1 A2 informal
In video games, to advance a character to the next level by gaining enough experience or points.
"I stayed up until midnight to level up my character before the tournament."
inseparable
level up
B1 informal inseparable transitive/intransitive
To advance to a higher level of skill, quality, or status; originally from gaming, now widely used in everyday English.
In plain English
To get better at something or move up to the next stage.
What does "level up" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 idiomatic informal
(Informal, figurative) to improve one's skills, quality, or overall situation.
"She took an online course to level up her data analysis skills before applying for the job."
“
We will level up across Britain.
— Boris Johnson, UK Conservative Party Manifesto, 2019
inseparable
3 B2 idiomatic neutral
(Transitive) to raise the standards, conditions, or opportunities of a place or group.
"The government promised to level up deprived regions by investing in infrastructure and education."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
In a game, to reach the next level by accumulating points or experience.
Actually means
To get better at something or move up to the next stage.
Usage tip
Originally a gaming term (advancing a character to the next level), now extremely common in informal speech and social media to mean improving any skill or situation. Also used in political rhetoric (notably by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson). The transitive use ('level up the economy') is more formal.
Words that pair with "level up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
skills career game character economy life
How to conjugate "level up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
level up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
levels up
he/she/it
Past simple
leveled up
yesterday
Past participle
leveled up
have + pp
-ing form
leveling up
continuous
Hear "level up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "level 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.