measure up

verb

measured up; measuring up; measures up

intransitive verb

1
: to have necessary or fitting qualifications
often used with to
2
: to be the equal (as in ability)
used with to

Examples of measure up in a Sentence

he always worried about measuring up to his older brother
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.
Beating the Magic in the first round won’t measure up to all those memories, but Tatum has rarely shown more poise. Jay King, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025 The largest electric grills measure up to 44 inches wide and can fit as many as 30 burgers at a time. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2025 Caimans, which resemble small crocodiles and can measure up to 5 feet in length, normally live in the rivers and wetlands found in central and southern America. Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 18 Apr. 2025 As their moniker suggests, colossal squid can grow to be enormous, with some ultimately weighing as much as 1,100 pounds and measuring up to 43 feet, according to the conservation group Oceana. Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for measure up

Word History

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of measure up was in 1854

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Measure up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/measure%20up. Accessed 4 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

measure up

verb
1
: to have necessary or fitting qualifications
2
: to be the equal (as in ability)
used with to

More from Merriam-Webster on measure up

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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