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round up

A2 neutral separable transitive
In simple words

To collect a group of people or animals in one place, or to make a number a bit bigger so it's easier to use.

Literal meaning: To bring something up into a rounded (whole) number, or physically to drive animals into a rounded group.

Meanings

1 A2 idiomatic neutral

To collect or gather a group of people or animals and bring them together.

"The teacher rounded up the students and led them back to the classroom."

Grammar: separable
2 A2 neutral

To increase a number to the nearest whole number or a higher convenient figure.

"The bill was £9.60, so I rounded it up to £10 and kept it simple."

Grammar: separable
3 B1 idiomatic neutral

To arrest or detain a group of people, often by authorities.

"Police rounded up several suspects in connection with the robbery."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Has two very common senses: (1) collecting/gathering — often used for rounding up cattle, suspects, or volunteers; (2) numerical rounding — standard in everyday maths. The gathering sense can have negative connotations when used of people being detained by authorities.

Commonly used with

suspects cattle volunteers number total children

Forms

Base
round up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
rounds up
he/she/it
Past simple
rounded up
yesterday
Past participle
rounded up
have + pp
-ing form
rounding up
continuous

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