pile up
B1 neutral mixed both
In simple words
to collect more and more until there is a lot
Literal meaning: to form into a pile upward
Meanings
1 B1 neutral
to gather into a heap or large amount
"Laundry piled up while I was away."
Grammar: mixed
2 B1
idiomatic
neutral
to increase until tasks, problems, or delays become difficult to manage
"Emails have been piling up since Monday."
Grammar: inseparable
3 B2
idiomatic
neutral
to crash into one another in a series of collisions
"Cars piled up on the icy motorway before sunrise."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
Very common for physical objects, work, debt, traffic, and problems. Also used for multiple-vehicle crashes in some contexts.
Commonly used with
work dirty dishes debt snow traffic problems
Forms
Base
pile up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
piles up
he/she/it
Past simple
piled up
yesterday
Past participle
piled up
have + pp
-ing form
piling up
continuous
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Synonyms
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