to top up
3
3.2
- phrasal verb
- /tɑp ʌp/
:
recargar
- Such placements sometimes cost over $250,000 a year per child, placing considerable financial pressure on some authorities, not least because they do not have enough retained DSG to meet the bill and are obliged to top up with their own funds.
- top up their glasses
- top up my coffee
- top up the tanks
And I just take a beauty sponge and top that up trying to freshen up those bags.
- And I just take a beauty sponge and top that up trying to freshen up those bags.
- Are these buckets all being topped up now to take the pressure off people?
- And so they call you up and say you have to top up your money.
- And the barrister of course got the the fluid checked and it was actually water which was used to top up his radiator.
Examples
-
Now we're going to pour this in, top it up with some more whipped cream, just a little bit, not as much this time.
-
The waiter topped up their glasses, and Beth proposed a second toast.
Fiction book (1995) -
Remember, you can spend your credit or top up your card in many ways, not just from the app.
Blog text (1) -
So you might have to top up the card before being allowed to exit.
-
At home, at work, in the car, there are plenty of opportunities to top up your battery.
Blog text (15) -
With luck, scholarships and grants will still be available, as will loans to top up if necessary.
Blog text (32) -
I think I'll top up my pension plan with a few Australian and Canadian coal mining stocks.
Blog text (19) -
She took a small silver thermos out of her bag as she spoke and topped up her cup with the soy milk she carried with her.
Fiction book (2002) -
We played for one- to two-hour sessions and popped the controller back into its cradle to top up its battery, and haven't noticed a drop below four bars yet.
Blog text (31) -
Before using the phone again, you need to top up your prepaid balance.
Synonyms
46
1.1
Become so crowded that nothing more can enter
5
3.6
Fill something to the top until it almost overflows
Antonyms
How Full
3
3.2
∞
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The sense 'to refill or add more credit' is directly derivable from combining 'top' (to add a finishing amount) with 'up' (to increase or bring to a higher level); the particle construction yields a straightforward increase-to-full interpretation. This compositional pattern is common cross-linguistically and in English uses (e.g., topping up fuel or phone credit), so a B1 learner who knows the constituents will readily infer the meaning.
Etymology
The phrasal verb top up comes from the simple image of putting more into a cup or tank so it reaches the top, because you are filling it up. That's why it now means 'to refill' or 'to add more money or credit'.