1 B2 neutral
To extend or move upward in a long, winding, sinuous path.
"The mountain road snaked up through the dense forest before opening out at the summit."
inseparable
snake up
C1 neutral inseparable intransitive
To move or extend upward in a winding, curving path like a snake.
In plain English
To go up in a long, winding, curved way.
What does "snake up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 neutral
To move upward in a smooth, sinuous manner (of a person or animal).
"The cobra slowly snaked up from the basket as the music played."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To move upward in the manner of a snake — in a long, winding path.
Actually means
To go up in a long, winding, curved way.
Usage tip
Primarily used in descriptive or literary contexts for roads, paths, queues, and rivers. Not common in everyday conversation. Also used for the physical movement of hands or limbs reaching upward sinuously.
Words that pair with "snake up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
road path river staircase queue smoke trail
How to conjugate "snake up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
snake up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
snakes up
he/she/it
Past simple
snaked up
yesterday
Past participle
snaked up
have + pp
-ing form
snaking up
continuous
Hear "snake up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "snake up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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