1 B1 idiomatic neutral
To cause prices, costs, or levels to rise.
"Strong consumer demand pushed up house prices by 10% in just one year."
separable
push up
B1 neutral separable transitive
To cause prices, levels, or quantities to increase, or to physically move something upward by pushing.
In plain English
To make something go higher — like prices, numbers, or a physical object.
What does "push up" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 A2 neutral
To physically move something upward by pushing.
"She pushed up her glasses and went back to reading."
separable
3 A2 neutral
(as 'a push-up') A floor exercise in which you raise and lower your body using your arms.
"He does fifty push-ups every morning before breakfast."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To push something so that it moves upward.
Actually means
To make something go higher — like prices, numbers, or a physical object.
Usage tip
Extremely common in financial and economic reporting. Also refers to the exercise 'a push-up' (or 'press-up' in British English). Literal physical use is straightforward.
Words that pair with "push up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
prices costs inflation interest rates demand sleeves
How to conjugate "push up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
push up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
pushes up
he/she/it
Past simple
pushed up
yesterday
Past participle
pushed up
have + pp
-ing form
pushing up
continuous
Hear "push up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "push up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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