Phrasal Verbs with Up: Meanings, Examples and Everyday Uses

Phrasal verbs with up are extremely common in everyday English. You will hear them in conversations, films, TV series, news reports, and even in work and study settings. That is one reason they are so useful — but it is also why they can be confusing for learners.

The particle up does not always mean the same thing. In some phrasal verbs, it suggests movement upwards. In others, it gives the idea of completion, improvement, increase, or simply adds a more natural everyday tone to the verb.

The best way to learn phrasal verbs with up is not by memorising long lists, but by seeing them in context. Below, you will find a selection of useful phrasal verbs with up, together with clear meanings and example sentences.

Come up

Meaning: to approach someone or move closer

• Mary came up to me and offered to drive me home.
• A man came up to us in the street and asked for directions.

Catch up

Meaning 1: to exchange news with someone after some time apart

Meaning 2: to reach the same level as someone else

• I’ll call you next week. We have a lot to catch up on.
• Let’s meet for coffee and catch up properly.
• He missed several classes, so now he has to catch up with the rest of the group.

Keep up

Meaning: to continue at the same speed, level, or standard as someone or something

• Despite my age, I try to keep up with the latest fashion trends.
• John was huffing and puffing as he tried to keep up with the other hikers.
• It can be difficult to keep up with all the changes in technology.

Meet up

Meaning: to meet someone, usually by arrangement, in order to spend time together or discuss something

• Why don’t we meet up after work to discuss the new project?
• Let’s meet up on Saturday for a game of tennis.
• We met up in town and had lunch together.

Set up

Meaning: to establish, organise, or start something

• They set up a committee to collect signatures.
• Mary set up an online business and now works from home.
• The charity was set up to help local families in need.

Put up with

Meaning: to tolerate someone or something unpleasant

• I don’t know how she puts up with all that noise.
• Fiona finally left because she could no longer put up with his bad temper.
• We’ve had to put up with a lot of delays recently.

Stand up

Meaning: to rise to your feet

• When he heard the news, Damon stood up and left the room.
• Please stand up when the judge enters the room.
• She stood up to welcome the guests.

Pick up

Meaning 1: to lift something with your hands

Meaning 2: to collect someone or something

• I picked up a letter from the floor and handed it to her.
• Lorna bent down to pick up the flower.
• I’ll pick you up from the station at six.

Turn up

Meaning: to arrive, especially unexpectedly or later than planned

• Tony turned up late, so everyone at the party noticed him.
• We had been waiting for an hour, but he never turned up.
• She turned up without calling first.

Break up

Meaning 1: to end a romantic relationship

Meaning 2: for schools to close for the holidays (British English)

• They broke up after realising they wanted different things in life.
• I was sorry to hear that Jake and Emma had broken up.
• Schools usually break up for the summer in mid-July.

Bring up

Meaning 1: to mention a topic

Meaning 2: to raise a child

• She brought up an interesting point during the meeting.
• I did not want to bring up the subject again.
• They brought up their children to be polite and respectful.

Build up

Meaning 1: to increase gradually

Meaning 2: to strengthen something over time

• Over the years, he built up his business from scratch.
• You need to build up your confidence before the exam.
• Dust had built up on the shelves.

Cheer up

Meaning: to become happier or to make someone feel happier

• Come on, cheer up! Things will look better tomorrow.
• We bought her some flowers to cheer her up after the operation.
• A funny film might cheer you up.

Clean up

Meaning: to make a place tidy and clean

• Let’s clean up before the guests arrive.
• The streets were cleaned up after the festival.
• The children were told to clean up their room.

Fill up

Meaning: to make something completely full, or to become full

• Could you fill up the tank before we leave?
• The hall filled up quickly before the concert started.
• My glass is nearly empty — could you fill it up, please?

Give up

Meaning: to stop doing something; to quit

• He finally gave up smoking after years of trying.
• Don’t give up — you’re making excellent progress.
• She gave up her job to look after her mother.

Make up

Meaning 1: to invent something

Meaning 2: to become friends again after an argument

• She made up a silly excuse for being late.
• I think he made up the whole story.
• They argued in the morning but made up in the afternoon.

Show up

Meaning: to appear or arrive where expected

• She finally showed up an hour late.
• Only three people showed up for the meeting.
• I hope everyone shows up on time tomorrow.

Speed up

Meaning: to make something happen faster or to move faster

• Could you speed up a bit? We’re running late.
• The government is trying to speed up the approval process.
• Recovery may speed up with proper treatment.

Final Thoughts

Phrasal verbs with up are some of the most useful expressions in English. They appear in everyday situations, and once you begin to notice them in context, they become much easier to understand and remember.

Instead of trying to learn them all at once, choose a few, write your own example sentences, and use them regularly in speaking and writing. Little by little, they will begin to feel natural — which is really the whole point, isn’t it?

FAQ 

What are phrasal verbs with up?
Phrasal verbs with up are verb combinations such as give up, set up, and cheer up, where up changes or extends the meaning of the main verb.

Why are phrasal verbs with up difficult?
They can be difficult because up does not always have one clear meaning. It can suggest increase, completion, movement, improvement, or simply form part of a fixed expression.

How can I learn phrasal verbs with up more easily?
The best way to learn phrasal verbs with up is to study them in context, notice common patterns, and practise them in your own sentences.

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