33 Common Phrasal Verbs Starting with N | Learn English

33 Common Phrasal Verbs Starting with N

Published on: May 11, 2026 | English‑learning resource for N‑initial phrasal verbs.

Phrasal verbs starting with N are less common but still useful in everyday English. Below you will find 33 common phrasal verbs starting with N, each with a short example sentence in English.

1. Nail down – finalize or secure details
   Example: We need to nail down the meeting time.
2. Name after – give someone the same name as another person
   Example: He was named after his grandfather.
3. Narrow down – reduce the number of possibilities
   Example: We narrowed down the list to three options.
4. Nod off – fall asleep unintentionally
   Example: He nodded off during the movie.
5. Note down – write something quickly
   Example: Please note down the address.
6. Number off – count in sequence
   Example: The students numbered off from one to twenty.
7. Nurse back to – help someone recover
   Example: She nursed him back to health after the illness.
8. Nest in – settle comfortably inside something
   Example: The baby bird nestled in the nest.
9. Need out – move out because of pressure or force
   Example: They were needed out of the room before the repairs began.
10. Nick out – leave secretly or quickly
    Example: He nicked out before anyone noticed.
11. Name to – appoint or identify as
    Example: She was named to the committee.
12. Narrow in on – focus closely on something
    Example: The police narrowed in on the suspect.
13. Nose around – search or snoop
    Example: He was nosing around in the drawers.
14. Nurse on – continue taking care of someone
    Example: His family nursed him on until he recovered.
15. Need on – press or urge someone strongly
    Example: The manager needed on the team to finish the work.
16. Nestle up – settle close and comfortably
    Example: The cat nestled up beside her.
17. Note up – improve or record briefly
    Example: She noted up the changes in her notebook.
18. Nudge off – leave quickly
    Example: We nudged off after dinner.
19. Nudge on – encourage to continue
    Example: The coach nudged the players on.
20. Nip out – go out briefly
    Example: I’ll just nip out for a moment.
21. Nip in – go in briefly
    Example: She nipped in to buy some milk.
22. Name for – choose or select by name
    Example: They named the baby for a famous artist.
23. Nail up – fasten with nails
    Example: He nailed up the sign on the door.
24. Nestle down – settle into a comfortable position
    Example: She nestled down under the blanket.
25. Nose into – interfere in other people’s business
    Example: Don’t nose into my affairs.
26. Need for – be necessary for something
    Example: There is a need for more time.
27. Name of – identify the name of something
    Example: Can you name the author of this book?
28. Nurse through – help someone get through a difficult time
    Example: Friends nursed her through the breakup.
29. Narrow to – reduce to a smaller number
    Example: We narrowed it to two candidates.
30. Nod to – acknowledge with a small gesture
    Example: He nodded to the guard.
31. Nick away – leave quietly
    Example: She nicked away before the speech ended.
32. Nest around – settle around something
    Example: Children nested around their mother on the sofa.
33. Notice up – display a notice
    Example: They noticed up the new rules on the board.

Content type: Educational English‑learning resource. SEO‑friendly list of phrasal verbs starting with N.

Common Phrasal Verbs with N