store up
store up — phrasal verb
- store upbase form
- stores up3rd person singular
- storing up-ing form
- stored uppast simple
1. to collect and keep a large amount of something, especially food, fuel, or other
to collect and keep a large amount of something, especially food, fuel, or other supplies, so that you can use it later when it may be hard to get
The villagers stored up enough firewood to last through the harsh winter.
collocation: store up + supplies / resources
Squirrels store up nuts in the fall to eat when the weather turns cold.
Mira's family stored up canned food and bottled water before the typhoon season began.
Farmers often store up grain after the harvest to sell at a better price later.
During the war, people stored up basic supplies like rice and medicine.
- stockpile
suggests larger, more organised amounts, often for emergencies
- hoard
has a negative tone — implies greed or secrecy
- accumulate
more formal; does not always imply active preparation
- use up
to consume something until nothing is left
文法句型
store up + noun phrase + for + purpose
用法筆記
The object is usually a physical resource that can be accumulated — food, fuel, tools, or money. The preposition 'for' commonly introduces the purpose or anticipated need.
常見錯誤
2. to keep information, stories, or interesting details in your memory, planning to
to keep information, stories, or interesting details in your memory, planning to share them or use them at a later time
Haruto stored up funny stories from his trip to tell his friends when he returned.
grammar: store up + noun + to-infinitive of purpose
Talia stored up every complaint about her co-workers until the annual review meeting.
Pedro stored up interesting facts about his city's history for a podcast episode.
The journalist stored up details from the interview for a feature article.
Hoa's grandfather stored up jokes and sayings from his youth and wrote them in a notebook.
- accumulate
more neutral; can refer to collecting items or facts without a plan to share
- collect
less specific; does not suggest a future purpose
文法句型
store up + noun phrase + to-infinitive
store up + noun phrase + for + purpose
用法筆記
Often used when someone deliberately collects small pieces of information over time with the intention of sharing them later in conversation, writing, or a performance.
常見錯誤
3. to avoid dealing with a difficulty or issue as it arises, with the result that i
to avoid dealing with a difficulty or issue as it arises, with the result that it grows into a much bigger problem over time
By ignoring the leaky roof, the landlord was storing up problems for the next tenant.
grammar: store up + abstract noun (trouble, problems)
Nia knew that not talking about the disagreement would only store up trouble for their relationship.
Companies that delay necessary repairs are storing up costs that will be much higher later.
Darius stored up resentment by never speaking up when his colleagues took credit for his work.
Putting off difficult conversations at work can store up conflicts that explode later.
- accumulate
more neutral; lacks the warning tone of 'store up'
- build up
can be used for both good and bad; 'store up' carries a stronger sense of negative consequences
- postpone dealing with
more formal; describes the action rather than the result
文法句型
store up + abstract noun (trouble / problems / difficulties / costs)
store up + noun + for + person/thing
用法筆記
The object is an abstract noun describing an undesirable outcome — 'trouble', 'problems', 'costs', 'conflicts'. This sense is frequently used as a warning about the long-term consequences of short-term avoidance.
常見錯誤
4. to hold back strong emotions such as anger, sadness, or frustration instead of e
to hold back strong emotions such as anger, sadness, or frustration instead of expressing them, allowing those feelings to grow in intensity and eventually become harder to manage
Camila stored up her anger for months until she finally broke down and shouted at everyone.
idiomatic use: storing up negative emotions
Eli found it healthier to talk about his loss with a friend instead of storing up his grief.
Saira stored up all her frustration about the long working hours until she felt completely exhausted.
Therapy helped Talia stop storing up negative emotions and start dealing with them as they came up.
Many people store up stress during the work week and release it only on the weekend.
文法句型
store up + emotion noun
用法筆記
The object is always a negative emotion — 'anger', 'frustration', 'grief', 'stress', 'resentment'. This sense overlaps closely with 'bottle up', but 'store up' emphasises the gradual build-up over a longer period.