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Glite Dictionary
✨ To improve 🤔 To invent quickly
to vamp up

to vamp up

8.1
To make something more attractive by adding new parts
  • phrasal verb
  • /væmp ʌp/
  • Informal
translation icon : mejorar
  • She decided to vamp up her old dress with some new decorations for the party.

Examples

  • The team plans to vamp up the website to attract more visitors and improve user experience.

  • To make the car look more modern, he chose to vamp up its interior with new upholstery.

  • And I feel like I need to vamp up the blush a little bit.

Synonyms

to update
vsto vamp up
451 2.8

Make something more modern by adding new information or changes

emphasizes adding physical parts or elements to improve suitability
to enhance
vsto vamp up
424 4.0

Make something better or more attractive

focuses on adding physical parts to update appearance or suitability
to modify
vsto vamp up
268 3.2

Make small changes to something to make it more useful

involves adding parts and elements rather than only small adjustments
to refine
vsto vamp up
93 4.0

Make something better by making a few small changes

prioritizes adding new elements rather than only precise small changes
to enrich
vsto vamp up
85 3.9

To make something better by adding knowledge or nutrients

aims specifically to add parts for update and visual attractiveness
to revamp
vsto vamp up
41 4.9

To change something to make it look or work better

focuses on adding new parts to update attractiveness or suitability
to beef up
vsto vamp up
  • Informal
34 4.5

To make something stronger or more effective

focuses on adding parts to improve attractiveness rather than only strength
to refurbish
vsto vamp up
31 4.6

To make something clean and like new by fixing or decorating it

uses adding parts or elements rather than only surface decoration
to spice up
vsto vamp up
  • Informal
23 3.9

To make something more interesting or exciting

does structural updating by adding parts to increase attractiveness or suitability
to touch up
vsto vamp up
8 3.8

Make small changes to something to improve how it looks

involves adding or replacing parts for larger repair or update
to make over
vsto vamp up
7 4.1

Change how something looks or works to improve it

focuses on adding parts to improve suitability and attractiveness
to polish up
vsto vamp up
  • Informal
4 3.5

Make something better by practicing or fixing it

focuses on adding parts or repairs instead of simple surface refinement
to soup up
vsto vamp up
  • Informal
4 6.4

Make a car or motorcycle run faster and work better

adds parts to change appearance or suitability rather than boosting power
to freshen up
vsto vamp up
  • Informal
4 3.0

Make a room look cleaner and nicer with small changes

does more than slight renovation adding parts to change suitability
to vamp
vsto vamp up
1 8.1

To make something old look new or more modern

is more deliberate using added parts to repair or update
to buff up
vsto vamp up
  • Informal
1 5.8

To make something better in how it works or how it looks

focuses on adding physical components rather than only surface improvements
to reface
vsto vamp up
1 6.7

To put new material on the surface of something so it looks new

works on whole item not only surface coverings
to furbish up
vsto vamp up
  • Archaic
6.2

To make something old look new by fixing or cleaning it

involves adding parts or elements to change suitability or appeal
to lux up
vsto vamp up
  • Informal
9.4

Make something look more expensive by adding nicer things

aims for general attractiveness not specifically luxury features

Antonyms

neglect
100 3.5

Not caring for someone or something that needs care

to dismantle
64 4.2

Take something apart into separate pieces

How Improved

to overhaul
35 4.6
to revamp
41 4.9
to vamp up
  • Informal
8.1
to spruce up
  • Informal
13 3.8
to touch up
8 3.8

Surface Forms

vamp up infinitive
vamped up past
vamped up past participle
vamping up present participle
vamps up third person singular

Morphology

vamp + up

The meaning is directly built from 'vamp' (to improvise or invent) combined with the particle 'up', which commonly signals intensification, completion, or embellishment; together they yield 'improvise/quickly concoct or embellish'. This verb+particle composition is a productive and predictable pattern in English, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should be able to infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

The phrasal verb vamp up may come from shoe repair: the vamp is the front part of a shoe, and putting on a new vamp made the shoe look fresh and nicer. That's why vamp up means 'to repair or make something more attractive'.