1 C1 informal
To partially burn or blacken something by exposing it to heat or fire.
"The flames charred up the wooden beams along the ceiling."
separable
char up
C1 informal separable transitive
To blacken or partially burn something so that its surface becomes charred.
In plain English
To burn something until it goes black on the outside.
What does "char up" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To char (partially burn) something until it is blackened.
Actually means
To burn something until it goes black on the outside.
Usage tip
Rare and non-standard. 'Char' alone is the more common verb meaning to partially burn or blacken. 'Char up' may be used for emphasis. Primarily found in informal British speech or cooking contexts.
Words that pair with "char up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
wood meat surface edges timber
How to conjugate "char up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
char up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
chars up
he/she/it
Past simple
chared up
yesterday
Past participle
chared up
have + pp
-ing form
charing up
continuous
Hear "char up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "char up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "char up"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
blacken burn char scorch
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