Phrasal verb
burn up
Meanings
To be completely destroyed by fire; to burn until it is gone.
To use up energy, fuel, or a resource (often quickly).
To become very angry (informal).
Definition
To burn up means to be completely destroyed by fire.
When something burns up, it is consumed by fire until nothing is left or it is badly destroyed. We also use burn up to mean using up energy, fuel, or resources. In informal speech, burn up can also mean to become very angry.
Examples
- The old papers in the fireplace burned up in seconds.
- I burned up a lot of energy hiking in the heat.
- She burned up when she heard someone had taken her seat.
- They burned up most of the fuel driving through the mountains.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse burn up (be destroyed by fire) with burn down (a whole building is destroyed) and use the wrong phrasal verb for the situation.
More phrasal verbs
- go on To go on means to continue or keep happening.
- carry out To carry out something means to do it or complete it, especially a plan, task, or instruction.
- set up To set up means to arrange or prepare something so it is ready to use or happen.
- pick up “Pick up” most commonly means to collect someone or something from a place, usually by going there.
- go back To go back means to return to a place, time, or earlier situation.