pack up
phrasal verb
packed up; packing up; packs up
1
: to gather one's belongings together and put them in a suitcase or other container for traveling
He packed up and left town.
2
British, informal
: to stop or quit
She packs up when things become difficult.
3
British, informal
: to stop working properly
The lift has packed up, so you'll have to take the stairs to her flat.
Examples of pack up in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
When Japan invaded China in 1937, seventy-seven Chinese universities packed up their libraries, students, and staff to flee inland.
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Literary Hub, 11 Feb. 2026
At the same time, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard commanders who had helped prop up the regime began to pack up and leave.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026
In January, a judge granted a court order for the building owners to hire an outside moving company to pack up residents' belongings.
—Alysia Burgio, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
In the 1960s, about 20% of Americans packed up and moved every year.
—Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pack up
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Literary Hub, 11 Feb. 2026
At the same time, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard commanders who had helped prop up the regime began to pack up and leave.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026
In January, a judge granted a court order for the building owners to hire an outside moving company to pack up residents' belongings.
—Alysia Burgio, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
In the 1960s, about 20% of Americans packed up and moved every year.
—Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pack up
Cite this Entry
“Pack up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pack%20up. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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