throw up

verb

threw up; thrown up; throwing up; throws up

intransitive verb

: vomit

transitive verb

1

: vomit

2

: to raise quickly

3

: to build hurriedly

new houses thrown up almost overnight

4

: give up, quit

… the urge … to throw up all intellectual work …

—Norman Mailer

5

: to bring forth : produce

6

: to make distinct especially by contrast : cause to stand out

7

: to mention repeatedly by way of reproach

see also:

throw up one's hands

Synonyms of throw up

• vomit
• hurl

Examples of throw up in a Sentence

she must have eaten something that didn't agree with her because she threw up right after dinner

when the townspeople realized that the President's motorcade would be coming through on its way to the conference, they threw up a hasty “Welcome” sign

Recent Examples on the Web

For, as a result of the centrality of these primaries, the races have thrown up all manner of distractions. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026

Robbe, who went by Makenzy Doniak while with the Wave, ran toward the northeast side of Snapdragon Stadium, pointed into the stands and threw up a heart as three people stood up cheering for her. —Fernando Ramirez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026

Boozer had the presence of mind, though, to get his own rebound off the block and pass the ball back out to his brother rather than trying to throw up another shot in a hurry. —Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 15 Mar. 2026

Inside the bathroom on the 26th floor of a Manhattan federal courthouse, Lindsey Acree was throwing up into a gold trash can. —Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Rhymes for throw up

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

Kids Definition

throw up

verb

1

: to build or raise hurriedly or quickly

threw up the window

2

: to give up : quit

just wanted to throw the whole thing up

3

: vomit entry 2 sense 1

Medical Definition

throw up

intransitive verb

ˌthrō-ˈəp 

: vomit