USING UP Synonyms: 63 Similar and Opposite Words

using up

verb

present participle of use up

as in spending

to make complete use of we used up the last of the flour when we made the waffles

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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 using up Emily Weinstein, a researcher at the Center for Digital Thriving at Harvard, says some students are using up to seven different apps to manage everything from grades to sports team schedules. — Charlotte Hu, Time, 22 July 2026 Under-bed storage containers are the perfect way to store off-season clothes, sneakers, sandals, scarves, hats, and more to keep your bedroom floors clean without using up space in your closet. — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 24 June 2026 The company claims its models can match or outperform frontier labs using up to 100 times fewer tokens, which are the currency for running AI queries. — Samantha Subin, CNBC, 23 June 2026 This single observation suggests that, during strong wind conditions, each rotor would contribute about 1 MW of propulsion, even when using up its own 20 kW of spinning power. — Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 21 Apr. 2026 Roskopf, however, countered that data centers don’t provide significant jobs, but only provide an additional tax base while using up resources. — Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026 Breakfast Burritos The most flexible breakfast on this list and one of the best for using up what is already in the fridge. — Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 10 Mar. 2026 Data centers have faced increasing criticism for using up water and power, adding to the already-existing strain on those resources. — Emma Murphy, Oklahoma Voice, 5 Mar. 2026 The United States, Israel, and their Gulf allies are using up scarce and costly munitions at an astounding rate. — Brynn Tannehill, The Atlantic, 4 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for using up

Verb

James spent four seasons in Miami, from 2010-14, after spending the first seven seasons of his NBA career with his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers.

— Devon Henderson, New York Times, 22 July 2026
After spending much of the year providing infield insurance, veteran shortstop Kyle Farmer has been released from the roster following a transaction that coincided with the return of one of Atlanta's key offseason additions.

— Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026

Definition of spending

Verb

Last December, the government introduced a higher rate for drivers consuming more than 160 litres (42 gallons) of petrol per month.

— Chris Lau, CNN Money, 26 July 2026
In May, a First Nation community in Ontario issued an alert warning families about the dangers of intentionally consuming high doses of diphenhydramine, following reports of youth participation in the trend.

— Andrew Yockey, The Conversation, 24 July 2026

Definition of consuming

Verb

Window closing to find survivors These are the kinds of scenes playing out across La Guaira state, with people milling around in the streets after being left homeless, uncertain of what to do next.

— Fernando Narro Roman, NPR, 28 June 2026
These same dynamics are now playing out in litigation over social media and youth mental health.

— Alex Smolak, STAT, 27 June 2026

Definition of playing out

Verb

That includes the wound draining fluid, having a foul odor or getting bigger.

— Sarah Tomlinson, The Conversation, 24 July 2026
How To Care For Onions In Pots Onions prefer well-draining, loamy, and slightly acidic to neutral soil, such as potting soil with compost mixed in.

— Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 22 July 2026

Definition of draining

Verb

Schmidt's attorney, Kyle Ludwig, on Tuesday claimed that Foster-Todd did not attempt to make distance between himself and the dog and said Foster-Todd shot the dog without exhausting other options.

— Grant Lancaster, Arkansas Online, 22 July 2026
But there were hero moments here too, the same refusal to lose, the same team-work, the same selfless effort in exhausting physical conditions.

— Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 12 July 2026

Definition of exhausting

Verb

So countries are comfortable, for now, drawing down their own inventories.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
In addition to ramping up its production since leaving OPEC+, Kpler senior oil analyst Johannes Raubal said the UAE has also been drawing down crude inventories, further enhancing export volumes.

— Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 7 July 2026

Definition of drawing down

Verb

Investigators said Summers was using his phone extensively before the crash, driving 73-75 mph, and tested positive for cocaine and opiates.

— Chadd Cripe. Produced with AI assistance, Idaho Statesman, 30 July 2026
The competition series featured masters of shamanism, tarot, face and foot reading, saju and other divination disciplines competing in challenges that tested their abilities, using tools including fans, bells, dowsing rods and modern-day laptops.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 30 July 2026

Definition of using

Verb

Security analysts speculate that many are willing to talk about their bribes to politicians, in hopes of reducing their sentences.

— Mary Beth Sheridan, CNN Money, 25 July 2026
The local manufacturing requirement is intended to strengthen Greece’s domestic defence sector while reducing dependence on foreign suppliers over the long term.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 25 July 2026

Definition of reducing

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using

using up

usual

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“Using up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/using%20up. Accessed 30 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of using up

verb

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