use up

Meanings

1. 1verbphrasal verb

   To consume all of something so that none is left.

   Grammar: Takes an object, and the object can come in the middle: use up the milk or use the milk up.

   Patterns

   • use something up
   • use up something

   We used up all the flour making pancakes.

   Please don't use up the hot water before I take a shower.

   She used the last of her savings up on repairs.

2. 2verbphrasal verb

   To make full use of something that would otherwise be wasted, such as leftovers.

   Grammar: The object is usually food, scraps or materials that you finish rather than throw away: use up the leftovers.

   Patterns

   • use up leftovers
   • use something up before it goes bad

   I'll make soup to use up the vegetables in the fridge.

   He used up the leftover paint on the garden fence.

   We should use up these old batteries in the toys.

Word forms

Common combinations

use up all the

The kids used up all the paper in an hour.

use up your energy

The puppy needs a long walk to use up its energy.

use up leftovers

Fried rice is a good way to use up leftovers.

use up your allowance

She had used up her data allowance by the middle of the month.

use up valuable time

Long meetings use up valuable time.

Synonyms and how they differ

finish

Finish is more neutral and usually applies to food or tasks, while use up stresses that nothing remains.

exhaust

Exhaust is more formal and often describes large supplies, such as energy or funds.

deplete

Deplete is formal and suggests a gradual reduction, not necessarily running out completely.

consume

Consume is more formal and can describe eating or burning resources, with less everyday warmth than use up.

Opposites

Word family

use verb

to employ something for a purpose

used up adjective

completely finished or spent

usage noun

the amount or way something is used

reuse verb

to use again

Commonly confused: use up or used to?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “use up”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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