1 C1 neutral
To assemble a crew of workers or team members for a specific task or project.
"They crewed up quickly for the documentary shoot, hiring a local sound engineer."
inseparable
crew up
C1 neutral inseparable transitive/intransitive
To assemble or join a crew for a specific project, vessel, or task.
In plain English
To get a team of workers together for a job, especially on a ship or film set.
What does "crew up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 neutral
To join an existing crew for a voyage, production, or project.
"She crewed up on a sailing yacht heading for the Caribbean."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To gather a crew (group of workers) together — fairly transparent.
Actually means
To get a team of workers together for a job, especially on a ship or film set.
Usage tip
Used in maritime, film production, and military contexts. Can mean to assemble a crew (transitive) or to join a crew (intransitive). Less common in everyday speech outside these specialist domains.
Words that pair with "crew up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
ship vessel production film expedition team
How to conjugate "crew up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
crew up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
crews up
he/she/it
Past simple
crewed up
yesterday
Past participle
crewed up
have + pp
-ing form
crewing up
continuous
Hear "crew up" in the wild
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Other ways to say "crew up"
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