gear up

verb

geared up; gearing up; gears up
Synonyms of gear upnext

intransitive verb

: to get ready
are gearing up for the big game

Examples of gear up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
With a potential blizzard coming to New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani gave an update on how the city is gearing up for the next round of winter weather. Mark Prussin, CBS News, 21 Feb. 2026 National Margarita Day lands on Sunday, and Fort Worth spots are already gearing up for it. Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Feb. 2026 Machado, in particular, has spoken of getting geared up for the WBC and then crashing. Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Feb. 2026 In the fall, at a time when bears should be gearing up for winter hibernation with their offspring, the Arizona Department of Game and Fish dropped off five emaciated cubs in the span of a month. Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 20 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gear up

Word History

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gear up was in 1943

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gear up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gear%20up. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on gear up

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster