1 C1
(Archaic/non-standard) To struggle or fight in an upward direction against resistance.
"The soldiers fought up the steep hillside against heavy fire."
fight up
C1
Not an established standard phrasal verb in modern English. Occasionally used in archaic or literary contexts to mean struggling upward against resistance.
In plain English
Not a standard English phrasal verb. Learners should use alternatives.
What does "fight up" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To fight in an upward direction.
Actually means
Not a standard English phrasal verb. Learners should use alternatives.
Usage tip
Not recognized as a standard phrasal verb in modern dictionaries. Learners may encounter it in very old texts as a literal expression ('to fight one's way upward'). In contemporary English, 'fight your way up' or 'rise up' would be used instead. Not recommended for ESL learners.
How to conjugate "fight up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
fight up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
fights up
he/she/it
Past simple
fought up
yesterday
Past participle
fought up
have + pp
-ing form
fighting up
continuous
Hear "fight up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "fight up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.