1 B1 idiomatic informal
To become so emotional that the throat tightens and speech becomes difficult.
"He choked up during his wedding vows and had to pause to compose himself."
“
I always choke up when I hear that song.
inseparable
choke up
B1 informal separable transitive/intransitive
To become so overcome by emotion that one's throat tightens and one can barely speak.
In plain English
To feel so emotional — happy, sad, or touched — that your throat gets tight and you can hardly talk without crying.
What does "choke up" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 idiomatic informal
To cause someone else to become emotional and struggle to speak.
"That video of the soldier returning home chokes me up every time I watch it."
separable
3 C1 neutral
(Sports) To grip a bat, club, or racket higher up the handle for greater control.
"The coach told her to choke up on the bat to improve her contact with the ball."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
For the throat to choke — to become constricted with emotion, blocking the ability to speak normally.
Actually means
To feel so emotional — happy, sad, or touched — that your throat gets tight and you can hardly talk without crying.
Usage tip
Very commonly used in American English. Can be intransitive ('I choked up') or transitive ('that story chokes me up every time'). Also used in baseball/softball: to 'choke up on the bat' means to grip it higher for more control — a completely separate sense.
Words that pair with "choke up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
speech story moment song memory tribute
How to conjugate "choke up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
choke up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
chokes up
he/she/it
Past simple
choked up
yesterday
Past participle
choked up
have + pp
-ing form
choking up
continuous
Hear "choke up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "choke up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "choke 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.