throw up

verb

threw up; thrown up; throwing up; throws up

intransitive verb

: vomit

transitive verb

1

: vomit

2

: to raise quickly

3

: to build hurriedly

new houses thrown up almost overnight

4

: give up, quit

the urge … to throw up all intellectual work

—Norman Mailer

5

: to bring forth : produce

6

: to make distinct especially by contrast : cause to stand out

7

: to mention repeatedly by way of reproach

Phrases

throw up one's hands

: to admit defeat

in the end throws up his hands in despair

—Frank Conroy

Synonyms

• barf
• gag
• heave
• hurl
• puke
• retch
• spew
• spit up
• upchuck
• vomit

Examples of throw up in a Sentence

she must have eaten something that didn't agree with her because she threw up right after dinner

when the townspeople realized that the President's motorcade would be coming through on its way to the conference, they threw up a hasty “Welcome” sign

Recent Examples on the Web

If the individual begins throwing up, or if symptoms get worse or last for over an hour – call 911. —Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 20 June 2024

Las Vegas scored just 12 points in the third quarter, throwing up eight 3-point misses, as the Lynx methodically pulled away to lead by 18 entering the fourth quarter. —Mike Cook, Twin Cities, 12 June 2024

Norm makes it, but does throw up all of his insides. —Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 29 May 2024

In a separate find, a different tiger shark that the team had previously tagged, threw up what appeared to be half a dugong. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 6 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Kids Definition

throw up

verb

1

: to build or raise hurriedly or quickly

threw up the window

2

: to give up : quit

just wanted to throw the whole thing up

3

: vomit entry 2 sense 1

Medical Definition

throw up

intransitive verb

ˌthrō-ˈəp 

: vomit