Phrasal verbs with "out" usually express ideas of exit, removal, exposure, or completion. The particle "out" often implies something coming to the surface, leaving a space, or being fully used or revealed.
Common meanings of "out" in phrasal verbs
- Leaving or exiting (e.g. go out, walk out)
- Extinguishing or stopping (e.g. put out, blow out)
- Making something public or visible (e.g. find out, point out)
- Using up or exhausting (e.g. run out, wear out)
Tips to remember
- Think of "out" as something moving away from inside, or becoming visible or finished.
- Many "out" verbs relate to discovery, ending, or exposure.
Example
I found out the truth and then put out the lights.
Full list of phrasal verbs with out
be out
to be absent or not at home
be out of
to have no more of something
break out
to start suddenly (fire, war, disease)
bring out
to make something noticeable or visible
come out
to appear or become visible or known
fall out
to stop being friends or in agreement
get out
to leave or escape from a place
give out
to distribute something to people
go out
to leave a place, especially your home
leave out
to omit something or someone
make out
to understand or see clearly
run out
to use all of something and have none left
send out
to distribute or dispatch something (e.g., letters, invitations, troops)
stand out
to be noticeable or easily seen or recognized because of being different or better
take out
to remove something from a place
take out on
to direct your anger or frustration toward someone or something unfairly