Enrich your conversations with phrasal verbs using 'on' and 'upon', correctly applying them for actions like starting, continuing, communicating, or depending.
10 topics128 words
Starting, Continuing, or Getting Closer (On)26 words
bring onverbto cause something to happen, especially something undesirable or unpleasant
crack onverbto continue with a task or activity, especially with determination or enthusiasm
drag onverbto continue for an extended or tedious period, often with no clear resolution or conclusion
encroach onverbto gradually invade a particular area, exceeding established boundaries
gain onverbto get closer to a person or thing that is being pursued, often in a race, competition, or chase
go on withverbto continue an activity
hang on toverbto keep something with effort or determination
keep onverbto continue an action or state without interruption
lead on toverbto contribute to something happening in the future
press onverbto continue moving forward, despite obstacles or distractions
push onverbto persistently continue doing something or move forward
read on {~noun}verbto continue reading something to discover what happens next
run onverbto continue without a pause, often lasting longer than expected or needed
soldier onverbto continue moving forward despite obstacles, challenges, or difficulties
stay onverbto remain in a specific place, job, or program for a longer period
switch onverbto make something start working usually by flipping a switch
rumble onverb(of a situation or issue) to continue for a long period of time without resolution
act onverbto take action to continue with a task or situation
carry onverbto choose to continue an ongoing activity
draw onverbto advance toward the end of a specific period of time
get onverbto enter a bus, ship, airplane, etc.
get on forverbto approach or be close to a particular time or hour
go onverbto continue without stopping
hold onverbto continue a course of action despite the difficulties or dangers
live onverbto remain alive
turn onverbto cause a machine, device, or system to start working or flowing, usually by pressing a button or turning a switch
Communicating or Discussing (On)13 words
drone onverbto speak at length in a tedious manner, often to the point of being boring or uninteresting
expand onverbto provide more details, information, or a more comprehensive explanation about a particular topic or idea
get on toverbto start discussing or addressing a specific topic or subject in a conversation or discussion
harp onverbto repeatedly talk or complain about something, often in an annoying or boring manner
pronounce onverbto declare one's judgment or authoritative opinion about something
put on toverbto inform someone about something or someone useful
ramble onverbto talk or write in a long, unfocused, and aimless way
spring onverbto inform someone of surprising news or information
touch onverbto briefly mention a subject in written or spoken discussion
witter onverbto talk continuously about unimportant matters
call onverbto officially ask a person or organization to do something
get onverbto have a good, friendly, or smooth relationship with a person, group, or animal
hit onverbto flirt with someone, often with romantic or sexual intentions
Depending, Trusting, or Encouraging (On)13 words
bank onverbto put hope and trust in a person or thing
base onverbto develop something using certain facts, ideas, situations, etc.
cheer onverbto loudly support or encourage someone, especially during a performance or competition
count onverbto put trust in something or someone
egg onverbto encourage or provoke someone to do something, especially something risky
found onverbto be established or rooted in a specific idea, belief, or principle
help on withverbto assist someone in putting on a piece of clothing
hinge onverb(of an outcome, decision, or situation) to depend entirely on a particular factor or set of circumstances
ride onverbto achieve success or progress based on the outcome of a particular situation or circumstance
spur onverbto provide encouragement and motivation for someone
depend onverbto be determined or affected by something else
lean onverbto rely on something, such as a wall, for physical support or stability
rely onverbto have faith in someone or something
Striving, Risking, or Revealing (On)8 words
focus onverbto direct one's attention, energy, or efforts toward a particular goal, task, or objective
inform onverbto provide information to law enforcement or authorities about someone's actions, particularly illegal or unethical actions
insist onverbto demand something firmly and persistently
let onverbto reveal information that was meant to be kept a secret
tell onverbto give away information one has obtained about someone, particularly to someone in authority
look onverbto watch an event or incident without getting involved
spy onverbto secretly observe someone or something with the intention of gathering confidential or hidden information
work onverbto focus one's effort, time, or attention on something in order to achieve a particular goal
Fooling, Harming, or Treating Badly (On)12 words
cheat onverbto have a secret romantic or sexual relationship with someone other than one's own partner
grate onverbto continually annoy or irritate someone
jump onverbto harshly criticize someone for their actions
lead onverbto intentionally deceive someone by making them believe something that is not true
