To increase the size, scope, or capacity of something significantly.
To make something much bigger or more powerful than it was before.
4 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
(Business/Industry) To increase the production, size, or scope of an operation to meet greater demand or ambition.
"After a successful pilot program, the charity scaled up its meal delivery service to cover the whole city."
We need to scale up renewable energy and scale down fossil fuels.
— António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, COP27 Speech, 2022
(Science/Engineering) To increase the size or complexity of an experiment, model, or system while maintaining its essential proportions.
"The researchers need to scale up the reaction from a test tube to an industrial reactor."
(IT/Tech) To increase the power, memory, or capabilities of existing hardware or software.
"They scaled up the database server by adding more RAM and faster processors."
(General) To enlarge a diagram, image, or plan while keeping proportions the same.
"She scaled up the sketch on her computer until it filled the whole screen."
To move upward on a scale — fairly transparent.
To make something much bigger or more powerful than it was before.
Common in business, manufacturing, tech, and science. Can be transitive ('scale up production') or intransitive ('the company scaled up quickly'). Widely used in media and journalism.
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Listen to native speakers using "scale up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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