fire up

phrasal verb

fired up; firing up; fires up

1

: to start (something) by lighting a fire

We fired up the grill for the barbecue.

2

: to cause (something) to start working

I fired up my computer and got down to work.

Before we start working let's fire up the coffeemaker.

3

: to fill (someone) with energy or enthusiasm

The coach fired up the players with a pep talk.

—usually used as (be/get) fired up

We were fired up for the concert.

Examples of fire up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The front bar is perfect for leaning in over a cocktail, watching the kitchen fire up the night, while the back dining room feels quieter, designed for lingering over plates. —Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026

Price kicked the ball back out to Barnett who fired up another 3 that missed as the final seconds ticked off. —Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 29 Jan. 2026

Some snacked on free food provided by a man who fired up a generator to make hot drinks and toaster-oven pizzas. —Christopher Cann, USA Today, 28 Jan. 2026

As a result, when the apartment complex fired up its boilers in December 2023, the water was nearing the system’s maximum of 180 degrees at all times. —Paul Flahive, Austin American Statesman, 27 Jan. 2026

Rhymes for fire up

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