mug up

verb

mugged up; mugging up; mugs up

intransitive verb

British
: to study intensively (as for an examination)

transitive verb

: to work up by study

Examples of mug up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Influencers, podcast hosts, and even Etsy shop owners are cashing in on the attack, with slogans, t-shirts, and mugs up for sale. Morgan Haefner, Quartz, 16 July 2024 The last image in the carousel is a close-up of the Rhode founder holding a mug up to her lips, her dainty cherry blossom manicure — and sparkly bling — front and center. Catherine Santino, Peoplemag, 30 May 2024 For the best flavor experience make sure to fill your mug up to the brim, covering all the tiny holes. Nishka Dhawan, USA TODAY, 30 Apr. 2021 Anyone who has ever worked in a cannery knows that 'mug up' is a colloquial term for coffee break. Laine Welch, Anchorage Daily News, 29 Apr. 2018

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1860, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of mug up was circa 1860

Dictionary Entries Near mug up

Cite this Entry

“Mug up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mug%20up. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!