Phrasal verbs with up

get out of bed after you sleep

I get up at half past six on weekdays.

find information in a dictionary, a book or online

If you don’t know a word, look it up.

raise your eyes to see something above you

Look up! There’s a rainbow.

move to a higher place, or walk towards someone

Go up the stairs. It’s the first door.

take hold of something and lift it up

Can you pick up that paper on the floor?

go somewhere to collect someone or something, often in a car

I’ll pick you up at the station at six.

stop sleeping

I usually wake up at seven.

make someone stop sleeping

Please don’t wake the baby up.

change from a child into an adult, or spend your childhood somewhere

I grew up in a small town by the sea.

move your body so you are on your feet

Everyone stood up when the judge came in.

make a place neat by putting things where they belong

Please tidy up your room before dinner.

wash the plates, cups and pans after a meal (UK)

I’ll cook if you wash up.

wash your face and hands (US)

Go wash up before dinner, kids.

keep money over time so you can buy something later

I’m saving up for a new bike.

move from lying down to sitting

I heard a noise and sat up in bed.

sit with your back straight

Sit up straight at the table, please.

become warmer, or make someone or something warmer

Come in and warm up by the heater.

start a new hobby or activity

I took up yoga after my back problems.

use an amount of space or time

The sofa takes up half the room.

fix something to a wall, or raise something higher

We put up some photos in the hall.

make a price, a rent or a tax higher

The landlord put up the rent again.

become higher, like a price, a number or a temperature

The price of coffee has gone up again.

think of an idea, a plan or an answer

She came up with a great name for the shop.

stop doing or having something, often a habit

My dad gave up smoking when I was born.

stop trying, because something is too hard

Don’t give up. You’re nearly there.

end a romantic relationship

Leo and Mia broke up after five years together.

finish school for the holidays

When do the kids break up for summer?

make a sound, heat or light higher

Turn it up! I love this song.

look after a child until they are an adult

She was brought up by her grandparents in Lisbon.

start a new company, group or system

She set up her own design company at 25.

get equipment or a place ready to use

Can you help me set up my new phone?

make someone or something late

Sorry I’m late. I was held up at work.

lift something into the air so people can see it

Hold up your hand if you have a question.

cut something into small pieces

Can you cut up the onions while I start the rice?

answer the phone

I called three times, but she didn’t pick up.

phone someone

I called up my grandma to wish her a happy birthday.

continue doing something at the same good level

Great results! Keep up the good work.

end a phone call

She said goodbye and hung up.

put clothes on a hook or hanger

Hang up your coat and come in.

arrive somewhere, especially late or when people do not expect you

He showed up at the party an hour late.

put numbers together to get the total

Can you add up how much we spent on food?

explode, or destroy something with a bomb

The old bridge was blown up during the war.

fill something with air

Can you help me blow up these balloons?

make a place clean and tidy, especially after a mess

Can you help me clean up after the party?

close a coat, shirt or shoes with buttons, a zip or laces

Do up your coat. It’s freezing outside.

finally be in a situation or do something you did not plan

We wanted to go hiking, but we ended up watching films.

arrive in a place without planning to

We got lost and ended up in a tiny village.

do something or move more quickly

Hurry up! The bus is coming.

make someone or something go faster

Can you hurry the kids up? We’re late.

go or happen faster, or make something go or happen faster

The train sped up after it left the city.

make a place or thing untidy or dirty

The wind messed up my hair.

open a door, shop or box, often so that people can come in

Who opens up the café in the morning?

lift or pull something higher, or out of the ground

Pull up your socks. They’re falling down.

keep things over time so you can use them later

I saved up my holiday days for a long trip.

end a romantic relationship or marriage

My parents split up when I was six.

fasten something with string or rope, or tie it to something

She tied up her hair before the race.

do gentle exercise to prepare your body for sport

Always warm up for ten minutes before you run.

cover something in paper or cloth, often a present

I still need to wrap up Mum’s birthday present.

put on warm clothes

Wrap up warm. It’s freezing outside!

stay in a high position and not fall down

These trousers won’t stay up without a belt.

turn a key or handle to make a toy or clock work

Grandpa winds up his old clock every Sunday.

stand up after sitting or lying down

Everyone got up when the bride walked in.

accept an offer or a chance

She took up the offer of a free lift home.

build something, like a tent, a fence or a building

It took us an hour to put up the tent.

let someone stay in your home for a short time

Can you put me up for a night?

