pile up

IPA/pˈaɪl ˈʌp/
IPA/pˈaɪl ˈʌp/

pile up — phrasal verb

  • pile upbase form
  • piles up3rd person singular
  • piling up-ing form
  • piled uppast simple

1. to increase in quantity over time as more of something is added, often reaching

1.片語動詞不及物B1
釋義

to increase in quantity over time as more of something is added, often reaching a level that is difficult to deal with

例句

After the holiday weekend, emails had piled up in Lauren's inbox while she was away.

present perfect: had piled up — accumulation over a period of time

Bao came home to find dirty laundry piling up next to the washing machine.

find + object + piling up — pattern for discovering accumulation

同義詞
  • accumulate

    more formal; used in academic or technical writing

  • build up

    very similar in meaning; 'build up' often suggests a gradual, steady increase while 'pile up' suggests things collecting in a disorderly way

  • mount up

    less common; suggests something reaching a high level or point

反義詞
  • decrease

    general opposite — to become smaller in amount

  • dwindle

    suggests a gradual reduction in size or number

文法句型

pile up

be piling up

have piled up

let + object + pile up

用法筆記

Subject is typically an everyday thing that grows in number or volume over time — such as bills, emails, laundry, snow, work, or dishes. Frequently used with 'begin to', 'start to', or 'let'.

常見錯誤

❌The emails piled up quickly when I was on vacation, so I deleted them all.
✅The emails piled up quickly when I was on vacation, so I had a lot to deal with when I got back.
💡'pile up' focuses on the accumulation itself, not on what happens after.