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.
Get competitive Nothing levels up an activity like a friendly wager. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026 After all, leveling up your setup raises your potential ceiling, putting you at a whole new caliber than before. — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 8 Oct. 2026 In Season 2, Siaja is still making bold decisions and even bolder mistakes in her effort to level up her life. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026 If your devices are due for an upgrade, Amazon Prime Big Deal Days 2026 is the perfect time to level up your tech game without draining your wallet. — ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026 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 14 Oct. 2026.

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