Browse all

rack up

B1 informal separable transitive
In simple words

To collect or build up a lot of something, like points, money owed, or successes.

Literal meaning: To place items on a rack, building up a collection or tally.

Meanings

1 B1 idiomatic informal

To accumulate a large number of points, wins, or achievements.

"The team racked up an impressive twelve wins in a row before their first defeat of the season."

Grammar: separable
2 B1 idiomatic informal

To accumulate a large amount of debt, costs, or negative consequences.

"He managed to rack up over ten thousand dollars in credit card debt within six months of graduating."

Grammar: separable
3 B1 idiomatic informal

To score or achieve something notable, adding it to a growing list of accomplishments.

"Over her career, she has racked up numerous awards and international accolades."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Very common in both British and American English. Can be used for both positive things (wins, points, achievements) and negative ones (debts, losses, costs, penalties). Often implies an impressive or noteworthy quantity. Derived from the image of scores or tallies being placed on a rack. Works with a wide range of objects.

Commonly used with

points debt wins losses miles charges experience

Forms

Base
rack up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
racks up
he/she/it
Past simple
racked up
yesterday
Past participle
racked up
have + pp
-ing form
racking up
continuous

Understand "rack up" better

Try:

Real video examples

Video examples are being collected. Check back soon.

Want to master this phrasal verb?

Practice "rack up" on Looplines