1 B2 informal
To get into a warm, comfortable position, typically indoors.
"On a cold winter evening, she loved to cozy up by the fire with a good book."
inseparable
cozy up
B2 informal inseparable intransitive
To settle into a warm, comfortable position, or to make oneself at home somewhere.
In plain English
To get comfortable and warm, like curling up in a cosy spot.
What does "cozy up" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To become cosy — mostly transparent.
Actually means
To get comfortable and warm, like curling up in a cosy spot.
Usage tip
American spelling ('cozy'); British English uses 'cosy up'. Can be purely physical (settling into a chair) or social (creating a comfortable, intimate atmosphere). Compare 'cozy up to' for the social/political sense.
Words that pair with "cozy up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
fire sofa blanket corner together inside
How to conjugate "cozy up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
cozy up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
cozies up
he/she/it
Past simple
cozied up
yesterday
Past participle
cozied up
have + pp
-ing form
cozying up
continuous
Hear "cozy up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "cozy up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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