All About the Word “Book” in English

When studying phrasal verbs, we are constantly amazed by their meanings. Today we will look at a word that everyone definitely knows, but its meaning as a phrasal verb will surprise you. This word is “Book” [bʊk]. The word “Book” in English can have two meanings. As a noun, it means a book – an object containing text or images. For example:

• I bought a new book yesterday.
• She likes to read books about history.

As a verb, it means to book/reserve – to arrange or order something in advance. For example:

• He booked a flight to London.
• They booked a table at the restaurant.

**What’s interesting is when “Book” is used as a phrasal verb. A phrasal verb is a verb consisting of a verb and a particle (e.g. up, down, in, out). Adding such a particle changes the meaning of the verb. For example:

• book in – check in (at a hotel, hospital, etc)
• book out – check out (from a hotel, hospital, etc)
• book up – book everything (seats, tickets, etc)
• book off – take time off (work, study, etc)

Here are some examples of using these phrasal verbs:

• We need to book in before 6 p.m. or they will cancel our reservation.
• She booked out of the hospital as soon as she felt better.
• The concert was so popular that it was booked up months in advance.
• He booked off a week in July to go on holiday with his family.

Let’s look at the most popular phrasal verbs with “Book“, their meanings and usage examples.

TOP 15 Phrasal Verbs with “Book” in English

1. Book in

   • Meaning: To make a reservation or register for something in advance.
   • Example: “We need to book in advance if we want to secure a table at that restaurant.”

2. Book out

   • Meaning: To make a reservation unavailable, often because all slots are filled or the resource is not accessible.
   • Meaning: Leave a place in a hurry.
   • Example: “Unfortunately, all the rooms are booked out for the weekend.”
   • Example: “I don’t like the look of the people arriving- let’s book out.”

3. Book up

   • Meaning: To buy or reserve all available tickets or places for an event.
   • Example: “The theater performance is booking up quickly; we should get our tickets soon.”

4. Book into

   • Meaning: To make a reservation, typically for accommodations.
   • Example: “We’ve booked into a cozy bed and breakfast for our weekend getaway.”

5. Book on

   • Meaning: To officially register for or commit to something, such as a course, event, or activity.
   • Example: “Have you booked on the training seminar yet?”

6. Book off

   • Meaning: To take time off work or mark time as unavailable on one’s schedule.
   • Example: “I need to book off next Friday for a doctor’s appointment.”

7. Book through

   • Meaning: To make arrangements or reservations via a particular entity or channel.
   • Example: “We booked our tour through a travel agency for added convenience.”

8. Book in for

   • Meaning: To arrange or reserve a spot for a particular purpose or event.
   • Example: “She booked in for a massage at the spa next Saturday.”

9. Book up with

   • Meaning: To fill all available time slots or appointments with engagements or activities.
   • Example: “I’m booked up with meetings all morning, but I can meet you for lunch.”

10. Book onto

    • Meaning: To register or enroll in a course, program, or event.
    • Example: “He booked onto the photography workshop to improve his skills.”

11. Book out of

    • Meaning: To cancel or withdraw from a reservation or commitment.
    • Example: “She had to book out of the conference due to unforeseen circumstances.”

12. Book around

    • Meaning: To schedule or plan activities or appointments around a specific event or commitment.
    • Example: “We’ll need to book our flights around the conference dates.”

13. Book in with

    • Meaning: To make an appointment with a specific person or organization.
    • Example: “I’ve booked in with the dentist for next Monday.”

14. Book up for

    • Meaning: To arrange or reserve for a particular occasion or purpose.
    • Example: “The restaurant is booked up for private parties this weekend.”

15. Book over

    • Meaning: To reserve accommodations or services for a specific period.
    • Example: “They booked over the holidays to spend time with family.”

Such phrasal verbs with “Book” are necessary to express a variety of actions related to reservations, commitments, scheduling, check-ins, bookings, and arrangements in the English language. Now you will be able to confidently book a hotel room for yourself.