Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to measure up to

to measure up to

17 3.8
To be good enough to meet a standard or expectation
  • phrasal verb
  • /ˈmɛʒər ʌp tu/
translation icon : estar a la altura de
  • The restaurant's food and service didn't measure up to our high standards.
  • measure up to standards
  • fails to measure up to
  • capable of measuring up to

With that said, even though the interior materials in my opinion don't quite measure up to some trucks, the ride quality is just fantastic.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • The ultimate test of our foreign policy is how well our actions measure up to our ideals.

    Academic text (1998)

  • Actually, right now I'm trying to measure up to his standards.

    10 to Midnight (1983)

  • All I ever wanted was to measure up to my father.

    L.A. Confidential (1997)

  • But I might not measure up to your father's idea of things.

    The Human Comedy (1943)

  • We do not think it measured up to our standards.

    Academic text (1996)

  • You can't expect us to measure up to you, sir.

    Battle Beyond the Stars (1980)

  • Second of all, I was the one who couldn't measure up to you.

    How to Fall in Love (2012)

  • Another reason is society's failure to measure up to artists' expectations.

    Academic text (1995)

  • And you feel like you'll never be able to measure up to your father's greatness--

    Dr. Dolittle: Tail to the Chief (2008)

  • So are you riddled with doubt, Worry that you're not smart enough, that you can't measure up to their expectations?

Synonyms

to live up to
vsto measure up to
224 3.5

To meet what people expect of you

focuses on being good enough to meet an external standard rather than action
to measure up
vsto measure up to
  • Informal
39 3.7

To be as good as expected or needed

is identical in meaning while including that final small word in phrase form
to pass muster
vsto measure up to
11 6.6

To be seen as good enough after a check

expresses meeting a standard but with less focus on active performance
to make the grade
vsto measure up to
8 4.1

To reach the level needed to succeed

is broader, applying to general adequacy not only success in activities
to come up to
vsto measure up to
8 3.7

To reach the level needed

is used more for simple adequacy to an expectation rather than equal match
to hold up to
vsto measure up to
5 4.1

Be as good as people expect

emphasizes reaching a standard rather than stressing promise or guarantee

Antonyms

to disappoint
492 1.0

Fail to do what someone hoped for

to underperform
20 5.3

To do worse than expected or needed

How Well

to surpass
100 4.6
to measure up to
17 3.8
to come close
72 2.9

Surface Forms

measure up to infinitive
measured up to past
measured up to past participle
measuring up to present participle
measures up to third person singular

Morphology

measure + up + to

The meaning 'to be good enough' is largely inferable from combining 'measure' (a standard or benchmark) with the directional sense of 'up to' (reach or attain a level), so learners who know the constituents get a clear clue. However, the phrase functions as a phrasal verb and the exact collocation and usage (measure up to = meet a standard) is somewhat idiomatic and may not be fully predictable without exposure, so it is not fully transparent.

Etymology

Measure up to comes from the simple image of checking something with a ruler to see if it measures up to a marked line. So it now means 'to be good enough' or 'to reach the required standard'.