measure up

verb

measured up; measuring up; measures up

intransitive verb

1

: to have necessary or fitting qualifications

As a candidate for the job, he didn't measure up.

—often used with to

Her work didn't measure up to our expectations.

2

: to be the equal (as in ability)

Her early films were promising, but more recent ones haven't measured up.

—used with to

His recent novels haven't measured up to his earlier works.

Synonyms of measure up

• compare (with)
• approximate
• stack up (against or with)
• reflect
• approach
• hold a candle to
• match

Examples of measure up in a Sentence

he always worried about measuring up to his older brother

Recent Examples on the Web

Sharptail sunfish, or molas, are among the heaviest fish in the world, weighing more than 4,000 pounds (1,800 kilograms) and measuring up to 10 feet (3 meters) long. — Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 23 July 2026

But the three-game series beginning Friday night should nonetheless help show how the championship-hopeful Yankees measure up to a mighty Dodgers team that’s won the last two World Series and boasts MLB’s best record this year, too. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 17 July 2026

The deep degree of psychological insight in a great novel is also difficult for a movie to measure up to. — Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor, 15 July 2026

But Antetokounmpo’s late game scoring doesn’t measure up to more than a dozen other All Stars, mostly wing players, who shoot a much higher percentage on three-pointers and free throws. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for measure up

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

Kids Definition

measure up

verb

1

: to have necessary or fitting qualifications

2

: to be the equal (as in ability)

—used with to