1 B1 neutral
(Of a place or service) To have all available spaces or reservations taken.
"That restaurant is booked up every weekend — you need to call at least three weeks ahead."
inseparable
book up
B1 neutral inseparable transitive/intransitive
To have all available reservations or appointments taken; fully reserved.
In plain English
When a hotel, restaurant, or event has no more places left because everyone has already reserved them.
What does "book up" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 neutral
To reserve all available spaces at a venue or in a service.
"The conference organisers booked up the entire hotel for the three-day event."
separable
3 B1 idiomatic neutral
(Of a person) To have one's schedule completely full of appointments or commitments.
"I'm completely booked up this month — can we meet in early December?"
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To fill the reservations book up to capacity — all lines in the bookings register are full.
Actually means
When a hotel, restaurant, or event has no more places left because everyone has already reserved them.
Usage tip
Very commonly used in the passive voice: 'The hotel is booked up.' Also used actively: 'Visitors booked up the resort months in advance.' Applies to hotels, restaurants, theatres, courses, doctors' appointments, and similar services. Widely used in both British and American English.
Words that pair with "book up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
hotel restaurant flight resort doctor venue
How to conjugate "book up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
book up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
books up
he/she/it
Past simple
booked up
yesterday
Past participle
booked up
have + pp
-ing form
booking up
continuous
Hear "book up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "book up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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