use up

verb

used up; using up; uses up

transitive verb

: to exhaust of strength or useful properties

land that has been used up

Synonyms

• absorb
• burn
• consume
• deplete
• devour
• drain
• draw down
• exhaust
• expend
• play out
• spend

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

EVs use up to three times more chips than ICE vehicles and therefore rely heavily on materials sourced and processed overseas. —Lisa Caldwell, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025

While a liquid carton is a race to use up before the expiration date, buttermilk powder is more forgiving. —Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 June 2025

This method will cause the body to use up its sugar stores and instead burn fat for energy.6 Smartwatches: Wearable technology like smartwatches can track data like movement, heart rate, arterial oxygen saturation (indicates oxygen level in the body), and heart rhythm. —Patty Weasler, Verywell Health, 2 June 2025

These seemingly small choices can collectively use up a lot of mental energy that could have been reserved for more personally meaningful tasks. —Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1712, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for use up

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

Kids Definition

use up

verb

: to make complete use of : exhaust

used up all the supplies