use up

verb

used up; using up; uses up

transitive verb

: to exhaust of strength or useful properties
land that has been used up

Examples of use up in a Sentence

we used up the last of the flour when we made the waffles
Recent Examples on the Web Shunned by investors, Kashyap used up his personal savings and borrowed money to finish his next film. Anant Gupta, Washington Post, 21 Nov. 2023 This stick vacuum uses up to 18,000 units of pressure to suck up miscellaneous messes around your house — from pet hair to dust bunnies. Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 14 Nov. 2023 As aquifers are drained by excessive pumping, water reserves that seeped underground over thousands of years are being used up. Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 13 Nov. 2023 New York props master Gwen Roach and her husband used up their life savings and abandoned hopes of owning a home. Andrew Hay, Fortune, 12 Nov. 2023 Encircling Hamas in one of its strongholds and cutting off its resupply lines and communications forces the group to use up existing supplies and exhausts its fighters, said former U.S. commanders who have fought in urban battles in Iraq and Syria. Adam Goldman, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2023 Make a Loaded Frittata Use up this produce: Tomatoes, mushrooms, kale, spinach, chard, peppers, onions, carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes The feeds-a-crowd egg dish is one of the ultimate recipes to use up vegetables. Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Oct. 2023 This comforting dish is a great way to use up Thanksgiving leftovers and get into the cozy winter spirit! Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 1 Nov. 2023 Now, Balo Orozco, the owner of Sunset Cultures, is making fruit vinegars with the same vibrancy and lush fruit flavors as his kombucha, using up excess fruit so nothing goes to waste. L.a. Times Food Staff, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'use up.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1712, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of use up was in 1712

Dictionary Entries Near use up

Cite this Entry

“Use up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/use%20up. Accessed 29 Nov. 2023.

Kids Definition

use up

verb
: to make complete use of : exhaust
used up all the supplies

More from Merriam-Webster on use up

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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