cook up

verb

cooked up; cooking up; cooks up
1
: to prepare (food) for eating especially quickly
I can cook up some hamburgers.
He cooked this whole meal up in less than 30 minutes.
2
: to invent (something, such as an idea, excuse, etc.) to deal with a particular situation
They cooked up a scheme to fool their neighbor.
You'll have to cook an excuse up quickly.

Examples of cook up in a Sentence

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If only to admire the amazing lead image our art team cooked up. Patrick Iversen, New York Times, 15 May 2026 However it was intended, what Farhadi has brilliantly cooked up ultimately feels wholly original and deliciously crafted on every level. Pete Hammond, Deadline, 14 May 2026 Many also are waiting to see what the Chargers’ social-media team has cooked up for their schedule release. Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 12 May 2026 Everything cooks up in one pot, all together, so there are fewer dishes to deal with. Josh Miller, Southern Living, 9 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for cook up

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Cite this Entry

“Cook up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cook%20up. Accessed 18 May. 2026.

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