1 A2 neutral
(Of a person or animal) to remove liquid or small food from a surface by using the tongue.
"The cat licked up the last drops of milk from the floor."
separable
lick up
B1 neutral separable transitive
To remove or consume liquid or small substances from a surface by licking.
In plain English
To use your tongue to eat or drink something that is on a surface.
What does "lick up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 idiomatic neutral
(Literary/figurative, of fire or waves) to consume or cover a surface rapidly and completely.
"The flames licked up the dry timber within minutes."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To move one's tongue upward to collect something from a surface.
Actually means
To use your tongue to eat or drink something that is on a surface.
Usage tip
Most often used to describe animals licking up spills or small creatures eating. Can describe humans doing the same, though this sounds informal or childlike. Also used figuratively in some literary contexts for fire or waves 'licking up' a surface.
Words that pair with "lick up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
milk water spill crumbs drops blood
How to conjugate "lick up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
lick up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
licks up
he/she/it
Past simple
licked up
yesterday
Past participle
licked up
have + pp
-ing form
licking up
continuous
Hear "lick up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "lick up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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