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 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 At this point, most of these deals would have to be bargains, because cap space is pretty much all used up. — Zach Harper, New York Times, 4 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
  • On the other side of the equation, the United States has released 400 million barrels of emergency oil, vastly drawing down its stockpiles in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
  • If Germany has a cold winter and power demand rises to heat homes and businesses, those storage levels will draw down quickly.
    — Brian Sullivan, CNBC, 21 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
  • The Triglav Lodge, Slovenia’s highest-altitude guest hut at an elevation of 2,515 meters (8,251 feet), is using paper plates this summer to save water on dishes.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Ukraine has been relatively successful at intercepting the massive numbers of drones that Russia uses in its large-scale attacks.
    — Kosta Gak, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of use

Browse Nearby Words

uses up
use up
usher
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Cite this Entry

“Use up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/use%20up. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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