1 C1 neutral
(Nautical) To reduce mooring lines from doubled or multiple lines to a single line per position, in preparation for leaving a dock.
"The captain ordered the crew to single up before they cast off from the pier."
inseparable
single up
C1 neutral inseparable intransitive
(Nautical) To reduce the mooring lines of a vessel to a single line in preparation for departure.
In plain English
On a boat or ship, to pull in most of the ropes holding the ship to the dock until only one is left, ready to leave.
What does "single up" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To reduce to a single line — the physical action of going from multiple mooring ropes to one.
Actually means
On a boat or ship, to pull in most of the ropes holding the ship to the dock until only one is left, ready to leave.
Usage tip
Highly specialized nautical term. Used as a command aboard ships and large vessels before getting underway. Rarely encountered outside maritime contexts. The command 'Single up all lines!' means to reduce doubled or multiple lines to single lines.
Words that pair with "single up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
lines mooring lines dock harbor vessel ship
How to conjugate "single up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
single up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
singles up
he/she/it
Past simple
singled up
yesterday
Past participle
singled up
have + pp
-ing form
singling up
continuous
Hear "single up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "single up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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