Mastering 9 Phrasal Verbs with SEND: Meanings, Examples & Exercises

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Phrasal verbs with SEND are common in everyday English, especially when talking about communication, delivery, requests, and dispatching people or things. However, many learners find these expressions confusing because the meanings are not always literal.

In this lesson, you’ll learn a carefully revised list of common phrasal verbs with SEND, with accurate meanings, natural examples, pronunciation, grammar notes, and clear usage guidance. Special attention is given to avoiding unnatural or misleading meanings and to distinguishing between everyday English and formal writing.

List of Common Phrasal Verbs with SEND

Common phrasal verbs with send in English with meanings and examplesPin

  • send away
  • send away for
  • send back
  • send down
  • send off
  • send in
  • send out
  • send for
  • send up 

Phrasal Verbs with SEND: Meaning and Examples

Send away

πŸ”Š Pronunciation: /send Ι™ΛˆweΙͺ/

πŸ“– Meaning 1: To tell someone to leave; to dismiss someone.

πŸ“ Example: The manager sent away the customer who was causing trouble.

πŸ“– Meaning 2: To send someone to a distant place, often implying separation or removal.

πŸ“ Example: His parents decided to send him away to boarding school.

πŸ’‘ Grammar Note: Transitive – Inseparable

πŸ”„ Synonyms: Dismiss, Remove

Send away for

πŸ”Š Pronunciation: /send Ι™ΛˆweΙͺ fɔːr/

πŸ“– Meaning: To order or request something to be delivered.

πŸ“ Example: They sent away for a replacement part.

πŸ’‘ Grammar Note: Transitive – Inseparable

πŸ”„ Synonyms: Order, Request

Send back

πŸ”Š Pronunciation: /send bΓ¦k/

πŸ“– Meaning: To return something to its original sender or place.

πŸ“ Example: She had to send back the dress because it didn’t fit.

πŸ’‘ Usage Note: Avoid using send back to mean β€œevoke memories.” Native speakers prefer bring back memories or take someone back.

πŸ’‘ Grammar Note: Transitive – Separable

πŸ”„ Synonyms: Return

Send down

πŸ”Š Pronunciation: /send daʊn/

πŸ“– Meaning 1 (British English): To expel a student from a university.

πŸ“ Example: He was sent down for cheating.

πŸ“– Meaning 2 (Informal): To sentence someone to prison.

πŸ“ Example: The judge sent him down for five years.

πŸ“– Meaning 3 (American English – Sports): To move a player to a lower-level team.

πŸ“ Example: The club sent down the pitcher to the minor leagues.

πŸ’‘ Usage Note: Meaning 3 is specialized sports terminology.

Send off

πŸ”Š Pronunciation: /send Ι’f/

πŸ“– Meaning: To dispatch something or say goodbye formally.

πŸ“ Example: They sent off the parcel this morning.

πŸ’‘ Grammar Note: Transitive – Separable

Send in

πŸ”Š Pronunciation: /send Ιͺn/

πŸ“– Meaning: To submit something for review or approval.

πŸ“ Example: Please send in your application by Friday.

πŸ’‘ Formal Writing Tip: In academic or professional writing, submit is often preferred.

Send out

πŸ”Š Pronunciation: /send aʊt/

πŸ“– Meaning: To distribute something to many people.

πŸ“ Example: The company sent out invitations to all clients.

Send for

πŸ”Š Pronunciation: /send fɔːr/

πŸ“– Meaning: To request someone to come or something to be delivered.

πŸ“ Example: The doctor sent for a specialist.

Send up

πŸ”Š Pronunciation: /send ʌp/

πŸ“– Meaning 1: To mock or imitate humorously.

πŸ“ Example: The comedian loves to send up politicians.

πŸ“– Meaning 2 (Informal / Slang): To imprison someone (rare in modern usage).

πŸ“ Example: He was sent up for tax fraud.

Dialogue Examples with Phrasal Verbs with SEND

Dialogue 1: Job Application

A: Have you applied for the marketing position yet?
B: Yes, I sent in my resume and cover letter yesterday.
A: Great! Did you submit everything online?
B: Yes. They asked applicants to send in all documents through their website.

Dialogue 2: Online Shopping

A: Why are you returning that jacket?
B: I had to send it back. The size was completely wrong.
A: Did the store respond quickly?
B: Yes, they emailed me right after I sent it back.

Dialogue 3: Office Communication

A: Have you contacted all the clients about the meeting?
B: Not yet. I’ll send out the invitations this afternoon.
A: Make sure everyone gets the updated schedule.
B: Don’t worry. I’ll send out a reminder as well.

Dialogue 4: Calling Someone In

A: The printer isn’t working again.
B: Then we should send for the technician.
A: Good idea. I’ll send for him right away.

Exercises with Answers

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. Please ______ your payment by the end of the month.
  2. They decided to ______ invitations to all members.
  3. The teacher might ______ him for cheating.
  4. I had to ______ the package because it was damaged.
  5. The manager ______ the assistant to call the client.

Answer Key

  1. send in
  2. send out
  3. send down
  4. send back
  5. sent for

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Is it correct to use phrasal verbs with SEND in academic or formal writing?
A: In formal and academic contexts, it is generally better to replace phrasal verbs such as send in or send back with single-word verbs like submit or return to maintain a more formal tone.

Q: What is the difference between β€œsend out” and β€œsend off”?
A: Send out usually means distributing something to many people at the same time, while send off focuses on the act of dispatching something or formally saying goodbye. 

Conclusion

Phrasal verbs with SEND are essential for everyday communication, especially in emails, work situations, and daily conversations. By understanding their correct meanings, usage notes, and register, you can avoid common mistakes and sound more natural.

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