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charge up

A2 informal separable both
In simple words

To give a battery more power so it works again; or to make someone feel very excited and ready to go.

Literal meaning: To push electrical charge upward into a battery or power cell.

Meanings

1 A2 neutral

To restore electrical energy to a battery or device by connecting it to a power source.

"Make sure you charge your phone up before the long flight."

Grammar: separable
2 B1 idiomatic informal

To make someone feel energized, excited, or highly motivated.

"The coach's halftime speech really charged the players up for the second half."

Grammar: separable
3 B1 neutral

To rush upward or forward with energy and force.

"The soldiers charged up the steep hill under heavy fire."

"Charge up San Juan Hill!"

— Commonly attributed to Theodore Roosevelt during the Battle of San Juan Hill, 1898 (Spanish-American War).
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

The primary modern meaning is to charge a battery or electronic device. The figurative sense (to energize someone) is common in motivational contexts. The object can be placed between 'charge' and 'up' or after 'up'. Also used intransitively ('the phone is charging up').

Commonly used with

battery phone device crowd team laptop electric car

Forms

Base
charge up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
charges up
he/she/it
Past simple
charged up
yesterday
Past participle
charged up
have + pp
-ing form
charging up
continuous

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Synonyms

recharge power up energize juice up top up invigorate

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