stack up

verb

stacked up; stacking up; stacks up

intransitive verb

1

: to add up : total

2

: measure up, compare

—usually used with against

Synonyms

• compare (with)
• measure up (to)

Examples of stack up in a Sentence

those newspapers have been stacking up in the basement since we moved here

Recent Examples on the Web

When adding operational costs to the bill, the price of expanding across multiple locations can stack up quickly, according to Nguyen. —Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 2 Aug. 2025

Once the wins start to stack up, any remaining resentment should begin to dissipate. —Claude Smalls, Miami Herald, 1 Aug. 2025

Freezer meal prep containers These BPA-free containers are perfect for stacking up freezer meals. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 31 July 2025

Each round had six categories that, when stacked up, created the famous pyramid. —Lindsay Soll, EW.com, 25 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for stack up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup

Kids Definition

stack up

verb

: measure up sense 2, compare

see how you stack up against the champion