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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Recent Examples of using up
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
This suggests that a self-healing concrete could theoretically be stored for a long period without ‘using up’ the healing agents.
—Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 31 Mar. 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
Quiches and farmer's markets go hand-in-hand, and this one is perfect for using up fresh onions and mushrooms.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 9 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
As gravity pulls this gas together, new stars ignite — gradually using up all the galaxy's star-forming fuel.
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 4 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
Additionally, fears exist that the three-way primary could be using up financial resources the party could need in the general election later this year.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 17 Feb. 2026
Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
This suggests that a self-healing concrete could theoretically be stored for a long period without ‘using up’ the healing agents.
—Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 31 Mar. 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
Quiches and farmer's markets go hand-in-hand, and this one is perfect for using up fresh onions and mushrooms.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 9 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
As gravity pulls this gas together, new stars ignite — gradually using up all the galaxy's star-forming fuel.
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 4 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
Additionally, fears exist that the three-way primary could be using up financial resources the party could need in the general election later this year.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 17 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for using up
Verb
-
The airline was also trying to bring in higher-spending customers with bigger seats and bundled fares to compete with rival airlines.—
Bri Buckley,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
On Wednesday, Defense Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius announced that the Netherlands was spending 248 million euros ($292 million) on drones for the Ukrainian military.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
What mattered was the relationship between the people creating the content and the audience consuming it.—
Jonathan Hunt,
Fortune,
11 Apr. 2026
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With the new Iran war consuming international attention and Israel escalating strikes in Lebanon, diplomatic pressure for meaningful progress in Gaza has dramatically weakened.—
Wafaa Shurafa,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Determined to keep a similar scenario from playing out again, organizations everywhere are rolling out new algorithms to replace RSA and elliptic curves.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The event is at the heart of a sprawling legal battle, playing out across different fronts in Los Angeles and Australia, overshadowing The Deb, a feel-good movie about outback teens attending a debutante ball.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Because much of the area has flat, poorly draining soils, this watershed has become a bottleneck that can rapidly overflow during heavy rains.—
Dominic Boyer,
The Conversation,
14 Apr. 2026
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Fill it two-thirds with lightweight well-draining potting mix.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Pernes just couldn’t bring themselves to close the store, at least not without exhausting every other option first.—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Both countries aim to counter cheap, high-volume threats without exhausting high-value interceptors.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Spiking energy costs have pushed governments to roll out emergency measures, while central banks are drawing down foreign exchange reserves.—
Anniek Bao,Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
9 Apr. 2026
-
With enrollment plummeting and bloated staffing levels, the district is already on shaky financial footing and can’t sustain payroll without drawing down its reserves.—
Aaron Garth Smith,
Oc Register,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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This interactive balance board connects to a free app where your body becomes the controller, using movement to play engaging games.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
18 Apr. 2026
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Mayor Karen Bass said officers will also expand their presence in the area by placing LAPD vehicles in high-visibility locations and using license plate readers in high-risk burglary areas.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The station initially bridged the sudden budget gap last year by reaching out to donors directly and reducing costs to bring down overhead.—
Savannah Sicurella,
AJC.com,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The ship suffered substantial damage, and the Reagan administration retaliated by damaging or sinking three Iranian warships and three oil platforms, drastically reducing Tehran’s ability to engage in the gulf.—
Dalia Abdelwahab,
CNN Money,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Using up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/using%20up. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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