stack up

verb

stacked up; stacking up; stacks up
Synonyms of stack upnext

intransitive verb

1
: to add up
Cars were beginning to stack up behind the bus.
2
: to be in a particular state or situation
Here's how things stack up today.
3
: measure up, compare
usually used with against
How does he stack up against the other job candidates?

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Many builders and developers are simply struggling to make projects stack up. Jennifer Castenson, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 For stargazers who have dipped their toes into the world of binoculars and telescopes, prices stack up quickly and even one purchase can wipe out thousands of dollars. Harry Bennett, Space.com, 26 June 2026 Use your self-cleaning setting regularly to prevent messes from stacking up and getting out of control. Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 26 June 2026 Higher quality rugs tend to have a larger percentage of natural fiber included, so make sure to read through the fabric description to get a sense of how the materials stack up. Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for stack up

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of stack up was in 1896

Cite this Entry

“Stack up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stack%20up. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

stack up

verb
: measure up sense 2, compare
see how you stack up against the champion
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