What are the definitions of “round up”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1To gather or collect (people or things), especially for a specific purpose or action.
Dozens of political activists have been rounded up for questioning.
- 2To gather or collect.
I used to help round up the cows at milking time.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “round up”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb round up is to gather or collect people or things, usually for a specific purpose or action. It can be used to describe gathering animals, such as cattle, or collecting people for a meeting or event.
What are the different verb forms of “round up”?
| Root Verb | round up |
| Third Person Singular Present | rounds up |
| Present Participle | rounding up |
| Simple Past | rounded up |
| Past Participle | rounded up |
Example
The teacher rounded up the students for the field trip.
Example
She rounds up the sheep every evening.
Example
The police are rounding up the suspects for questioning.
Example
They rounded up all the volunteers for the community event.
Example
The lost items were rounded up and returned to their owners.
What kind of phrasal verb is “round 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
“round 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 farmer rounded up the cattle.
Example
The organizer rounded the participants up for the workshop.
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
“round 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 farmer rounded up the cattle.
Example
The organizer rounded the participants up for the workshop.
What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “round up”?
Good things to know
Does “round up” have an informal or formal tone?
Round up is a neutral phrasal verb that can be used in both informal and formal contexts. It is commonly used in everyday conversations and can also be used in more formal settings, such as in news reports or official documents, depending on the specific context.
