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Glite Dictionary
to stock up

to stock up

39 2.9
Buy a large supply of something to use later
  • phrasal verb
  • /stɑk ʌp/
translation icon : abastecerse de
  • I was heading to the supermarket, where I intended to stock up on junk food for the days ahead.

Israelis are literally stocking up at supermarkets because they are worried.

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Examples

  • All over the country, people are buying out grocery stores, stocking up on supplies.

    Greenland (2020)

  • I do need to review what I have and stock up on some more things.

    Blog text (3)

  • So I almost feel like I need to stock up on a couple things.

  • When I find a good one, I stock up and this is a good one.

  • I was able to stock up though, but at an increased price point, of course.

  • So we're going to go kind of stock up just a little bit, not too much because we'll be fine.

  • Is there anything special you want, any particular kind of food we can stock up on?

    The Ice Storm (1997)

  • I'm goin' into town to stock up.

    Stagecoach: The Texas Jack Story (2016)

  • I'd better run to the store and stock up before I really get snowed in!

    Fiction book (1999)

  • We're going to show you how to stock up on groceries for next to nothing.

Synonyms

to hoard
vsto stock up
45 4.8

To collect and keep large amounts of food or other things for future use

means the same gathering but without secrecy or negative feeling
to stockpile
vsto stock up
26 4.6

To keep a large supply of goods for future use

focuses on buying or collecting a big supply for later use
to restock
vsto stock up
23 3.2

Put new goods on shelves after the old ones are used or sold

focuses on initial buying for future rather than replenishing after use
to load up on
vsto stock up
  • Informal
10 4.5

Get a lot of something or use a lot of it

describes buying or collecting mainly for future rather than immediate use
to prepurchase
vsto stock up
1 4.8

To buy something before you need it or before the price rises

is broader covering large future supplies not only advance single buys
to hive up
vsto stock up
  • UK
7.9

To store things like food or money so you can use them later

refers generally to buying or collecting a large supply for later use

Antonyms

to run out
937 1.9

Use all of something so none is left

to use up
69 2.7

To finish all of something so nothing is left

How Much

to hoard
45 4.8
to stock up
39 2.9
to buy
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

stock up infinitive
stocked up past
stocked up past participle
stocking up present participle
stocks up third person singular

Morphology

stock + up

The meaning 'to buy or collect a large supply' is directly and compositionally derived from 'stock' (a reserve or supply of goods) plus the particle 'up' (to increase), yielding the sense 'increase one's stock/supplies.' This verb+particle pattern is productive in English and has clear equivalents in many languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents should readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Stock up comes from the image of a shop or pantry being filled with stock, meaning goods and supplies. That's why to stock up today means 'to buy or collect a large supply' to use later.