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Glite Dictionary
to use up

to use up

69 2.7
To finish all of something so nothing is left
  • phrasal verb
  • /juːz ʌp/
translation icon : agotar
  • He used up all his vacation days by the end of the year.
  • use up time
  • use up fuel
  • use up resources

So the jokes kind of get used up quick, right?

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Examples

Synonyms

to spend
vsto use up
∞ 1.0

To give money to buy something or pay for services

is the broader action of emptying resources until none remain
to run out
vsto use up
937 1.9

Use all of something so none is left

is the active action of consuming until nothing remains
to run out of
vsto use up
646 1.9

Have no more of something because you used it all

is the act of consuming everything so nothing remains
to eat
vsto use up
564 6.6

Gradually use up money or fuel

is the active act of consuming everything until none remains
to burn
vsto use up
191 3.2

To use up money, energy, or other resources

is the basic action of taking all of a supply without reserve
to wipe out
vsto use up
189 4.2

Destroy something so nothing is left

is about exhausting supplies, not about violent destruction
to consume
vsto use up
172 3.2

To use up resources until none are left

is the broad idea of emptying a resource completely
to exhaust
vsto use up
68 3.7

To use up all of a supply or resource

is the general action of taking all from a supply
to give out
vsto use up
57 4.1

To stop working or run out so nothing is left

is the doing of consuming all of a supply until empty
to expend
vsto use up
50 5.0

To use money, time, or energy for a purpose

is general consumption that is not necessarily for a specific purpose
to drink up
vsto use up
  • Informal
31 1.4

To finish all the liquid in a cup or bottle so nothing is left

is the broad act of emptying any supply, not only liquids
to eat up
vsto use up
  • Informal
23 3.1

Use up money or time quickly

is the general act of taking all from a supply
to burn up
vsto use up
22 3.4

To use energy from the body or fuel when you move

is the general act of emptying resources, not only physical energy
to finish off
vsto use up
20 3.5

To use up the last of something

is the ordinary action of consuming everything without stressing ending
to run through
vsto use up
16 4.4

Use up money or supplies quickly and wastefully

is the general act of consuming resources, not implying haste
to run down
vsto use up
15 3.2

To use up batteries, money or supplies until little remains

is the active action of consuming resources rather than simply losing power
to deplete
vsto use up
13 6.3

To use up almost all of something so little is left

is the fuller action of emptying a supply completely
to run dry
vsto use up
10 4.2

To use up something so none is left, for example ideas

is the active action of consuming something until nothing remains
to play out
vsto use up
8 5.4

To become used up so nothing is left

is the act of consuming something fully by deliberate action
to dissipate
vsto use up
3 7.0

To use money or energy in a foolish, wasteful way

is the neutral action that reduces resources without implying waste
to drain resources
vsto use up
2 4.6

To use up the money or help someone needs

is the general action that can be sudden or gradual, not only steady
to shoot your bolt
vsto use up
  • Informal
1 8.6

To use up all your energy or chances so none remain

is the general act of consuming resources, not only idiomatic personal loss
to empty the tank
vsto use up
  • Informal
5.1

Use all your energy in a final effort until you have none left

is the general action of consuming resources, not only personal energy

Antonyms

to save
∞ 1.0

Keep something for use later

How Depleted

to exhaust
68 3.7
to run out
937 1.9
to use up
69 2.7
to consume
172 3.2
to use
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

use up infinitive
used up past
used up past participle
using up present participle
uses up third person singular

Morphology

use + up

The meaning 'to consume all' is directly derivable from combining 'use' (to consume/apply) with the particle 'up' functioning as a completive marker meaning ‘completely’ or ‘exhaust’. This verb + up compositional pattern is productive in English (and has parallels in many languages), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can reliably infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Use up comes from a simple image: imagine a jar of jam you keep taking from until the jar is empty. Here use means to take from the supply and up shows it is finished, so use up means 'to use all of something'.