stack up

verb

stacked up; stacking up; stacks up

intransitive verb

1

: to add up : total

2

: measure up, compare

—usually used with against

Synonyms

• approach
• approximate
• compare (with)
• measure up (to)

Examples of stack up in a Sentence

those newspapers have been stacking up in the basement since we moved here

Recent Examples on the Web

The moment a consumer can’t pay on time, late fees stack up. —Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025

Compared to other players who successfully qualify for majors, Gooch's record doesn't stack up. —Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 May 2025

The numbers Few teams can stack up to the Stars’ plus-36 Offensive Rating. —The Athletic Nhl Staff, New York Times, 20 May 2025

Beach vacations are a blast, but the expenses sure stack up fast. —Josh Miller, Southern Living, 18 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for stack up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup

Kids Definition

stack up

verb

: measure up sense 2, compare

see how you stack up against the champion