1 B2 idiomatic informal
To modify a vehicle or engine with aftermarket parts to increase its power or speed.
"He spent his weekends souping up his old car in the garage."
separable
soup up
B2 informal separable transitive
To modify a vehicle, machine, or piece of equipment to increase its power or performance, often beyond factory specifications.
In plain English
To add special parts to a car or machine to make it faster or more powerful.
What does "soup up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic informal
To enhance or improve any system, product, or presentation to make it more powerful or impressive.
"The designers souped up the website with better graphics and faster loading times."
separable
Usage tip
Primarily used for cars and motorcycles. Also used figuratively to mean enhancing any system or product to make it more powerful or impressive. Often appears as 'souped up' as an adjective.
Words that pair with "soup up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
car engine motorbike computer system vehicle
How to conjugate "soup up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
soup up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
soups up
he/she/it
Past simple
souped up
yesterday
Past participle
souped up
have + pp
-ing form
souping up
continuous
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