21 Phrasal Verbs with Be in English

Last updated on July 1, 2024 by Isabella Claire

Exploring phrasal verbs can greatly improve your English skills. In this reference, you will find a range of commonly used phrasal verbs with be, complete with meanings and examples to help you grasp their usage. Whether you’re a non-native speaker aiming to enhance your English or a native speaker looking to broaden your vocabulary, these insights into essential phrasal verbs will be beneficial.

List of Phrasal Verbs with BE

  • Be above
  • Be along
  • Be around
  • Be cut out for
  • Be down
  • Be down to
  • Be down on
  • Be down
  • Be fed up
  • Be in for
  • Be in on
  • Be on about
  • Be on to
  • Be out for
  • Be there for
  • Be snowed under
  • Be taken aback
  • Be taken with
  • Be up for
  • Be up to
  • Be with
21 Phrasal Verbs with Be in EnglishPin
Common Phrasal Verbs with Be – Created by 7ESL

Phrasal Verbs with BE: Meanings and Examples

Be above

Be above

  • Meaning: To consider something beneath one’s dignity, to regard something as unworthy of one’s attention or effort.
  • Example: He is above seeking revenge and prefers to forgive and move on.

Be above

  • Meaning: To be higher in rank or to hold a superior position.
  • Example: The CEO is above the managers in the company hierarchy.

Be along, Be around

Be along

  • Meaning: To come, to show up
  • Example: They are expecting the delivery to be along by noon.

Be around

  • Meaning: To exist or to be in existence
  • Example: The dinosaurs are no longer around and have been extinct for millions of years.

Be around

  • Meaning: To spend time with, to socialize with
  • Example:  She likes to be around her family during the holidays.

Be cut out for, Be down, Be down to, Be down on, Be down

Be cut out for

  • Meaning: To be suited for, to have the right aptitude or ability for
  • Example: She is cut out for a career in medicine because she has a natural talent for helping people.

Be down

  • Meaning: To feel blue, to be in a low mood
  • Example: He is down with a chronic illness that affects his daily life.

Be down to

  • Meaning: To be decreased or diminished
  • Example: The water level in the reservoir is down to a critical level due to the drought.

Be down on

  • Meaning: To hold a negative opinion or attitude towards someone.
  • Example: She is down on her ex-boy friend, as he cheated on her.

Be down with

  • Meaning: To be sick or unwell
  • Example: Are you down with any symptoms of illness right now?

Be fed up, Be in for, Be in on

Be fed up

  • Meaning: To feel tired, annoyed, or dissatisfied with something
  • Example: She is fed up with her boss and is considering quitting her job.

Be in for

  • Meaning: To be about to experience something, usually negative, that one can anticipate or expect
  • Example: They are in for a shock when they see the damage to their house from the storm.

Be in for

  • Meaning: To be facing or about to receive a punishment or consequence, which can include being incarcerated for a crime
  • Example: He is in for life for a series of violent offenses.

Be in on

  • Meaning: To be involved or included in a secret or confidential matter that is known by a small group of people
  • Example: They are in on the secret project that their team is working on.

Be on about, Be on to, Be out for, Be there for

Be on about

  • Meaning: To be discussing or talking about a particular topic or subject, or to have a specific intention or meaning behind one’s words or actions
  • Example: Why are you on about that again? We’ve already discussed it.

Be on to

  • Meaning: To discover or become aware of something, usually a truth or hidden information, often as a result of investigation or careful observation.
  • Example: He was on to the scam from the very beginning.

Be out for

  • Meaning: To have a strong desire or intention to pursue something, often with the goal of benefiting oneself
  • Example: She is always out for new opportunities to advance her career.

Be there for

  • Meaning: To be present and offer emotional or practical support to someone, particularly during a challenging or difficult time
  • Example: Why aren’t you there for your friend who’s going through a tough time?

Be snowed under, Be taken aback, Be taken with

Be snowed under

  • Meaning: To be overwhelmed or inundated with a large amount of work or tasks, to the point of struggling to manage or complete them all
  • Example: What were you snowed under with when you missed the deadline?

Be taken aback

  • Meaning: To be surprised or caught off guard by something unexpected or unusual, often resulting in a feeling of shock or disbelief
  • Example: He was taken aback by the unexpected turn of events.

Be taken with

  • Meaning: To be strongly attracted to or fond of something or someone, often resulting in a strong desire to spend time with or possess it/them
  • Example: He was taken with the idea of starting his own business from a young age.

Be up for, Be up to

Be up for

  • Meaning: To be willing or interested in doing something, often with enthusiasm or eagerness
  • Example: She’ll be up for the opportunity to work with a new team on the upcoming project.

Be up to

  • Meaning: To be engaged in or involved in doing something
  • Example: What are you up to this weekend?

Be with

Be with

  • Meaning: To be in a romantic relationship with someone, typically as a boyfriend or girlfriend
  • Example: They were with each other for five years before they got married.

Be with

  • Meaning: To share the same opinion or viewpoint as someone else; to be in agreement with them
  • Example: Will you be with me on the decision to buy a new car?

Be with

  • Meaning: To comprehend or grasp someone’s point of view or intention, often in the context of a conversation or discussion
  • Example: She is with her colleague on the reasoning behind the decision.
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