level up

verb

leveled up or levelled up; leveling up or levelling up; levels up

transitive + intransitive

: to advance or improve (oneself, someone else, or something) in or as if in a game
Collect cards and magic potions, then level up your favourite dragons to increase their abilities.Animation Xpress
Staying competitive comes down to many factors, but one that's often overlooked, in my opinion, is the ongoing need to level up your marketing team.Sujan Patel
That [Kevin] Reilly has leveled up the brands of both networks is clear in their programming selections.Broadcasting and Cable
We provide nurses with the tools they need to level up their careers and their profession …News & Record (Greensboro, North Carolina)
Leveling up and finding new weapons, armor, or items give you plenty of incentive to keep slashing and button mashing away.Dan Hsu
Companies coax helpers to participate by offering points for useful answers, connecting total points to specific achievement levels, and encouraging users to level up, for even greater prestige.Paul McFedries

Examples of level 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.
This season marked a breakthrough for the Red Sox pitching program, which saw a number of young prospects level up in their development and in many cases impact the major league club. Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 23 Oct. 2025 Its best player may have leveled up … again. Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 23 Oct. 2025 Want to level up your AI skills? Sophie Caldwell, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2025 With good teams climbing out of holes or sliding into them and rebuilding teams leveling up faster than expected, 2025 feels more up for grabs than any season in recent memory. J.j. Bailey, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for level up

Word History

First Known Use

2003, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of level up was in 2003

Cite this Entry

“Level up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/level%20up. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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