use up

verb

Definition of use upnext
as in to spend
to make complete use of we used up the last of the flour when we made the waffles

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of use up Under state law, dealers in California may continue to use up supplies of paraquat for up to two years following the effective date of their cancellation. — Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026 The result is fabulously decadent and the perfect recipe for using up oodles and oodles of summer squash. — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 7 Aug. 2026 According to Boom, the Overture plane will use up to three times as much fuel as today’s airliners. — Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026 Above a certain temperature, the system starts to work against itself; the furious beating of cilia uses up any oxygen the coral’s tissues can absorb, and then the polyps can suffocate in the less oxygenated water. — Marlowe Starling, Quanta Magazine, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for use up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for use up
  1. spend
  2. consume
  3. drain
  4. exhaust
  5. play out
  6. draw down
  7. reduce
  8. use
Verb
  • Moore, a 47-year-old elementary school teacher, had spent most of his career teaching children around Summer’s age.
    — Julianna Bragg, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Many spend hours in mid-30s Celsius (mid-90s Fahrenheit) temperatures with little shade.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of spend
Verb
  • The consequences already appear in the federal budget, where interest consumes an ever-larger share of revenue.
    — Carolyn Bourdeaux, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
  • To be sure, there’s still a supply deficit, forcing consuming countries to keep tapping their reserves, which are reaching critically low levels.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of consume
Verb
  • Battery life, too, could be a concern for regular iPhone buyers who aren't used to how quickly powering two and a half screens can drain a cell.
    — Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Silvia’s eyes are still open, but all the color has drained from his face.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of drain
Verb
  • Maybe you’re exhausted by other commitments or spending too much time on your phone, which can be a distraction and energy zapper.
    — Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
  • After exhausting federal aid, grants, and scholarships, private student loans can help cover any remaining funding gaps.
    — Amy DeYoung, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of exhaust
Verb
  • Shamea and Porsha’s passive back-and-forth is a fascinating take on how icing someone out after a friendship falls apart can play out on a show like The Real Housewives.
    — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 29 June 2026
  • In April, when Rojas got news that his father had been rushed to the hospital, Roberts quickly took the decision on whether to play out of Rojas’ hands, scratching him from the lineup.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2026
Definition of play out
Verb
  • Boomers also spent decades paying payroll taxes that built up the trust fund surplus now being drawn down to help cover the shortfall.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Some have also had to tap their 401(k) plans to cope with financial shocks, like a 61-year-old who is currently drawing down her $100,000 retirement fund after losing her job in December.
    — Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of draw down
Verb
  • Proponents say such a system can reduce response time in the face of gun violence or a medical emergency.
    — Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Rather than having dog kennels lined up across from each other like in traditional shelters, the New Leash on Life design will have kennels on one side facing a hallway to reduce barking and stress.
    — Anna Ortiz, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of reduce
Verb
  • Researchers have developed a new vision algorithm that lets humanoid robots perceive depth more like humans, using two forward-facing eyes.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Earlier this month, The Financial Times appended a note to a guest column after readers questioned whether it was written using AI.
    — Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of use

Browse Nearby Words

uses up
use up
usher
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Use up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/use%20up. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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