bring up

phrasal verb

12 meanings of bring up

1
mentionphrasal verbtransitive
To start talking about a subject, or to mention it.
Please don't bring up the math test at dinner.
Grandpa brought up his old fishing trip again.
Similarmention, raise, broach, introduce
Note
2
raise childrenphrasal verbtransitive
To take care of a child until they are grown up.
My grandparents brought up six children on a small farm.
It is hard to bring up a child on one small paycheck.
Similarraise, rear
Note
3
carry higherphrasal verbtransitive
To carry or take something from a lower place to a higher one.
Can you bring up the laundry basket when you come upstairs?
The divers brought up an old anchor from the bottom of the lake.
Similarfetch, carry, raise, lift
Oppositelower
Note
4
uncoverphrasal verbtransitive
To find something that was hidden, or to bring back something from the past, like a memory.
A quick search may bring up the name of the old owner.
The smell of pine trees brought up memories of summer camp.
Similarunearth, uncover, evoke, revive
5
vomitphrasal verbtransitive
To throw up food from your stomach.
The baby brought up her milk all over my shirt.
Sit still for a while so you don't bring up your lunch.
Similarvomit, regurgitate
6
put on trialphrasal verbtransitive
To accuse someone of a crime and put them on trial, or send them to be judged.
He was brought up on charges of stealing cars.
If he cheats again, the school will bring him up before the board.
Similarprosecute, charge
Note
7
switch onphrasal verbtransitive
To turn on a machine and get it working.
Press the power button to bring up the computer, then wait for the screen to come on.
When the lights went out, the workers brought up the backup generator.
Similarstart (entry), boot, activate
8
stop suddenlyphrasal verbtransitive
To make someone or something stop while it is moving or going on.
The leash brought the dog up short at the edge of the road.
A sudden red light can bring a cyclist up short.
Similarstop, halt, check
Note
9
cricket scorephrasal verbtransitive
To reach a certain score in cricket, often an important one.
He needs two more runs to bring up his hundred.
She hit the ball to the fence and brought up her fifty.
Similarreach
Note
10
check circuit boardphrasal verbtransitive
To test a new circuit board to find any mistakes in it.
Before we bring up the new board, we look for loose parts.
She brought up the first ten boards and found a problem on three of them.
Note
11
prepare veinphrasal verbtransitive
To get a vein ready so a needle can go into it.
The nurse tied a band around my arm to bring up a vein.
She tapped the back of his hand and brought up a good vein.

Less common meaning

12
level printing typephrasal verbobsolete
To make the letters used in printing even and ready to print, by adding thin layers.
The printer had to bring up the worn letters before the first page could be printed.
He brought up the type with tiny bits of paper until every line looked dark.
Note

Practice

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Origin

It comes from Middle English bring up, a changed form of the older word upbringen, meaning “to raise”.