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

• approach
• approximate
• 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

More News: John Force Shares Emotional Message After 'Special' 2025 Trackside Return Throughout his career, Force has stacked up many achievements against the competition and left a legacy that is difficult to match. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 16 Feb. 2025

Packages were stacking up at ports of entry, including at JFK Airport. —Laura Gottesdiener and Stephen Eisenhammer, USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2025

Getting those measurables is how the NFL stacks up the apples to apples [Parker vs. Diggs] and the oranges with other oranges. —Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 14 Feb. 2025

The singer, who mingled with Ice Spice, the Haim sisters, and more during the game, stacked up on sparkly jewelry, including trending pieces featuring ruby stones to nod to the Kansas City Chiefs’ colors. —Claire Sullivan, WWD, 10 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

stack up

verb

: measure up sense 2, compare

see how you stack up against the champion