1 B1 informal
(Of clothing or fabric) to gather into folds or wrinkles, especially by riding up.
"Her dress kept bunching up at the back whenever she sat down."
inseparable
bunch up
B1 informal separable transitive/intransitive
To gather into folds or a mass, or for people to crowd together.
In plain English
When cloth folds up in wrinkles, or people crowd into one area.
What does "bunch up" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 neutral
(Of people or vehicles) to crowd or pack closely together, often causing a blockage or delay.
"The cyclists bunched up as they approached the narrow mountain pass."
inseparable
3 B2 neutral
To tighten the muscles of the body, especially the shoulders or fists.
"He bunched up his fists and stared across the room at his opponent."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To gather into a bunch or bunches upward.
Actually means
When cloth folds up in wrinkles, or people crowd into one area.
Usage tip
Very common for describing fabric or clothing that has ridden up or gathered. Also used for traffic or people crowding. Slightly more informal than 'bunch together.'
Words that pair with "bunch up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
skirt socks traffic crowd fabric runners
How to conjugate "bunch up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
bunch up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
bunches up
he/she/it
Past simple
bunched up
yesterday
Past participle
bunched up
have + pp
-ing form
bunching up
continuous
Hear "bunch up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "bunch up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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