1 A2 neutral
To put all your belongings into bags or boxes in preparation for leaving a place.
"We packed up the campsite quickly because a storm was approaching."
separable
pack up
A2 neutral separable transitive/intransitive
To put all your things into bags or boxes ready to leave, or (of a machine) to stop working.
In plain English
Put all your stuff into bags to go, or stop doing something — or a machine stops working.
What does "pack up" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 idiomatic informal
(British, informal) Of a machine or piece of equipment: to stop working, usually unexpectedly.
"My laptop packed up right in the middle of the presentation — it was so embarrassing."
inseparable
3 B1 idiomatic informal
(British, informal) To stop doing something; to quit an activity or job.
"After twenty years in the trade, he decided to pack up and retire to Spain."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To pack things up so you are ready to go — largely transparent.
Actually means
Put all your stuff into bags to go, or stop doing something — or a machine stops working.
Usage tip
The 'machine fails' sense is primarily British English. The 'gather belongings' sense is universal. 'Pack it up' is also used informally to mean 'stop it' or 'be quiet' in British English.
Words that pair with "pack up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
bags belongings equipment tent tools machine
How to conjugate "pack up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
pack up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
packs up
he/she/it
Past simple
packed up
yesterday
Past participle
packed up
have + pp
-ing form
packing up
continuous
Hear "pack up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "pack up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "pack up"
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Keep exploring
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