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

Soaring output in China has pushed Europe and the US to throw up trade barriers, though those could prove ineffective. — semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Restoring the hotel’s façade will require more than just throwing up the scaffolding and calling in a team. — Timothy Latterner, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Oct. 2026

For me, at least, the highlight was getting to see Angie throwing up over the side of the boat. — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026

Vinny remembers throwing up on the steps of Old Trafford before a match against Dundee, in 1984. — Vanda Mayer, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 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