1 B1 neutral
To fold and stitch the bottom edge of a garment or fabric upward to shorten or finish it.
"The tailor hemmed up the trousers while I waited, so they were ready in twenty minutes."
separable
hem up
B1 neutral separable transitive
To fold and sew the bottom edge of a garment to shorten it or neaten its finish.
In plain English
To fold up the bottom of a piece of clothing and sew it so it's the right length.
What does "hem up" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To fold the hem (the edge of fabric) upward.
Actually means
To fold up the bottom of a piece of clothing and sew it so it's the right length.
Usage tip
Primarily used in sewing and tailoring contexts. More common in American English; British English speakers often say 'take up' a hem. Everyday vocabulary for anyone who sews or visits a tailor.
Words that pair with "hem up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
trousers dress skirt curtains jeans suit
How to conjugate "hem up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
hem up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
hems up
he/she/it
Past simple
hemed up
yesterday
Past participle
hemed up
have + pp
-ing form
heming up
continuous
Hear "hem up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "hem 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.