pick onverbto keep treating someone unfairly or making unfair remarks about them
pike onverbto disappoint someone by not fulfilling a commitment or promise
play onverbto take advantage of someone's feelings or weaknesses
round onverbto suddenly confront, attack, or shout angrily at someone
set onverbto attack someone aggressively, either physically or verbally
weigh onverbto cause worry or unhappiness due to a problem or responsibility
prey onverbto take advantage of those who are vulnerable or easily fooled
turn onverbto become unfriendly or hostile toward someone or something
Understanding or Contemplating (On)9 words
chew onverbto carefully think about something for a while
cotton onverbto manage to understand something, typically following an initial period of challenge or difficulty
dawn onverbto become clear, evident, or understood, particularly after some time
dwell onverbto think or talk about something at length, often to the point of overthinking or obsessing about it
reflect onverbto think carefully and deeply about something
plan onverbto intend to do something in the future based on certain considerations or expectations
catch onverbto understand a concept
sleep onverbto postpone making a decision until the next day or a later time, often to think about it more
latch onverbto finally understand something, usually after some initial difficulty
Wearing, Utilizing, or Consuming (On)12 words
build onverbto use something as a basis for further development
capitalize onverbto use a particular situation, resources, or opportunity effectively to gain some benefit
feed onverbto regularly eat a specific type of food to stay alive and grow
have onverbto be wearing an item of clothing or accessory
pull onverbto wear a garment by pulling it over one's body without fastening it
skimp onverbto not provide enough time, money, or resources for something, which often leads to a lower-quality result or outcome
spend onverbto use money in exchange for the purchase of a specific item or the utilization of a particular service
throw onverbto put on a piece of clothing hastily and without care
try onverbto put on a piece of clothing to see if it fits and how it looks
live onverbto eat mainly one type of food, often in an unhealthy or unbalanced way
prey onverbto hunt, capture, and eat other animals as a means of survival
put onverbto place or wear something on the body, including clothes, accessories, etc.
Agreeing, Accepting, or Providing (on)11 words
frown onverbto disapprove of or have a negative opinion about something, particularly due to being improper or unacceptable
go on atverbto keep criticizing or complaining to someone about their behavior, work, or actions
lay onverbto supply someone with something, particularly food or entertainment
settle onverbto decide something, after considering all possible alternatives
stamp onverbto forcefully eliminate something that is disapproved of or unwanted
start on atverbto angrily complain to someone about something they did
wait onverbto provide service, mainly in a restaurant, cafe, bar, etc.
smile onverbto experience success or good fortune as if one is favored by luck, fate, or a higher power
rat onverbto not fulfill a promise or agreement
move onverbto accept a change or a new situation and be ready to continue with one's life and deal with new experiences, especially after a bad experience such as a breakup
pass onverbto transfer the possession or ownership of something to another person
Others (On)15 words
clock onverbto mark the start of one's work using a clock or some other electronic device
gamble onverbto take a risk on a particular outcome, often with uncertain results
grow onverbto gradually like someone or something more and more
rebound onverbto aim for a goal by taking a negative action, but experience unintended negative consequences
sit onverbto refrain from addressing a matter or making a decision
stake onverbto risk something valuable, such as money, reputation, etc. based on the outcome of a particular situation
improve onverbto make something better compared to a previous state or standard
stumble onverbto find something or someone unexpectedly
happen onverbto find or encounter something without actively searching for it
hang onverbto ask someone to wait briefly or pause for a moment
hold onverbto tell someone to wait or pause what they are doing momentarily
bear onverbto affect someone or something, particularly in a burdensome way
go on toverbto move from one item or topic to the next in a sequence or discussion
come onverbto make progress or improve
fall onverbto experience a particular situation or outcome
Performing an Action (Upon)9 words
count uponverbto have confidence that someone will fulfill one's wishes or requests
hang uponverbto depend on something for a particular outcome
touch uponverbto make a brief reference to a particular topic in the course of discussing something broader
decide uponverbto make a choice or reach a conclusion after careful consideration
play uponverbto take advantage of someone's feelings, fears, or weaknesses
work uponverbto dedicate time and effort to produce or fix something
come uponverbto encounter someone or something unexpectedly
fall uponverbto encounter suddenly or unexpectedly
hit uponverbto suddenly have a great idea
Learn all 128 words in this list with spaced repetition