power up
power up — phrasal verb
- power upbase form
- powers up3rd person singular
- powering up-ing form
- powered uppast simple
1. to make an electronic device start working by pressing its power button or flipp
to make an electronic device start working by pressing its power button or flipping its switch, or (of a device) to start running after its switch is pressed
Nadia powered up her laptop and checked her email before breakfast.
transitive: power up + [device]
The old desktop computer powered up with a low humming sound.
intransitive: [device] + powers up
Iris always powers up the projector ten minutes before her lecture.
The games console powered up slowly, blinking twice before the screen came on.
Kian forgot to power up the microphone before the speech began.
collocation: forget to power up
- power up quickly
- power up slowly
- power up automatically
- fully powered up
- power down
the direct opposite — to shut off the electricity supply to a device
- shut down
more formal; especially common for computers and large systems
- turn off
the general opposite; works for any device with a switch
Grammar Patterns
power up + [device]
[device] + powers up
Usage Note
Both transitive ('She powered up the computer') and intransitive ('The computer powered up'). Applies to electronic devices — don't use it for manual objects like candles or fires.
Common Mistakes
power up — verb
- power uppresent simple I / you / we / they
- powers up3rd person singular
- powering up-ing form
- powered uppast simple
1. to connect a machine or system to an electricity supply so that it starts runnin
to connect a machine or system to an electricity supply so that it starts running
Rin powered up the heating system after the winter repairs.
transitive: power up + [system]
Reema powered up the server and waited for it to begin processing data.
Haruki powered up the backup generator before the afternoon power cut began.
Eshe powered up the medical scanner and checked the display screen.
transitive with inanimate object
The submarine crew powered up the engines as the storm approached.
- power up the engine
- power up the system
- power up the generator
- shut down
to turn off a machine or system completely
- deactivate
formal opposite of activate; used for security and safety systems
- cut power to
to disconnect the electricity supply from something
Grammar Patterns
power up + [machine / system]
Usage Note
Always transitive — requires a direct object. More formal than the phrasal verb entry; common in technical and industrial contexts.
Common Mistakes
power up — noun
1. a special item found in video games that boosts a player's abilities — for examp
a special item found in video games that boosts a player's abilities — for example, making them faster, stronger, or harder to hit
Elena grabbed a speed power-up and raced ahead of the other players.
collocation: grab a power-up
The golden mushroom is the best power-up in that racing game.
Matthew used a special power-up to jump over the wall and escape.
collocation: use a power-up
Fatima saved the shield power-up for the spiked hallway in the platform game.
Piotr collected every power-up he could find before the final boss fight.
collocation: collect a power-up
- grab a power-up
- collect a power-up
- temporary power-up
- speed power-up
- boost
more general; can refer to any temporary increase, not only in video games
- upgrade
implies a permanent improvement, whereas a power-up is usually temporary
- bonus item
broader term; not all bonus items give extra powers or abilities
- debuff
a gaming term for an effect that weakens a character; much less common than power-up
Usage Note
Almost always used in the singular when referring to one item. Typically paired with verbs like 'grab', 'collect', 'use', or 'pick up'.
Common Mistakes
2. the moment when a machine or device starts working after being switched on, or t
the moment when a machine or device starts working after being switched on, or the action of making it start
The power-up of the main reactor took nearly twenty minutes to complete.
pattern: the power-up of + [system]
Yael heard a low hum during the power-up of the data centre's cooling system.
A beep from the control room signals the security system power-up each morning.
Antonia checked all the cables before the power-up of the sound system.
collocation: before the power-up
The power-up sequence on the spaceship flashed green lights across the panel.
- during the power-up
- power-up sequence
- power-up process
- before the power-up
- startup
very similar; used for both devices and businesses, e.g. 'computer startup' or 'startup company'
- activation
more formal; often used for security, safety, or emergency systems
- boot-up
specifically for computers loading their operating system after being switched on
- shutdown
the process of turning a machine or system off
- power-down
specifically the process of cutting electrical power to a device
Usage Note
Usually singular and preceded by 'the'. Refers to the process of starting up, not the device itself or the act of using the device after it is on.
Etymology
Formed from 'power' (meaning electricity or energy, from Old French 'povoir', ultimately from Latin 'posse' — to be able) combined with the particle 'up' (indicating completion or increase). The phrasal verb emerged in the early-to-mid 20th century alongside the spread of electrical devices. The noun sense for video games appeared in the 1980s with the rise of arcade and console gaming, where floating icons granted players temporary special abilities.
First known use
1970
1970, in the meaning defined above Noun