What are the definitions of “stack up”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1Put things in a pile.
I STACKED UP the boxes.
- 2Accumulate.
Work STACKED UP while I was away on holiday.
- 3Increase, accumulate something.
I've been STACKING UP a lot of air miles.
- 4Be logical, make sense.
The budget figures don't STACK UP.
- 5Build up the number of planes waiting to land at an airport.
Planes were STACKING UP while the airport was closed after the bomb threat.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “stack up”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb stack up is to put things in a pile or arrange them in an orderly manner. For example, it can mean stacking books on a shelf, piling up dishes, or arranging items in a neat and organized way.
What are the different verb forms of “stack up”?
| Root Verb | stack up |
| Third Person Singular Present | stacks up |
| Present Participle | stacking up |
| Simple Past | stacked up |
| Past Participle | stacked up |
Example
Please stack up the chairs after the meeting.
Example
He stacks up the newspapers every morning.
Example
She is stacking up the dishes after washing them.
Example
Yesterday, they stacked up all the boxes in the storage room.
Example
The books had been stacked up neatly on the shelf.
What kind of phrasal verb is “stack 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
“stack 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
She stacked up the plates after dinner.
Example
He stacked the books up on the shelf.
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
“stack 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
She stacked up the plates after dinner.
Example
He stacked the books up on the shelf.
What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “stack up”?
Good things to know
Does “stack up” have an informal or formal tone?
Stack up is a neutral phrasal verb that can be used in both informal and formal settings. It is commonly used in everyday conversations and can also be used in more formal contexts, such as in business or academic settings, depending on the specific context.
