top-up
top-up — noun
1. an occasion when you add more of a beverage to someone's cup or glass that is al
an occasion when you add more of a beverage to someone's cup or glass that is almost finished
Amira held out her wine glass for a top-up.
noun phrase: for a top-up
The waiter came around offering top-ups to everyone at the table.
collocation: offering top-ups
Emre finished his tea and asked his wife for a top-up.
Guests at the wedding helped themselves to top-ups from the drinks table.
- refill
more common in American English and for non-alcoholic drinks
- replenishment
more formal, less common in everyday speech
用法筆記
Common in social drinking contexts, especially British English. In American English 'refill' is more frequent.
常見錯誤
2. the process of pouring more fluid into a partly-filled container such as a bottl
the process of pouring more fluid into a partly-filled container such as a bottle, tank, or radiator to restore the correct level
The car's coolant level was low, so the mechanic gave it a quick top-up.
collocation: give it a top-up
Romi checked the fish tank and decided the water needed a top-up.
A top-up of oil every few weeks keeps the engine running smoothly.
João handed the motorbike mechanic twenty dollars for a top-up of the brake fluid.
用法筆記
Used for vehicle fluids (oil, coolant, brake fluid) and household items (aquariums, plant sprayers). Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 focuses on mechanical or household containers, not drinking vessels.
3. an extra portion of something, particularly money, that you put toward a sum you
an extra portion of something, particularly money, that you put toward a sum you already have so you can obtain the full amount required
Folake bought a ten-pound top-up for her mobile phone.
collocation: phone top-up
The government announced a top-up to the pension for low-income retirees.
Aarav used his savings as a top-up to cover the deposit on the flat.
Students can get a top-up loan to help with living costs in their final year.
Devika added a thirty-dollar top-up to her travel card before the morning commute.
- supplement
more formal, used in writing and official contexts
- extra payment
more general, less specific to British usage
- recharge
used for phone credit or electronic cards
- deduction
an amount taken away rather than added
用法筆記
Very common in British English for mobile phone credit ('phone top-up'), insurance policies ('top-up insurance'), and student loans ('top-up loan'). Not used in American English where 'refill' or 'recharge' are preferred.
常見錯誤
top-up — phrasal verb
- top-upbase form
- top-ups3rd person singular
- top-uping-ing form
- top-upedpast simple
1. to pour further fluid into a vessel that is partly full, making it full once mor
to pour further fluid into a vessel that is partly full, making it full once more
Stephanie topped up the car's radiator with antifreeze before the winter trip.
object between verb and particle: topped the radiator up
The mechanic topped the battery cells up with distilled water.
separable: topped [object] up
Sora topped up the watering can before heading out to the garden.
Alessia noticed the fountain was running low and asked the caretaker to top it up.
Ilan topped his coffee cup up from the pot on the counter.
文法句型
top up + noun phrase
top + noun phrase + up
用法筆記
Separable: the object can go between 'top' and 'up' ('top the glass up') or after 'up' ('top up the glass'). When the object is a pronoun, it MUST go between ('top it up', NOT 'top up it').
常見錯誤
2. to put in more of a resource, typically money, so that your total reaches the de
to put in more of a resource, typically money, so that your total reaches the desired or necessary point
Mayumi topped up her phone with twenty dollars of credit.
collocation: top up [device] with [amount]
Aarav topped up his travel card before boarding the bus.
The company topped up the staff pension fund at the end of the financial year.
João topped his electricity account up so the power would stay on.
Folake asked her brother to top up the prepaid gas meter while she was away.
- replenish
more formal, less common in everyday speech
- recharge
for phone credit, prepaid cards, and electronic accounts
- supplement
more formal, used in financial contexts
- drain
to reduce the amount in an account or supply
文法句型
top up + noun phrase
top + noun phrase + up
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 covers non-liquid resources (phone credit, bank accounts, insurance, pensions) while sense 1 is for liquids in containers.
常見錯誤
3. to pour more of a drink into someone's glass or cup because theirs is nearly emp
to pour more of a drink into someone's glass or cup because theirs is nearly empty
Emre topped up his mother's glass with the last of the bottle.
collocation: top up someone's glass/cup
Alessia topped up Devika's teacup before sitting down again.
The host went around the table topping up everyone's wine glasses.
Romi topped her guest's cup up and offered more biscuits.
Ilan noticed his friend's glass was empty and topped it up without being asked.
- refill
more common in American English; 'Can I refill your glass?'
- pour another
less idiomatic but clearer for learners
文法句型
top up + noun phrase (someone's glass/cup)
top + noun phrase + up
用法筆記
A polite social act in British culture. When hosting, it is customary to ask 'Can I top you up?' before refilling someone's glass. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 3 is specifically about drinking vessels and the social context of serving drinks, while sense 1 is about any container.
top-up — verb
- top-uppresent simple I / you / we / they
- top-ups3rd person singular
- top-uping-ing form
- top-upedpast simple
1. to bring a measurable quantity, level, or capacity up to its intended full mark
to bring a measurable quantity, level, or capacity up to its intended full mark — for example, increasing tyre pressure to the correct setting or adjusting a swimming pool's water level to the right height
The mechanic topped up the tyre pressure to the safe level before the road trip.
collocation: top up [measurable quantity] to [target level]
Ava topped up the swimming pool water level to just below the skimmer line.
quantity focus: water level, not container
Darius topped up the hall's seating capacity by adding two rows of chairs.
The local charity topped up its fundraising total to reach the one-million-dollar goal.
- bring to capacity
describes the result rather than the action
- adjust to the correct level
emphasises the precision of reaching a target mark
文法句型
top up + noun phrase (a level/quantity/capacity)
用法筆記
Distinguish from phrasal verb sense 1 (REFILL CONTAINER): this sense focuses on bringing a measurable quantity to its target level (pressure, capacity, water level, fundraising total), not on the physical act of pouring liquid into a container. Frequently passive: 'the pressure needs to be topped up'.
常見錯誤
2. to restock or replenish a store of something that has been mostly used up or has
to restock or replenish a store of something that has been mostly used up or has run low — for example, filling the pantry after groceries have been eaten or replacing supplies in a first-aid kit after an emergency
Mira topped up the mountain cabin's food supplies after visitors had eaten most of them.
depletion context: most of the supply has been used
The pharmacy offers a service to top up monthly prescription supplies that are nearly empty.
collocation: top up supplies that are nearly empty
Devika topped up the office stationery cupboard, which was nearly empty after the project ended.
Tendai topped up the emergency kit with batteries and water after the storm warning.
文法句型
top up + noun phrase (a depleted supply/stock)
用法筆記
Distinguish from phrasal verb sense 2 (INCREASE LEVEL): verb/2 implies the supply has run LOW or is DEPLETED and needs RESTOCKING (e.g., restocking a pantry that is almost empty), while phrasal verb/2 is about ADDING to reach a desired target amount (e.g., adding credit to a phone to reach $20). The supply is typically physical (food, medicine, stationery) or countable digital resources (cloud storage, data allowance).