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beam up

B2 informal separable transitive

To transport someone or something instantaneously using a fictional energy beam; also used humorously to mean to remove someone from an unpleasant situation.

In plain English

To use a magic or science-fiction machine to move someone instantly from one place to another.

What does "beam up" mean?

2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.

1 B1 neutral

In science fiction, especially Star Trek, to transport someone instantaneously using a transporter beam.

"The captain ordered them to beam up the injured crew members immediately."

Beam me up, Scotty.

— Star Trek franchise (popularized cultural paraphrase; closest original: Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, 1986)
separable
2 B2 idiomatic informal

Informally, to wish or imagine removing someone from a bad or boring situation instantly. (Humorous)

"By the third hour of the meeting, I was ready to be beamed up to anywhere else in the universe."

separable

Literal vs figurative

Words literally mean

To send someone upward via a beam of energy — transparent in its science-fiction context.

Actually means

To use a magic or science-fiction machine to move someone instantly from one place to another.

Usage tip

Originates from the Star Trek franchise ('Beam me up, Scotty'). Used widely as a pop-culture reference and humorous expression in everyday English. The full phrase 'Beam me up, Scotty' is a famous cultural reference, though it was never said in exactly that form in the original series.

Words that pair with "beam up"

Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.

Scotty Enterprise transporter alien ship

How to conjugate "beam up"

The five tense forms you'll use most often.

Base
beam up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
beams up
he/she/it
Past simple
beamed up
yesterday
Past participle
beamed up
have + pp
-ing form
beaming up
continuous

Hear "beam up" in the wild

Listen to native speakers using "beam up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.

Keep exploring

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