What are the definitions of “mark up”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1Increase the price of something.
They MARK the goods UP by 25 % before they sell them.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “mark up”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb mark up is to increase the price of something, usually for resale. This is often done by businesses to make a profit on the items they sell.
What are the different verb forms of “mark up”?
| Root Verb | mark up |
| Third Person Singular Present | marks up |
| Present Participle | marking up |
| Simple Past | marked up |
| Past Participle | marked up |
Example
The store owner decided to mark up the prices of the products.
Example
She marks up the items in her store to make a profit.
Example
He is marking up the prices before the holiday season.
Example
They marked up the prices of the electronics last week.
Example
The prices of the items have been marked up significantly.
What kind of phrasal verb is “mark up”?
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a transitive and intransitive verb? - A transitive verb always has an object after it. (Example: Sam bought a car.) - An intransitive verb never has an object.(Example: She laughed loudly.)
Transitive verb
“mark up” is a transitive phrasal verb because it requires a direct object to complete its meaning. The direct object specifies what is being removed, obtained, or eliminated.
Example
The store owner marked up the prices.
Example
She marked the prices up by 10%.
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a separable and inseparable phrasal verb? - A “separable phrasal verb” can be separated with an object between the verb and particle. - An “inseparable phrasal verb” cannot be separated by an object.
Inseparable
“mark up” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means that you can’t place an object between the verb and the particle, otherwise, it changes the meaning of the phrasal verb.
Example
The store owner marked up the prices.
Example
She marked the prices up by 10%.
What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “mark up”?
Mark up percentage
The percentage by which the cost of a product is increased to determine its selling price.
Example
The store has a mark up percentage of 20% on all items.
Good things to know
Does “mark up” have an informal or formal tone?
Mark up is a neutral phrasal verb that can be used in both informal and formal contexts. It is commonly used in everyday conversations, as well as in business and financial settings.
