stack up

verb

stacked up; stacking up; stacks up

intransitive verb

1

: to add up

Cars were beginning to stack up behind the bus.

2

: to be in a particular state or situation

Here's how things stack up today.

3

: measure up, compare

—usually used with against

How does he stack up against the other job candidates?

Synonyms of stack up

• compare (with)
• measure up (to)

Examples of stack up in a Sentence

those newspapers have been stacking up in the basement since we moved here

Recent Examples on the Web

Here’s how the two options stack up against one another, including a look at their investment options, fees, parental controls and educational tools. —Andreina Rodriguez, CNBC, 13 May 2026

The judge has discretion to decide whether Richins’ prison sentences for each count will overlap or stack up. —Hannah Schoenbaum, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026

Interest earnings on a $100,000 CD account will stack up fairly quickly in today's elevated interest rate environment. —Matt Richardson, CBS News, 13 May 2026

See how your state’s gas prices stack up. —Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 12 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for stack up

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

Kids Definition

stack up

verb

: measure up sense 2, compare

see how you stack up against the champion