fɪl ʌp
neutral
beginner
- Base verb:
- fill
- Particle:
- up
- Separable:
- Yes
What does "fill up" mean?
- To make something completely full
- To become completely full
- To put fuel in a vehicle's tank
- To eat enough to feel satisfied
Examples
- I need to fill up the car before we leave.
- The stadium filled up quickly before the concert.
- Don't fill up on snacks before dinner.
- Can you fill up my water bottle?
- The parking lot fills up early on weekends.
How to use it
'Fill up' or 'fill 'er up' at gas stations is common. 'Fill up on' food means to eat a lot of something. Very common everyday expression.
Word order
Object can go between: 'fill the tank up' or after: 'fill up the tank'. For eating: 'fill up on' something.
Similar expressions
fuel
top up
stuff
become full
Opposites
empty
drain
Related phrasal verbs
- fill in
To complete a form by writing information in spaces
- fill out
To complete a form or document
- get up
To rise from bed after sleeping
- turn up
To increase the volume, heat, or intensity of something
- give up
To stop trying to do something, often because it is too difficult
- bring up
To mention or introduce a topic in conversation
Use it in a practice answer
Try "fill up" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.