accept something or someone annoying without complaining

I can’t put up with this noise any longer.

visit or contact someone you have not seen for a long time

If you’re in Rome, look my brother up.

be built

New flats are going up all over the city.

find money or something else that is needed

We have to come up with £500 by Monday.

be mentioned or talked about

Your name came up at the meeting.

be going to happen soon

My birthday is coming up next week.

walk towards someone to talk to them

A little girl came up to me and asked my name.

let someone else have something, or stop having it

He gave up his seat to an old man.

break or divide something into smaller pieces

Break up the chocolate and melt it slowly.

stop a fight or a gathering and make people leave

Two teachers ran over to break up the fight.

admire and respect someone

I’ve always looked up to my older sister.

arrive, often late or when nobody expects you

He turned up an hour late.

be the parts that together form a whole group or amount

Women make up more than half of our team.

invent a story or an excuse, often one that is not true

He made up an excuse about a flat tyre.

put cream, colour and powder on your face

The actors were made up in a small room backstage.

do something good because you did something bad or missed something

I’m sorry I was late. Let me make up for it with dinner.

be good enough that a bad thing does not matter so much

The amazing view made up for the long climb.

start talking about a subject

Don’t bring up money at Grandma’s birthday dinner.

make something appear on a screen

Can you bring up the map on the big screen?

arrange for a meeting or event to happen

I’ll set up a meeting with the new client.

steal from a bank or shop using a gun

Two men held up a petrol station last night.

feel very sad about something, used as be cut up

She was really cut up when her cat died.

learn something without trying, by hearing or watching

I picked up some Spanish when I lived in Madrid.

get better or get faster after a slow time

Business usually picks up before the holidays.

start to pay attention or understand something important

Wake up! The teacher asked you a question.

start to behave like a sensible adult

Oh, grow up! You’re thirty, not five.

go or learn as fast as others

Slow down, I can’t keep up!

stop someone from going to bed or sleeping

Sorry, I hope I’m not keeping you up.

be easy to see, or make something easy to see

Dirt shows up on white shoes very quickly.

slowly grow into a large amount

A coffee every day doesn’t seem much, but it adds up.

seem true or make sense, often used with not

His story doesn’t add up. He said he was at home.

make a photo or picture bigger

We blew up our wedding photo and hung it in the hall.

go, work or learn as fast as someone or something

I walk fast, but I can’t keep up with my brother.

know the latest news or changes about something

I read the news every morning to keep up with world events.

stay in contact with someone

I still keep up with a few friends from school.

support someone, or say that what they say is true

If the boss asks, will you back me up?

drive or move backwards

Can you back up a little? You’re blocking the gate.

start to feel happier

Cheer up! It’s not the end of the world.

make someone feel happier

I bought Mum some flowers to cheer her up.

make a place look brighter and nicer

A few plants would cheer up this office.

slowly become bigger, stronger or more in amount

Dust builds up fast behind the fridge.

slowly create or develop something, like a business or skill

She built up her bakery from one small stall.

go faster to reach someone who is in front of you

Walk on ahead. I’ll catch up with you in a minute.

do work or sleep that you did not have time for earlier

I was ill last week, so I need to catch up on my homework.

meet or talk to someone to hear their news

Let’s get a coffee and catch up soon.

wash yourself and make yourself look neat

Go and clean yourself up before dinner.

remove pollution, crime or dishonest behaviour from a place

Volunteers spent a month cleaning up the river.

repair and decorate an old house, room or car

They bought an old cottage and did it up.

become sunny or dry after clouds or rain

It’s raining now, but it should clear up by lunch.

explain or solve a problem or misunderstanding

A quick phone call cleared up the confusion.

make a place tidy by putting things away or throwing them out

I’ll cook if you clear up afterwards.

go away, used for an illness or skin problem

My rash cleared up after a few days.

put on clothes that are smarter than usual

Do we need to dress up for the dinner?

put on special clothes to look like someone or something else

My son dressed up as a dinosaur for the party.

eat all of your food

Eat up your vegetables, then you can have dessert.

use a large amount of time, money or space

Rent eats up half of my salary.

find out more about something or do more to deal with it

The police are following up every phone call they get.

contact someone again after a meeting or message

I’m just following up on my email from Monday.

not come to meet someone, often on a date, when you agreed to

I waited an hour at the café. He stood me up!

make small changes to finish or improve something

I need to tidy up my essay before I hand it in.

be carried by water onto a beach or shore

Lots of plastic washes up on this beach.

