1 C1 neutral
To sew pieces of fabric together temporarily with long, loose stitches before final permanent stitching.
"Baste up the side seams first so you can try the dress on and check the fit."
separable
baste up
C1 neutral separable transitive
To temporarily sew fabric with long, loose stitches in preparation for permanent sewing.
In plain English
To sew something with long loose stitches just to hold it in place while you check the fit, before sewing it properly.
What does "baste up" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To baste (temporarily stitch) something up — 'up' implies the completion of the temporary assembly.
Actually means
To sew something with long loose stitches just to hold it in place while you check the fit, before sewing it properly.
Usage tip
A sewing and dressmaking term. 'Baste' on its own is more common; 'baste up' adds the sense of completing the temporary assembly. Distinct from the cooking sense of 'baste' (pouring juices over meat). Rare outside sewing contexts.
Words that pair with "baste up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
seam hem garment fabric sleeve dress
How to conjugate "baste up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
baste up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
bastes up
he/she/it
Past simple
basted up
yesterday
Past participle
basted up
have + pp
-ing form
basting up
continuous
Hear "baste up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "baste up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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