board a new data analyst next quarter. |
| crack down on | to take strict action against something | Management is cracking down on late submissions. |
| delegate to | to assign a task to someone else | You should delegate the report to someone on your team. |
| let go | to dismiss an employee (euphemism for firing) | The company let go of 50 employees during the restructuring. |
| report to | to be accountable to a supervisor or manager | In the new structure, all regional managers report to the VP. |
| step down | to resign from a position (usually voluntarily) | The chairman stepped down after 12 years in the role. |
| step up | to take on more responsibility or leadership | When the manager was on leave, she stepped up to lead the team. |
| take charge of | to assume control and responsibility | He took charge of the crisis response and organized the team quickly. |
| turn down | to reject an offer or proposal | She turned down the promotion because it required relocation. |
| win over | to persuade someone to support you or your idea | The new director won over the skeptics with her transparent approach. |
Financial and Reporting
Phrasal verbs for discussing numbers, results, and business performance.
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| add up | to calculate a total; to make logical sense | The costs are adding up faster than projected. |
| break even | to reach a point where revenue equals costs (no profit, no loss) | The startup expects to break even by the end of year two. |
| cash in on | to profit from an opportunity | Several companies cashed in on the remote work trend. |
| cut back on | to reduce spending or usage | We need to cut back on travel expenses this quarter. |
| eat into | to gradually reduce or consume (profits, savings) | Rising material costs are eating into our profit margins. |
| pay off | to yield positive results after effort or investment | The investment in employee training finally paid off — productivity rose 20%. |
| run up | to accumulate (debt, costs, expenses) | The project ran up costs far beyond the original budget. |
| scale up | to increase in size, quantity, or scope | After the successful pilot, we will scale up to all regional offices. |
| write off | to accept a financial loss; to dismiss as unlikely to succeed | The company wrote off $3 million in bad debt last year. |
Business Phrasal Verbs to Practice
Here are 25 useful B2–C1 words for professional contexts. Click any word to see its definition, pronunciation, and examples.
executive
adjective
Relating to people in high positions of management or authority.
Examples
- Executive decisions require careful consideration of multiple factors and consequences.
- The executive branch of government is responsible for implementing laws.
finance
verb
This verb means to provide money for a project or activity, or to manage financial matters.
Examples
- Many students need loans to finance their college education expenses.
- The bank agreed to finance the construction of the new shopping center.
valid
adjective
Having legal or official force; acceptable.
Examples
- Valid argument supports logical reasoning and conclusion.
- Valid passport allows international travel without problems.
flexible
adjective
Able to change or bend without breaking; adaptable.
Examples
- Flexible working arrangements help employees balance work and family life.
- The flexible plastic tube can bend without breaking or cracking.
payable
adjective
Able to be paid; due for payment.
Examples
- All dues are payable at the end of the month.
- The invoice is payable within 30 days.
serenity
noun
A state of calm, peacefulness, and mental clarity.
Examples
- She maintained her serenity despite the chaos.
- The serenity of the lake was calming.
execution
noun
The act of carrying out a plan or law; the process of killing or executing.
Examples
- Perfect execution of the dance routine impressed judges and audience members.
- The execution of the business plan requires careful coordination and timing.
culmination
noun
The highest point or final stage of a process or event.
Examples
- The graduation ceremony was the culmination of four years of hard study.
- Winning the championship represented the culmination of the team's efforts.
territory
noun
An area of land with defined borders, often controlled by a country.
Examples
- Animal territory provides food and shelter resources.
- National territory requires protection from foreign invasion.
inflation
noun
An increase in prices or the general rise in the cost of goods and services.
Examples
- High inflation makes it difficult for families to afford basic necessities.
- The government is taking measures to control inflation and stabilize prices.
setback
noun
An obstacle or problem that delays progress or success.
Examples
- Financial setback delays family vacation plans unfortunately.
- Medical setback requires additional treatment and recovery.
prestige
noun
The respect and admiration that a person or thing earns because of their achievements or qualities.
Examples
- Professional prestige comes from expertise and experience.
- University degree brings prestige and career opportunities.
transmit
verb
To send or pass on information, signals, or messages.
Examples
- Disease may transmit through contact with surfaces.
- Satellites transmit signals across vast distances effectively.
ban
verb
To officially prohibit or forbid something by law or authority.
Examples
- Many countries ban certain chemicals in food production for safety.
- The city decided to ban smoking in all public places.
content
noun
The information or feelings that are inside or expressed by someone or something.
rally
verb
To come together in a large group to support or protest for a cause.
Examples
- Community members rally to help flood victims.
- Patient begins to rally after serious surgery.
effectively
adverb
In a way that produces the desired result or with skill.
Examples
- Technology helps teachers communicate more effectively with their students daily.
