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

The Wildcats notched the biggest lead of the night when Burries threw up a 3-pointer at the end of the shot clock with 22 seconds left that pushed the gap to 18. —Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 29 Mar. 2026

Before the news was official, when it was reported only that Murray had been offered the job, Hurley threw up a note of caution, looking out for his guys, hoping to insure the right questions were being asked. —Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2026

The state awarded Gothams a $36 million contract to help outfit and maintain the facility, which was thrown up in just over a week on an old airstrip. —Neena Satija, Houston Chronicle, 18 Mar. 2026

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

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