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Glite Dictionary
to sign up

to sign up

408 1.3
To join an activity or service by giving your name
  • phrasal verb
  • /saɪn ʌp/
translation icon : inscribirse
  • Each student was asked to sign up for at least one four-hour shift.
  • sign up for classes
  • students sign up
  • sign up for exams

Some of those people that sign up don't have millions of dollars.

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Examples

  • You can sign up now for the Baker Beach Party.

    The Princess Diaries (2001)

  • Where do I sign up?"

    Unfavorable Odds (2022)

  • I need to sign up for the contest, please.

    Detroit Rock City (1999)

  • I signed up for the Navy.

    Here (2024)

  • But with that being said, please sign up for our newsletter.

  • As many as 70 individuals were allowed to sign up for any given research session.

    Academic text (1996)

  • Some sites allow you to sign up to receive press releases by email.

    Academic text (2008)

  • So M Turk is a platform where people sign up to be participants.

    The Diary Of A CEO

  • I need to sign up for the gym to start my fitness journey.

  • Where can I sign up for the cooking class next month?

Synonyms

to join
vsto sign up
∞ 1.0

Become a member of a group or take part in its activities

focuses on agreeing to take part rather than simple membership
to register
vsto sign up
603 2.8

To record information officially, for example names or events

is an informal acceptance to take part rather than only a record
to enter
vsto sign up
535 1.1

To register to take part in a competition or event

is more about agreeing to take part than formal entry
to enroll
vsto sign up
  • US
164 2.7

To register officially to take a course or join a group

is a general, often informal agreement to take part
to sign on
vsto sign up
82 3.4

Agree to join an organization or start working for a company, usually by signing a contract

is broader and applies to many activities not just employment
to enlist
vsto sign up
72 4.2

To join an organization like the army or persuade someone else to join

is a general agreement to take part in diverse activities or services
to preregister
vsto sign up
1 4.0

To sign up for a class or event before it begins

is the usual action at any time not only before start

Antonyms

to refuse
716 1.7

To say no to a request or offer

to drop out
214 3.0

To leave a course, competition or group before finishing

How Committed

to enroll
  • US
164 2.7
to sign up
408 1.3
to register
603 2.8
to apply
466 1.4

Surface Forms

sign up infinitive
signed up past
signed up past participle
signing up present participle
signs up third person singular

Morphology

sign + up

The meaning 'to register' is directly derivable from combining 'sign' (to write or affix one’s name) with the particle 'up', which here signals enrolment or completion — together they describe the act of adding one’s name to a list. This verb+particle composition is a common, transparent phrasal pattern with clear cross-linguistic equivalents, so a B1 learner who knows the parts should understand the MWE.

Etymology

Sign up comes from the simple act of writing your name on a list to join something. You sign, or write your name, and put it up on the sheet, so it means 'to register or agree to take part'.