Phrasal Verb 'Be'

We have 36 phrasal verb definitions related to 'Be'.

Be after

Meaning: Try to find or get

Example: The police ARE AFTER him because of the theft.

Notes:

• Inseparable
• International English

Be along

Meaning: Arrive

Example: The next bus should BE ALONG in the next quarter of an hour or so.

Notes:

• Intransitive
• International English

Be away

Meaning: Be elsewhere; on holiday, etc.

Example: She's AWAY on business for three weeks.

Notes:

• Intransitive
• International English

Be cut out for

Meaning: Be suitable, have the necessary qualities

Example: She's not CUT OUT FOR this kind of work.

Notes:

• Inseparable
• International English

Be cut up

Meaning: Be upset

Example: She was very CUT UP about coming second as she thought she deserved to win.

Notes:

• Intransitive
• International English

Be down

Meaning: Be depressed

Example: He's BEEN DOWN since his partner left him.

Notes:

• Intransitive
• International English

Be down

Meaning: Be reduced or less

Example: The firm's profits ARE DOWN by ten percent this quarter.

Notes:

• Intransitive
• International English

Be down on

Meaning: Have negative feelings toward someone

Example: After the argument, James is DOWN ON his boss.

Notes:

• Inseparable
• International English

Be down with

Meaning: Be ill

Example: Gul is DOWN WITH some bug and is off work today.

Notes:

• Inseparable
• International English

Be fed up

Meaning: Be bored, upset or sick of something

Example: I AM FED UP of his complaints.

Notes:

• Intransitive
• International English

Be in

Meaning: Be at home or at work

Example: They ARE never IN; I always get their answerphone.

Notes:

• Intransitive
• International English

Be in

Meaning: Be submitted, arrive

Example: The application form must BE IN by 3pm on Friday.

Notes:

• Intransitive
• International English

Be in on

Meaning: Be involved in

Example: Susan was the only one who WASN'T IN ON the plan.

Notes:

• Inseparable
• International English

Be into

Meaning: Like

Example: I AM INTO classical music.

Notes:

• Inseparable
• International English

Be not on

Meaning: Be unacceptable

Example: The way he's behaving IS just NOT ON.

Notes:

• Intransitive
• International English

Be off

Meaning: Be bad (of food)

Example: This yoghurt must BE OFF; it smells foul.

Notes:

• Intransitive
• International English

Be off

Meaning: Depart, leave

Example: I'm OFF home; it's five o'clock.

Notes:

• Intransitive
• International English

Be on

Meaning: Be functioning (of machines)

Example: The computer IS ON.

Notes:

• Intransitive
• International English

Be on

Meaning: Take place

Example: The show IS ON for the next three months.

Notes:

• Intransitive
• International English

Be on

Meaning: Take medication or drugs, especially when they affect the person badly

Example: He IS ON anti-depressants and has become very difficult to please.

Notes:

• Inseparable
• International English

Be on

Meaning: Be at the top of one’s game, performing very well

Example: He IS really ON right now- three goals in five minutes!

Notes:

• Inseparable
• American English

Be on about

Meaning: Mean, try to say

Example: I couldn't understand what he WAS ON ABOUT- it made no sense.

Notes:

• Inseparable
• International English

Be onto

Meaning: Pursue, be aware of someone's true nature

Example: He's being very careful because he thinks the police ARE ONTO him.

Notes:

• Inseparable
• International English

Be out

Meaning: Be absent from a place

Example: She IS OUT on a visit for the day.

Notes:

• Intransitive
• International English

Be out of

Meaning: Have no more left

Example: We're OUT OF coffee so I'll have to go and get some.

Notes:

• Inseparable
• International English

Be out to

Meaning: Attempt

Example: She IS OUT TO get him sacked because she hates him.

Notes:

• Inseparable
• International English

Be snowed under

Meaning: Have too much work

Example: We're completely SNOWED UNDER at work because it's the end of the tax year.

Notes:

• Intransitive
• International English

Be taken aback

Meaning: Be shocked or surprised

Example: I WAS TAKEN ABACK when I saw him because he's lost all his hair.

Notes:

• Intransitive
• International English

Be taken with

Meaning: Like something

Example: I WAS very TAKEN WITH the performance- it was superb.

Notes:

• Inseparable
• International English

Be to do with

Meaning: Be connected with

Example: He said the meeting IS TO DO WITH a complaint.

Notes:

• Intransitive
• International English
• Contributed By: Steve

Be up

Meaning: Be out of bed

Example: She's not UP yet.

Notes:

• Intransitive
• International English

Be up

Meaning: Have increased or risen

Example: The company's profits ARE UP by fifteen percent.

Notes:

• Intransitive
• International English

Be up

Meaning: When the time for something finishes or expires

Example: Time's UP, please finish your drinks and leave.

Notes:

• Intransitive
• International English

Be up for

Meaning: Be enthusiastic about an upcoming event

Example: ARE you UP FOR the climb of Mt. Blanc?

Notes:

• Inseparable
• International English

Be up to

Meaning: Be good enough

Example: He's not UP TO the job; get someone else.

Notes:

• Inseparable
• International English

Be up to

Meaning: Doing something naughty or wrong

Example: What are those kids UP TO?

Notes:

• Inseparable
• International English