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

Luckily, finding the best insoles for flat feet can help level up your footwear. —Nikhita Mahtani, SELF, 6 July 2024

Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner, who has served as the MP for Ashton-under-Lyne since 2015, is expected to become the deputy prime minister, as well as the secretary of state for leveling up, housing and communities. —NBC News, 5 July 2024

Choosing a lower strength retinol (over-the-counter) first and then leveling up to something stronger is also key to getting the best results in due time! —Samantha Mims, Essence, 24 June 2024

Varying different sizes, shapes, and finishes creates a collected look that levels up your lighting. —Claire Hoppe, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

2003, in the meaning defined above