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

Story-wise, however, Butterfly Jam is too diffuse to measure up to the brutally transfixing Beanpole. —David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026

Its massive flower heads measure up to 1 foot across. —Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 11 May 2026

How do the two measure up against each other? —New Atlas, 8 May 2026

To craft a legacy that measured up to his old man. —Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 7 May 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