Phrasal verb
file for
Definition
phrasal verb. to make an official or legal request for something, like a divorce or a business status.
phrasal verb. to submit a formal application or legal document to a court or authority to initiate a specific process.
Examples
“The company had to file for bankruptcy last month.”
“After living apart for three years, the couple finally decided to file for divorce.”
“The legal team advised the corporation to file for an extension before the midnight deadline to avoid significant financial penalties.”
Examples
simple
“The company had to file for bankruptcy last month.”
contextual
“After living apart for three years, the couple finally decided to file for divorce.”
complex
“The legal team advised the corporation to file for an extension before the midnight deadline to avoid significant financial penalties.”
Usage
usually followed by a noun representing a legal status or a specific benefit.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'apply for' (general) and 'file' (to organize papers); 'file for' is specifically used for legal or official procedures like bankruptcy, divorce, or unemployment.
Pitfall
They filed for to get a divorce.
They filed for divorce.
the phrase is followed by a noun, not an infinitive verb phrase.
Phrasal verb
Particles
for
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
file + for + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/file-for