sober up
phrasal verb
sobered up; sobering up; sobers up
: to become sober or less drunk or to make (a drunk person) sober or less drunk
You need to sober up before you go.
I tried to sober her up.
I have to sober myself up.
Examples of sober up in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
That honor goes to the Hot Brown, a sandwich allegedly created to sustain and sober up boisterous, late-night dancing guests at Louisville’s Brown Hotel in 1926.
—
Josh Miller, Southern Living, 30 Mar. 2025
Moore was found drinking in a Toronto pub then helped to sober up before the game.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2025
Which brings us to the album’s less enamored songs, the ones that go into what went wrong in a relationship that was so celebrated in the public eye, not least of all for how his spouse put up an ultimatum to sober up.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 7 Mar. 2025
Though drinking spikes during the holidays − 47% of men and 40% of women admitted to binge drinking during the merry season, according to American Addiction Centers − more adults are actually interested in sobering up.
—Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 1 Jan. 2025
The only way to sober up is to allow your body time to break down and get rid of the alcohol in your system.
—Rosanna Sutherby, Pharmd, Verywell Health, 3 Jan. 2025
Though drinking spikes during the holidays, January finds many revelers interested in sobering up.
—Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 2 Jan. 2025
At dawn, people sober up to the sound of cathedral bells and redemption
at the door.
—Jennifer Harlan, New York Times, 13 Dec. 2024
After record-breaking ticket sales in 2023, post-lockdown spending has sobered up, with audiences splurging more selectively.
—Quinn Moreland, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2024
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Josh Miller, Southern Living, 30 Mar. 2025
Moore was found drinking in a Toronto pub then helped to sober up before the game.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2025
Which brings us to the album’s less enamored songs, the ones that go into what went wrong in a relationship that was so celebrated in the public eye, not least of all for how his spouse put up an ultimatum to sober up.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 7 Mar. 2025
Though drinking spikes during the holidays − 47% of men and 40% of women admitted to binge drinking during the merry season, according to American Addiction Centers − more adults are actually interested in sobering up.
—Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 1 Jan. 2025
The only way to sober up is to allow your body time to break down and get rid of the alcohol in your system.
—Rosanna Sutherby, Pharmd, Verywell Health, 3 Jan. 2025
Though drinking spikes during the holidays, January finds many revelers interested in sobering up.
—Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 2 Jan. 2025
At dawn, people sober up to the sound of cathedral bells and redemption
at the door.
—Jennifer Harlan, New York Times, 13 Dec. 2024
After record-breaking ticket sales in 2023, post-lockdown spending has sobered up, with audiences splurging more selectively.
—Quinn Moreland, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Sober up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sober%20up. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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