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 of use up

• spend
• consume
• drain
• exhaust
• play out
• draw down
• run out of
• reduce
• use
• absorb
• burn

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

Many families cannot afford to take the full allowable time off, using up sick or vacation time if available. — Megan Kuykendoll, The Conversation, 28 Sep. 2026

Data centers use up to millions of gallons of water a day, threatening the availability and affordability of local supplies. — Anna Zarra Aldrich, Hartford Courant, 25 Sep. 2026

Blooming uses up a lot of the plant’s energy, and afterward the orchid needs a period of rest to recover for the next blooming cycle. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 23 Sep. 2026

If a crisis happened, the government could use up some of that fiscal space without having to worry about the pot overflowing. — Editorial Board, Washington Post, 23 Sep. 2026

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