- The medicine works effectively to reduce pain and inflammation quickly.
metric
adjective
Relating to measurement or a system of measurement.
Examples
- Metric measurements are based on units of ten for convenience.
- Most countries use metric system for measuring distance and weight.
catalog
noun
A book or list that shows items, often with descriptions or prices.
Examples
- She browsed through the fashion catalog to choose new clothes.
- The library catalog helps students find books and research materials quickly.
sprint
noun
A quick run over a short distance.
Examples
- Final sprint determines race winner at finish.
- Olympic sprint requires explosive speed and power.
index
noun
A list showing the order or importance of items or topics.
Examples
- The stock market index shows the overall performance of major companies.
- Use the index at the back of the book to find specific topics quickly.
export
verb
To send goods to another country for sale.
Examples
- Many companies export their products to international markets for profit.
- The country exports large quantities of oil to neighboring nations.
resolve
verb
To find a solution or answer to a problem or question.
Examples
- Mediator helps parties resolve dispute through negotiation.
- Technical team will resolve software problems quickly.
How to Study Business Phrasal Verbs
1. Learn by work situation. The categories above match real workplace scenarios. Before a meeting, review the Meetings section. Before writing an important email, scan the Emails section. Context-specific learning sticks faster.
2. Replace basic verbs in your emails. Next time you write “I will check” in an email, replace it with “I will look into.” Instead of “Please tell the team,” write “Please pass this on to the team.” This daily substitution builds fluency fast.
3. Listen to business podcasts. Shows like Harvard Business Review IdeaCast and The Economist Podcasts are full of business phrasal verbs in natural context. Note any you hear and add them to your vocabulary journal.
4. Practice in roleplay. Simulate a meeting with a language partner. One person presents a project update; the other asks questions. Try to use at least 5 phrasal verbs from this list during the conversation.
For more vocabulary strategies, read our guide on how to improve your vocabulary.
Common Mistakes in Business English
1. Using informal phrasal verbs in formal reports. “Shoot down” and “kick off” are fine in meetings but too casual for annual reports. Use “reject” and “launch” in formal writing.
2. Confusing similar phrasal verbs. “Back out of” (withdraw) vs. “back up” (support). “Hold up” (delay) vs. “hold out for” (insist on). The preposition changes everything — always learn the full phrase.
3. Overusing “get back to you.” It is a useful phrase, but if every email says “I will get back to you,” it sounds like you never have answers. Vary it: “I will follow up on this,” “I will look into it and confirm by Friday.”
4. Mixing formal and informal register. “Pursuant to our discussion, I will sort this out ASAP” mixes very formal (“pursuant to”) with informal (“sort out,” “ASAP”). Keep a consistent tone throughout.
What to Do Next
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Learn the 100 essential phrasal verbs. For a comprehensive list across all topics, see our 100 phrasal verbs with meanings and sentences.
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Explore more phrasal verbs. For C1–C2 level phrasal verbs across all contexts, see our advanced phrasal verbs guide.
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Build your professional vocabulary. Browse our work vocabulary lists for more business-related words beyond phrasal verbs.
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Prepare for exams. If you are taking IELTS or Cambridge BEC, these phrasal verbs improve your Lexical Resource score. Check our IELTS vocabulary guide for exam strategies.
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Follow a study system. Use our step-by-step vocabulary learning system to build a consistent daily habit.
FAQ
What are the most important business phrasal verbs?
The 10 most frequently used in business communication are: “follow up on,” “get back to,” “look into,” “set up,” “carry on,” “sort out,” “take over,” “bring up,” “go over,” and “wrap up.” If you learn only 10, make it these — they cover meetings, emails, and project management.
Can I use phrasal verbs in formal business writing?
Yes, but choose the right ones. “Look into,” “carry out,” “point out,” “set up,” and “follow up on” are professional and appropriate for formal emails and reports. Avoid informal ones like “shoot down,” “kick off,” or “touch base” in written documents — save those for spoken communication.
What is the difference between business and general phrasal verbs?
General phrasal verbs have everyday meanings: “pick up” = lift, “give up” = stop trying. Business phrasal verbs carry professional context: “pick up” = improve/increase (sales picked up), “scale up” = expand operations. Many phrasal verbs have both general and business meanings — the context determines which is intended.
How many phrasal verbs do I need for business English?
Knowing 40–50 business phrasal verbs covers most professional situations. The 60+ in this article give you a comprehensive toolkit. Focus first on the Meetings and Emails sections — those two situations account for most of your daily professional communication.
How do I remember business phrasal verbs?
The most effective method is immediate use. After learning “follow up on,” send an actual email using it today. After learning “wrap up,” use it in your next meeting. Active use within 24 hours creates a much stronger memory than flashcards alone. Combine with spaced repetition in Linglify for best results.
