use up

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use up

It took three hours to use up all the paint for the mural.

Definition

Verb (transitive): 1. To consume completely; to deplete the entirety of a resource, supply, or material. 2. To require or take up a specified amount of something, such as time or space, until it is fully occupied or expended.

Usage and Examples

  • To deplete a resource or material:

    • We used up all the milk at breakfast.
    • The long hike used up my energy for the rest of the day.
    • Be careful not to use up all the printer paper.

  • To occupy time or space fully:

    • The meeting used up the entire afternoon.
    • This old sofa uses up too much space in the small room.
Advanced Usage and Nuances
  • "Use up" often implies a negative or wasteful consequence, suggesting there is nothing left. It is stronger than simply "use."
    • I used the flour to make a cake. (Neutral)
    • I used up all the flour, so we can't make more. (Emphasizes depletion)
  • It can be used figuratively for abstract resources like patience, chances, or goodwill.
    • His constant complaints have used up all my sympathy.
Variants and Related Words
  • Used up (adjective): Completely consumed, depleted, or exhausted.
    • The battery is used up and needs to be recharged.
  • Usage (noun): The act of using or the amount used.
  • User (noun): A person or thing that uses something.
Synonyms
  • Deplete: To reduce the amount of something significantly.
  • Exhaust: To use up completely, leaving nothing.
  • Consume: To use up (a resource).
  • Run through: To use a supply quickly or carelessly.
  • Expend: To spend or use up (a resource).
Related Phrasal Verbs
  • Run out of: To have no more of something left. (Note: The subject is the person/thing that becomes depleted, not the resource.)
    • We ran out of milk. (Correct)
    • We used up the milk. (Correct)
    • We used up of the milk. (Incorrect)
Related Idioms
  • To burn through (something): To use up money or resources very quickly and often wastefully.
    • He burned through his inheritance in just one year.
use up

It took three hours to use up all the paint for the mural.

Verb
  1. require (time or space)
    • It took three hours to get to work this morning
    • This event occupied a very short time
  2. use up (resources or materials)
    • this car consumes a lot of gas
    • We exhausted our savings
    • They run through 20 bottles of wine a week

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