power up

1 of 2

verb

powered up; powering up; powers up

transitive verb

: to cause to operate

power up the computer

power-up

2 of 2

noun

pow·​er-up ˈpau̇(-ə)r-ˌəp 

variants or less commonly powerup or power up

plural power-ups also powerups or power ups

1

: an item in a video game that makes a player's character more effective by enhancing an attribute (such as speed, health, or strength) or conferring an ability

… a bunch of power-ups at your disposal to help overcome the odds, including the Super Bell—which gives you catlike powers and the ability to climb walls.

—Jon Bitner

You can use the direction keys on your keyboard to navigate Pac-Man through the maze, gobbling up spheres and power ups while avoiding ghosts.

—Cassidy Ward

After you collect enough gems and level up, you're able to select another weapon or powerup.

—Kris Holt

2

: the act of beginning to operate or causing something to operate

The drive is instantly recognized and ready to go on power-up.

—Dwight Silverman

… on power up, the user will experience the most rapid start-up time ever …

—Business Wire

Examples of power up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

At that point, things will move quickly as the rocket’s various systems switch to internal battery power, the main engines power up and, at the T-minus 0 mark, the booster finally ignites for liftoff. —Charlie Gile, NBC news, 1 Apr. 2026

The pilot, which became operational in October 2020, consists of two offshore wind energy turbines generating 6-megawatts each — enough to power up to 3,000 homes. —Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 27 Mar. 2026

Noun

His character is more maneuverable, and that creates situations where players can test out the traversal mechanics to grab an out-of-the-way power-up or switches that open inaccessible treasure chests. —Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 17 Mar. 2026

Despite the prior game being a pack-in title for the PS5, Team Asobi’s full-sized sequel brims with inventive platforming, whimsical power-ups, and a kind of lighthearted fun that recalls the best of Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon. —Sheena Vasani, The Verge, 28 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1970, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1979, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for power up

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

Kids Definition

power up

verb

: to cause to operate

power up the computer