What are the definitions of “vacuum up”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1Consume.
He VACUUMED UP all of the food.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “vacuum up”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb vacuum up is to consume or eat something quickly, often in large amounts. It can be used to describe someone who eats a lot of food in a short period of time.
What are the different verb forms of “vacuum up”?
| Root Verb | vacuum up |
| Third Person Singular Present | vacuums up |
| Present Participle | vacuuming up |
| Simple Past | vacuumed up |
| Past Participle | vacuumed up |
Example
He vacuumed up all the food on his plate.
Example
She vacuums up her lunch in just a few minutes.
Example
He is vacuuming up the leftovers from last night's dinner.
Example
Yesterday, they vacuumed up all the snacks at the party.
Example
The food was vacuumed up by the hungry guests.
What kind of phrasal verb is “vacuum 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
“vacuum 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
He vacuumed up all the food.
Example
She vacuumed up her lunch quickly.
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
“vacuum 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
He vacuumed up all the food.
Example
She vacuumed up her lunch quickly.
What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “vacuum up”?
To quickly absorb or learn a large amount of information.
Example
She vacuumed up all the knowledge she could before the exam.
Vacuum up resources
To consume or use a large amount of resources quickly.
Example
The new project vacuumed up most of the company's budget.
Good things to know
Does “vacuum up” have an informal or formal tone?
Vacuum up is an informal phrasal verb that is commonly used in everyday conversations. It is not typically used in formal settings or writing.
