37 Useful Business Phrasal Verbs with Examples

Last updated on July 1, 2024 by Isabella Claire

Business phrasal verbs are key to mastering English communication in professional settings. This reference includes sections on the list of common business phrasal verbs and their meanings with examples.

You will find phrasal verbs like “branch out,” “break into,” “carry on,” and many more. These phrasal verbs combine a regular verb with an adverb or preposition to create new meanings, essential for talking to colleagues and clients effectively.

List of Common Business Phrasal Verbs

Business Phrasal Verbs
Business Phrasal Verbs – Created by 7ESL
Branch out Break into Carry on Close down
Look forward to Note down Step down Take off
Take up Weigh up Back up Come up
Get on Keep up with Set up Go through
Find out Call off Call back Deal with
Drop in Fill out Hold on Join in
Lay off Put back Run out of Sort out
Take on Take over Bail out Cut back
Go under Fall through Pull out Bottom out
Level off

Business Phrasal Verbs with Meaning and Examples

In this section, we will discuss several business phrasal verbs that are commonly used in professional settings. By understanding their meanings and using them in appropriate situations, we can communicate more effectively and professionally.

Branch out

  • Meaning: Expand or diversify one’s interests, skills, or areas of expertise.
  • Example: We decided to branch out into new markets to increase our client base.

Break into

  • Meaning:  Entering a new field or industry, often with effort or force.
  • Example: He finally broke into the competitive finance industry after years of networking and studying.

Carry on

  • Meaning:  Continue working or doing something.
  • Example: After a short break, we carried on with our project to meet the deadline.

Close down

  • Meaning: Ending operations or ceasing to function, usually for a business or organization.
  • Example: The store had to close down after facing financial difficulties.

Look forward to

  • Meaning: Expresses anticipation or eagerness for something in the future.
  • Example: We look forward to launching our new product next month.

Note down

  • Meaning: Write something for future reference or to remember it.
  • Example: Please note down the instructions, so we don’t forget the details later.

Step down

  • Meaning: Resigning or leaving a position of authority or responsibility.
  • Example: The CEO decided to step down after years of dedicated service to the company.

Take off

  • Meaning:  Suggests rapid growth, success, or launch of something.
  • Example: Our new marketing campaign really took off and helped increase sales significantly.

Take up

  • Meaning: Accepting a job, task, or challenge.
  • Example: She decided to take up the offer for a higher position within the company.

Weigh up 

  • Meaning:  To carefully consider the pros and cons of a situation or decision.
  • Example: We need to weigh up the benefits and risks of this investment opportunity

Back up

  • Meaning: Supporting or providing evidence for a statement or claim.
  • Example: Can you please back up your argument with some data?

Carry out

  • Meaning: To perform or complete a task or action.
  • Example: We need to carry out market research before launching the new product.

Come up

  • Meaning: To think of or suggest a new idea or solution.
  • Example: We need to come up with a strategy to increase sales.

Get on 

  • Meaning: To have a good relationship with someone or to make progress.
  • Example: The project is getting on track, and we should be able to meet the deadline.

Keep up with

  • Meaning: To stay informed or to match the pace of something.
  • Example: We need to keep up with the latest trends in the industry to remain competitive.

Set up

  • Meaning: To establish or arrange something.
  • Example: We need to set up a meeting with the investors to discuss the project.

Go through

  • Meaning: To examine or review something carefully.
  • Example: We need to go through the contract before signing it.

Find out

  • Meaning: To discover or obtain information.
  • Example: We need to find out why the sales have dropped in the last quarter.

Call off

  • Meaning: To cancel or terminate an event or activity.
  • Example: We had to call off the meeting due to an emergency.

Call back

  • Meaning: To return a phone call or ask someone to return.
  • Example: We need to call back the client to confirm the order.

Deal with

  • Meaning: To handle a situation or problem.
  • Example: We need to deal with the customer complaints before they escalate.

Drop in

  • Meaning: To visit someone or somewhere without making an appointment.
  • Example:I decided to drop in on my colleague to discuss the project.

Fill out

  • Meaning: To complete a form or document.
  • Example: Please fill out this form and return it to us by the end of the week.

Hold on

  • Meaning: To wait for a short time.
  • Example: Can you hold on for a moment while I transfer your call?

Join in

  • Meaning: To participate in an activity.
  • Example: We encourage our employees to join in the company’s volunteer activities.

Lay off

  • Meaning: To dismiss employees from their job.
  • Example: The company had to lay off some employees due to the economic downturn.

Put back

  • Meaning: To postpone or reschedule an event or meeting.
  • Example: We had to put back the meeting until next week due to scheduling conflicts.

Run out of

  • Meaning: To exhaust the supply of something.
  • Example: We ran out of printer paper, so we need to order more.

Sort out

  • Meaning: To resolve a problem or issue.
  • Example: We need to sort out the billing discrepancies before we can proceed.

Take on

  • Meaning: To accept a responsibility or task.
  • Example: We decided to take on the new project despite the tight deadline.

Take over

  • Meaning: To assume control or responsibility for something.
  • Example: The new CEO will take over the company’s operations next month.

Bail out

  • Meaning: To rescue somebody from a difficult situation, especially financial problems
  • Example: The government decided to bail out the struggling airline.

Cut back

  • Meaning: To reduce expenses or operations.
  • Example: We need to cut back on our spending to stay within budget.

Go under

  • Meaning: To go bankrupt or out of business.
  • Example: If the company doesn’t start making a profit soon, it could go under.

Fall through

  • Meaning: If an agreement, plan, sale etc. falls through, it is not completed successfully
  • Example: The merger fell through due to disagreements between the two companies.

Pull out

  • Meaning: To withdraw from a project or business.
  • Example: The company decided to pull out of the market due to low sales.

Bottom out

  • Meaning: To reach the lowest point before improving.
  • Example: The stock prices have bottomed out and are expected to rise soon.

Level off

  • Meaning: To stop rising or falling and become steady
  • Example: Inflation has begun to level off.
Phrasal Verbs for Business
Phrasal Verbs for Business – Created by 7ESL

Business Phrasal Verbs in English | Video

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