1 A2 neutral
To fasten shoes, boots, or similar footwear by threading and tying the laces.
"She sat on the bench and laced up her running shoes before heading out."
separable
lace up
A2 neutral separable transitive/intransitive
To fasten something (typically shoes, boots, or a corset) by threading and tying a lace through a series of holes or hooks.
In plain English
To tie your shoelaces or fasten something with laces.
What does "lace up" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 neutral
To fasten any garment or piece of equipment that uses laces, such as a corset or boxing gloves.
"His corner man laced up his gloves just before the fight began."
separable
3 B2 idiomatic informal
(Figurative) To prepare oneself mentally or physically for a challenging activity.
"It's time to lace up and get ready for the biggest challenge of our careers."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To thread a lace upward through eyelets and pull it tight — entirely transparent.
Actually means
To tie your shoelaces or fasten something with laces.
Usage tip
Very common in everyday English. Primarily used for shoes and boots ('lace up your shoes'), but also applies to corsets, boxing gloves, and similar items. Often used as an adjective in compound forms: 'lace-up boots', 'lace-up shoes'.
Words that pair with "lace up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
shoes boots trainers sneakers corset gloves
How to conjugate "lace up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
lace up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
laces up
he/she/it
Past simple
laced up
yesterday
Past participle
laced up
have + pp
-ing form
lacing up
continuous
Hear "lace up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "lace up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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