What does "sync up" mean (sense 1)?

(Technology) To update or match data between two or more devices or systems so they contain identical information Example: "Make sure you sync up your phone with your laptop before the trip so all your files are up to date."

What does "sync up" mean (sense 2)?

(Business/informal) To meet or communicate briefly in order to align plans, share updates, or coordinate actions Example: "Can we sync up before the client call to make sure we're saying the same thing?"

What does "sync up" mean (sense 3)?

To match or coordinate timing so that two things happen simultaneously Example: "The director struggled to sync up the music with the action on screen."

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sync up

B1 informal separable transitive/intransitive

To coordinate, align, or match timing, data, or information between two or more people or systems

In plain English

Make sure everyone or everything is working at the same time and knows the same things

What does "sync up" mean?

3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.

1 B1 neutral

very common

(Technology) To update or match data between two or more devices or systems so they contain identical information

"Make sure you sync up your phone with your laptop before the trip so all your files are up to date."

separable

2 B1 idiomatic informal

common

(Business/informal) To meet or communicate briefly in order to align plans, share updates, or coordinate actions

"Can we sync up before the client call to make sure we're saying the same thing?"

inseparable

3 B1 neutral

common

To match or coordinate timing so that two things happen simultaneously

"The director struggled to sync up the music with the action on screen."

separable

Literal vs figurative

Words literally mean

To synchronize upward — 'sync' is a shortening of 'synchronize', meaning to operate at the same time.

Actually means

Make sure everyone or everything is working at the same time and knows the same things

Usage tip

Common in both tech contexts (syncing devices, files) and business/team contexts (scheduling a meeting to align on plans). Heavily used in corporate and startup culture. 'Sync' alone is increasingly used as a standalone verb.

Words that pair with "sync up"

Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.

calendars devices files schedules team data

How to conjugate "sync up"

The five tense forms you'll use most often.

Base

sync up

I/you/we/they

3rd person

syncs up

he/she/it

Past simple

synced up

yesterday

Past participle

synced up

have + pp

-ing form

syncing up

continuous

Hear "sync up" in the wild

Listen to native speakers using "sync 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.

All phrasal verbs with "sync" All phrasal verbs with "up" More B1-level phrasal verbs