1 A2 neutral
To restore electrical energy to a battery or device by connecting it to a power source.
"Make sure you charge your phone up before the long flight."
separable
charge up
A2 informal separable transitive/intransitive
To fill a battery with electrical power; or to make someone feel excited and full of energy.
In plain English
To give a battery more power so it works again; or to make someone feel very excited and ready to go.
What does "charge up" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 idiomatic informal
To make someone feel energized, excited, or highly motivated.
"The coach's halftime speech really charged the players up for the second half."
separable
3 B1 neutral
To rush upward or forward with energy and force.
"The soldiers charged up the steep hill under heavy fire."
“
Charge up San Juan Hill!
— Commonly attributed to Theodore Roosevelt during the Battle of San Juan Hill, 1898 (Spanish-American War).
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To push electrical charge upward into a battery or power cell.
Actually means
To give a battery more power so it works again; or to make someone feel very excited and ready to go.
Usage tip
The primary modern meaning is to charge a battery or electronic device. The figurative sense (to energize someone) is common in motivational contexts. The object can be placed between 'charge' and 'up' or after 'up'. Also used intransitively ('the phone is charging up').
Words that pair with "charge up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
battery phone device crowd team laptop electric car
How to conjugate "charge up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
charge up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
charges up
he/she/it
Past simple
charged up
yesterday
Past participle
charged up
have + pp
-ing form
charging up
continuous
Hear "charge up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "charge up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "charge up"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
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