ɡɪr ʌp
neutral
intermediate
- Base verb:
- gear
- Particle:
- up
- Separable:
- Yes
What does "gear up" mean?
- To prepare or get ready for something demanding.
- To equip oneself with necessary equipment.
Examples
- The team is gearing up for the championship.
- Retailers are gearing up for the holiday season.
- The hikers geared up with boots and backpacks.
- We need to gear up for the product launch.
How to use it
Common in sports, business, and military contexts.
Word order
Can be separated: 'gear yourself up'. Often used reflexively.
Similar expressions
prepare
get ready
suit up
tool up
Opposites
wind down
Related phrasal verbs
- 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
- go up
To increase in price, level, or amount
- come up
To be mentioned or discussed
Use it in a practice answer
Try "gear up" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.