ACT English and World Knowledge - Abstract Phrasal Verbs

Here you will learn some abstract English phrasal verbs, such as "spell out", "pick on", "hush up", etc. that will help you ace your ACTs.

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ACT English and World Knowledge

to create something by combining together different parts or ingredients

Ex: The teacher made up the lesson plan from different activities and materials .

to be the reason for a specific incident or result

Ex: The scientific discovery brought about advancements in medicine .

to provide explanations or reasons for a particular situation or set of circumstances

Ex: The witness was asked to account for what they saw at the scene of the accident .

to be prominent and easily noticeable

Ex: The unique architecture of the building made it stand out in the city skyline .

to focus on something or someone as the primary subject or point of interest

Ex:

to be socially fit for or belong within a particular group or environment

Ex: It took a while for the new employee to fit in with the team , but eventually , they became close-knit .

to be easily noticed, often due to being different from the surrounding elements

Ex: The neon sign stuck out on the dark street , guiding people to the open restaurant .

to officially induct someone into a position or office, typically involving an oath

Ex: They plan to swear in the new recruits at the police academy next week .

to use information, knowledge, or past experience to aid in performing a task or achieving a goal

Ex: When faced with a challenging decision , the manager decided to draw on the team 's collective expertise .

to indicate that something is about to happen

Ex:

to conclude by selling off or getting rid of remaining items or assets

Ex: The company will close out the fiscal year by liquidating excess stock .

to keep treating someone unfairly or making unfair remarks about them

Ex: She felt like her colleagues always picked on her for her unique fashion sense .

to become famous and successful in a sudden and rapid manner

Ex: The new tech gadget is expected to take off in the market due to its revolutionary features .

to make something ineffective

Ex: The new evidence did n't cancel out the old one .

to record or note something for future reference or action

Ex:

to make a situation or relationship less tense by calming emotions, resolving conflicts, etc.

Ex:

to acquire a new skill or language through practice and application rather than formal instruction

Ex: She never took a painting class but picked up the skill from watching online tutorials .

(of a person) to slowly become thin and lose strength, particularly to the point of death

to define oneself as belonging to a particular category, group, or label

Ex: He identifies as genderfluid , meaning his gender identity can change over time .

to become extremely upset, agitated, or overwhelmed by fear, anxiety, or excitement

Ex:

to make something available or usable for a different purpose

Ex: He 's working on building up his skills for a career change .

to understand something, often with effort

Ex: Can you help me make out what 's driving him to behave this way ?

to gradually stop using, producing, or providing something

Ex: The old curriculum will be phased out as the new one is introduced to schools .

to succeed or come to a favorable outcome

Ex: I hope your new venture pans out the way you envision .

to present, propose, or offer something for consideration or action

Ex: The government has put forth a plan to revitalize the urban infrastructure .

to forcefully end something, often a negative or undesirable situation

Ex: Global efforts are underway to stamp out child labor and ensure a safe upbringing for all children .

to accumulate or obtain something notable, such as victories, accomplishments, or records

Ex:

(of a situation or issue) to continue for a long period of time without resolution

Ex: The effects of climate change are expected to rumble on for generations if not addressed urgently .

to access or make use of a resource or source of information

Ex: o enhance efficiency , companies may tap into technological advancements , streamlining their operations and processes .

to start a task, action, or process with determination and inspiration

Ex:

to find something or someone unexpectedly

Ex: As he was cleaning the attic , he stumbled on a box of old family photographs .

to defend or support someone or something

Ex: The parent stood up for their child 's education rights in the school board meeting .

to focus on a particular person or thing from a group in either a positive or negative manner

Ex: The teacher did n't want to single out any student , so she addressed the entire class about the importance of completing assignments on time .

to cause someone or something to be quiet

Ex: The parent hushed up the crying baby by rocking it gently .

to consider a particular factor when planning or making arrangements

Ex: To ensure a smooth event , we must allow for extra time in case of technical difficulties .

(of an outcome, decision, or situation) to depend entirely on a particular factor or set of circumstances

Ex: Her decision to accept the job offer will hinge on the flexibility of the work schedule .

to occupy a particular amount of space or time

Ex: The meeting took up the entire afternoon .

to eliminate an option or idea from consideration due to it appearing impossible to realize

Ex: The doctor had to rule out the possibility of a severe illness before suggesting further tests .

to explain or resolve confusion, making something easier to understand or less ambiguous

Ex: The spokesperson cleared up any doubts about the new product by addressing common questions during the presentation .

to bring forth something, often from the realm of imagination, as if by enchantment

Ex: The artist 's brush seemed to conjure up emotions on the canvas , capturing the essence of the scene .

to bring forth a memory or image, causing one to remember or think about something

Ex:

to delay the occurrence of something undesirable or threatening

Ex: Regular exercise is known to help stave off the risk of developing certain chronic conditions .