pack up: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Informal, common in spoken and written English.
Quick answer
What does “pack up” mean?
To put items into containers for storage or transport.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To put items into containers for storage or transport; to finish work or stop an activity.
To cease functioning or operating; to end a relationship or venture; to prepare for departure by organizing belongings.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use all core meanings. In British English, 'pack up' more commonly means 'to stop working' (e.g., machinery fails). In American English, 'pack it in' is a closer synonym for quitting an activity.
Connotations
Neutral for literal meaning; slightly negative or matter-of-fact when meaning 'to stop/quit/fail'.
Frequency
Very common in both varieties. Slightly higher frequency in British English for the 'stop working' sense.
Grammar
How to Use “pack up” in a Sentence
[Subject] packs up [Object][Subject] packs upIt's time to pack up.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “pack up” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The engine packed up halfway up the hill.
- We'll pack up the stall at 6 pm.
American English
- He packed up his office after being let go.
- My phone packed up right before the call.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"The team will pack up the project files by Friday."
Academic
Rare in formal academic writing; appears in narratives or informal instructions.
Everyday
"Can you help me pack up the groceries?" / "My laptop just packed up on me."
Technical
Used in IT/engineering context meaning 'to fail': "The server packed up during the update."
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “pack up”
- Using 'pack up' for starting a journey (use 'set off'). Confusing with 'pack' (without 'up') which lacks the 'stop/quit' meaning. Incorrect: 'I packed up my suitcase for the trip.' (Better: 'I packed my suitcase.')
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. You can 'pack up your things' or 'pack your things up'. However, when meaning 'to stop working' (intransitive), it is not separable: 'The TV packed up' (NOT 'packed up itself').
'Pack' generally means to put items into a container. 'Pack up' adds the nuance of completion, finality, or preparation for stopping/leaving. 'Pack up' also has the specific idiomatic meaning of machinery failing.
Yes, informally. 'To pack up' can mean for a person to finish work or leave a place: "I'm packing up for the day." It can also mean to quit or give up: "He packed up his job and moved abroad."
Context dependent. As a direct instruction ("Pack up!") it can be abrupt. More polite forms are "Could you pack up, please?" or "It's time to pack up."
To put items into containers for storage or transport.
Pack up is usually informal, common in spoken and written english. in register.
Pack up: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpæk ʌp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpæk ʌp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Pack up your troubles (in your old kit bag)”
- “Pack it in”
- “Time to pack it up”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a BACKPACK. You PACK UP items INTO your BACKPACK when you're finished.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMPLETION IS PACKING (finishing an activity is like putting things into a closed container).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence does 'pack up' mean 'to stop working'?