do something badly or spoil it by making a mistake

I messed up the last question on the test.

start a new shop, business or service

A new bakery has opened up on our street.

find and show something on a computer or phone screen

Let me pull up your booking on my screen.

move a chair closer so you can sit with people

Pull up a chair and join us.

stay awake and not go to bed until late (UK)

We sat up all night talking about old times.

divide a group or a thing into smaller parts

The teacher split us up into groups of four.

stop talking, or make someone stop talking (often rude)

Will you shut up? I’m trying to sleep!

be busy so you cannot do anything else (be tied up)

Sorry, I’m tied up in meetings all morning.

tie a person’s arms or legs so they cannot move

In the film, the thieves tied up the guard.

become bright, or make something bright with light

The city lights up at night.

suddenly look very happy, used for a face or eyes

Her face lit up when she saw the puppy.

stand in a line or queue

People lined up outside the shop at 6 am.

put people or things in a straight row

She lined up all her shoes by the door.

be as good as people expected or hoped

The new phone didn’t live up to the hype.

speak more loudly so people can hear you

Could you speak up? We can’t hear you at the back.

say clearly what you think, often to support someone

If you don’t agree, speak up!

go to bed later than usual

We stayed up till two watching films.

say the main points of something in a few words

To sum up, we need more time and more money.

use all of something so that none is left

Who used up all the hot water?

finally be in a place or situation you did not plan (informal)

We got lost and wound up in a tiny village.

bring a meeting, talk or activity to an end

Let’s wind up the meeting. It’s nearly six.

annoy or tease someone, often as a joke (UK, informal)

Don’t listen to him. He’s just winding you up.

think that one person or thing is another one

Sorry, I mixed you up with your cousin.

change the order of things so they are no longer in the right place

Someone mixed up all the books on the shelf.

get better, usually for a situation

Things are looking up at work.

happen suddenly, often a problem or a chance

Sorry, something’s come up. I can’t make it.

be found by chance, after being lost

My passport finally turned up in a coat pocket.

become friends again after an argument

They shouted at each other, then made up an hour later.

be sick, bringing food back out of your mouth

The baby brought up some of her milk.

trick someone so that they look guilty (informal)

I didn’t steal the money. Someone set me up!

stay strong or work well in a difficult situation

How are you holding up after the funeral?

choose someone to play for a national team or join the army

He was called up for the national team at nineteen.

stop doing a sport or job for good

After twenty years, she finally hung up her boots.

make someone feel embarrassed by doing better or behaving badly

My little sister showed me up by beating me at chess.

suddenly get very angry and shout

My dad blew up when he saw the scratch on his car.

continue to pay or do something regularly

They couldn’t keep up with the payments on the car.

make an extra copy of computer files so you don’t lose them

I back up my photos to the cloud every week.

praise someone or something a lot, so people expect too much

Everyone built up the film, but I found it boring.

reach the same level as someone who was better

Other phone makers are trying to catch up.

make something look or sound better than it really is

They dressed up the job cuts as a new plan.

make someone feel a strong bad feeling all the time

Jealousy was eating him up.

be shown to be true when people check it carefully

His story didn’t stand up in court.

make someone very unhappy or confused for a long time (informal)

Losing his job really messed him up.

start to talk honestly about your feelings

It took months before he opened up to me.

make new chances or places possible

Learning English opened up a lot of jobs for me.

stop a car or other vehicle, often for a short time

A taxi pulled up outside the hotel.

suddenly start to pay attention (informal)

The news made everyone sit up and listen.

close a shop or house for a period of time (UK)

They shut up the beach house for the winter.

put your name on a list to join a course, club or website

I’ve signed up for a Spanish course in the evenings.

get someone to sign a contract to work for you or join you

The club signed up a young striker from Brazil.

finish the last details of something

I need a day to tie up a few things before my holiday.

heat food that was cooked before

I’ll warm up last night’s soup for lunch.

become more lively, or make people more lively

The party warmed up after ten.

finish a meeting, job or event

Let’s wrap up the meeting. We’re out of time.

light a cigarette and start to smoke

He went outside and lit up.

arrange for an event or person to be ready

We’ve lined up three great bands for the festival.

show what is typical of someone or something

Forgetting his own birthday? That sums him up!

pull paper or cloth into many small pieces

She tore up his old letters and threw them away.

say that an agreement no longer counts

The new owners tore up our old contracts.

almost start to cry, with tears in your eyes

My dad teared up at my wedding.