1 B1 neutral
To increase suddenly and by a large amount, especially prices, figures, or statistics.
"House prices have rocketed up in the capital over the last two years."
rocket up
B1 neutral intransitive
To rise or increase extremely quickly and dramatically.
In plain English
To go up really, really fast — like a rocket.
What does "rocket up" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 neutral
To rise physically at great speed, like a vehicle or object launched upward.
"The firework rocketed up into the night sky and exploded in a burst of colour."
3 B2 idiomatic informal
To advance very rapidly in status, popularity, or rankings.
"The young singer rocketed up the charts after her debut single went viral."
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To move upward like a rocket — a projectile propelled at great speed.
Actually means
To go up really, really fast — like a rocket.
Usage tip
Almost always used in financial, statistical, or meteorological contexts. Frequently appears in news headlines. The adverb 'suddenly' or 'overnight' often collocates. Not common in formal academic writing — prefer 'surge' or 'escalate' there.
Words that pair with "rocket up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
prices costs temperatures profits sales demand
How to conjugate "rocket up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
rocket up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
rockets up
he/she/it
Past simple
rocketed up
yesterday
Past participle
rocketed up
have + pp
-ing form
rocketing up
continuous
Hear "rocket up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "rocket 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.