1 C1 informal
To become covered in a thick, hardened layer of a substance such as mud, grease, or dried paint.
"His boots were caked up with mud after the cross-country race."
separable
cake up
C1 informal separable transitive/intransitive
To become coated with or covered in a thick, hardened layer of a substance.
In plain English
Have a thick, hard, dirty layer stuck all over something.
What does "cake up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 idiomatic slang
Informal: to apply a heavy, thick layer of make-up or cosmetics.
"She had totally caked up her face with foundation — you couldn't see her natural skin at all."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To form layers like a cake — becoming thick and layered on a surface.
Actually means
Have a thick, hard, dirty layer stuck all over something.
Usage tip
Often used to describe mud, dirt, grease, cosmetics, or other substances that dry into a crust. Frequently used in passive constructions ('caked up with mud'). Common in British English.
Words that pair with "cake up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
mud grease dirt make-up paint rust
How to conjugate "cake up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
cake up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
cakes up
he/she/it
Past simple
caked up
yesterday
Past participle
caked up
have + pp
-ing form
caking up
continuous
Hear "cake up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "cake up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "cake up"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.