bump up: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1-B2Informal to neutral, common in business, media, and everyday contexts.
Quick answer
What does “bump up” mean?
To increase something, especially in amount, level, or degree.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To increase something, especially in amount, level, or degree.
To raise or elevate something, often abruptly, unexpectedly, or by a noticeable margin. Can imply an improvement in status, priority, or quality (e.g., 'bump up to first class').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is very similar in both varieties. 'Bump up' is equally common and understood. Slight preference in UK English for 'put up' or 'increase' in more formal writing, but this is marginal.
Connotations
Neutral to slightly casual in both. In business contexts, it's standard.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “bump up” in a Sentence
[Subject] + bump up + [Direct Object] (e.g., They bumped up the price)[Subject] + bump + [Direct Object] + up (e.g., They bumped the price up)[Subject] + bump up + [Direct Object] + by/to + [Amount/Level] (e.g., They bumped up the price by 10%)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bump up” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The shop bumped up all prices due to higher costs.
- He was bumped up to manager after his success.
- Can you bump the heating up a bit?
American English
- The company bumped up salaries by 5% this year.
- They bumped my flight up to business class!
- We need to bump up our efforts to finish on time.
adverb
British English
- (Not used as an adverb.)
American English
- (Not used as an adverb.)
adjective
British English
- (Not standard as an adjective. Use 'increased', 'bumped-up' as informal attributive: 'a bumped-up price'.)
American English
- (Not standard as an adjective. Use 'increased', 'bumped-up' as informal attributive: 'a bumped-up budget'.)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Common: 'The supplier bumped up their rates.' 'We need to bump up our marketing spend.'
Academic
Rare; more formal synonyms preferred. Possibly in economics: 'The policy bumped up inflation expectations.'
Everyday
Very common: 'Can you bump up the thermostat?' 'They bumped me up to a better hotel room.'
Technical
Used in computing/graphics: 'Bump up the resolution.' In audio: 'Bump up the bass.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bump up”
- Incorrect object placement: 'They bumped up it.' (Correct: 'They bumped it up.')
- Using where a gradual process is meant: 'Research has been bumping up our understanding.' (Use 'increasing' or 'improving'.)
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral to informal. Perfect for business meetings, journalism, and everyday speech, but in highly formal or academic writing, 'increase' or 'raise' might be preferred.
Yes, in the sense of promoting or moving someone to a better position/class. E.g., 'She was bumped up to vice president.' 'The airline bumped us up to first class.'
'Bump up' is transitive (needs an object) and causative (someone causes the increase). 'Go up' is intransitive (the subject itself increases). Compare: 'They bumped up prices' (they did it) vs. 'Prices went up' (it happened).
Yes. You can say 'bump up the price' or 'bump the price up'. If the object is a pronoun (it, them), it must go in the middle: 'bump it up', NOT 'bump up it'.
To increase something, especially in amount, level, or degree.
Bump up: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbʌmp ˈʌp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbʌmp ˈʌp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Bump up against (to encounter a problem/limit)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine physically BUMPing a volume knob UP with your elbow – a quick, accidental increase.
Conceptual Metaphor
QUANTITY IS VERTICAL ELEVATION (more is up). ADJUSTMENT IS PHYSICAL MANIPULATION.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'bump up' LEAST appropriate?