Browse all

boot up

A2 neutral separable both
In simple words

To turn on a computer and wait for it to be ready.

Literal meaning: From 'bootstrapping' — pulling yourself up by your own boot straps; refers to the self-loading process of an OS.

Meanings

1 A2 neutral

To turn on a computer or device and allow the operating system to load fully.

"Give me a moment — I just need to boot up my laptop and open the file."

Grammar: separable
2 A2 neutral

(Of a computer or system) To complete the start-up process and become ready for use.

"The new solid-state drive means the computer boots up in under five seconds."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Standard everyday computing vocabulary, widely understood by all English speakers. Can be transitive ('boot up the computer') or intransitive ('the computer is booting up'). 'Boot' alone is also commonly used. The term comes from the computing metaphor of pulling oneself up 'by the bootstraps', referring to the self-loading process of an operating system.

Commonly used with

computer laptop system device PC server

Forms

Base
boot up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
boots up
he/she/it
Past simple
booted up
yesterday
Past participle
booted up
have + pp
-ing form
booting up
continuous

Understand "boot up" better

Try:

Real video examples

Video examples are being collected. Check back soon.

Want to master this phrasal verb?

Practice "boot up" on Looplines