1 B2 neutral
to seal or close an opening by building bricks into it
"They bricked up the back entrance after the extension was built."
separable
brick up
B2 neutral separable transitive
to close or block an opening by building bricks into it
In plain English
to shut a hole or door with bricks
What does "brick up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 neutral
to shut someone or something in behind a brick wall
"In the legend, the prisoners were bricked up alive."
separable
Usage tip
Usually literal and common with windows, doors, fireplaces, and tunnels. It can also be used figuratively in rare literary contexts.
Words that pair with "brick up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
window door entrance fireplace tunnel opening
How to conjugate "brick up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
brick up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
bricks up
he/she/it
Past simple
bricked up
yesterday
Past participle
bricked up
have + pp
-ing form
bricking up
continuous
Hear "brick up" in the wild
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Other ways to say "brick up"
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