1 C1 idiomatic informal
To make something more dramatic, exciting, or seductively appealing.
"The director told the cast to vamp up their entrance to make it more theatrical."
separable
vamp up
C1 informal separable transitive
To make something more exciting, dramatic, or appealing; or (in music) to improvise an accompaniment.
In plain English
Make something more exciting and dramatic, or make up music as you go.
What does "vamp up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 idiomatic neutral
In music: to improvise or add a repeated harmonic accompaniment.
"The pianist vamped up a few bars while the singer adjusted her microphone."
separable
Usage tip
Two distinct senses: one in general usage (to enliven or make more dramatic, often with a seductive edge), and one in music (to vamp — play a repeated chord sequence as an improvised accompaniment). Not extremely common; 'jazz up' or 'spice up' are more frequent equivalents for the non-musical sense.
Words that pair with "vamp up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
performance routine look outfit song presentation
How to conjugate "vamp up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
vamp up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
vamps up
he/she/it
Past simple
vamped up
yesterday
Past participle
vamped up
have + pp
-ing form
vamping up
continuous
Hear "vamp up" in the wild
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