be up to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be up to" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is a phrasal verb and can be used to mean to be responsible for, to decide, or to do something. For example, "Who is going to be up to preparing dinner tonight?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It will be up to Fifa.

Independent

Dessert may not be up to you.

The New Yorker

It'll be up to the coaches.

The New York Times - Sports

Could I be up to the task?

The New York Times

Then you'll be up to date.

The New Yorker

That will be up to the jurors.

The Economist

But would he be up to it?

The Economist

That largely would be up to Mr. Obama.

The New York Times

vaccines be up to date.

The New Yorker

The improvement can be up to 84%.

Applied Surface Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Be up-to-date with the world.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal business settings, if you mean responsibility, prefer terms like 'at the discretion of' or 'the responsibility of' for higher precision.

Common error

Do not use "be up to" when you simply mean you want to do something; it specifically implies having the energy or ability (e.g., 'I don't feel up to running') rather than a mere preference.

Linguistic Context

As noted by Ludwig AI, "be up to" is a versatile phrasal verb that functions as a predicate to describe a state of responsibility, capability, or activity. It combines the linking verb 'be' with a prepositional phrase that assigns an object (person or value) as the determining factor or limit.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Wiki & Instructional

25%

Science & Technical

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

Based on the extensive examples provided by Ludwig, "be up to" stands out as one of the most flexible phrasal verbs in the English language. It seamlessly transitions from defining moral or professional responsibility (e.g., 'It will be up to the jury') to establishing quantitative limits in scientific research (e.g., 'savings can be up to 15%'). Ludwig AI confirms its status as a grammatically correct and 'Very common' expression across all major writing domains. Whether used to inquire about someone's current activities or to evaluate someone's capability for a challenge, the phrase relies heavily on its following object to anchor its meaning. Its frequent appearance in high-authority sources like The New York Times and Nature-affiliated journals underscores its reliability for both creative and technical writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

responsible for

Focuses on the duty or obligation aspect of the phrase.

depend on

Emphasizes that the outcome is contingent upon a specific person or entity.

capable of

Highlights the ability or suitability for a particular task.

involved in

Describes the act of participating in an activity, often used when asking about current actions.

equal to

Suggests having the necessary strength or skill for a challenge.

as high as

Used specifically for numerical limits and quantitative ranges.

current with

Replaces the idiomatic use of being informed or up-to-date.

mischievously planning

Captures the 'something inappropriate' connotation often found in the phrase.

at the discretion of

A more formal way to say the choice belongs to someone else.

reaching the level of

Clarifies the meaning of reaching a specific threshold.

FAQs

How do I use "be up to" in a sentence to show responsibility?

You use it to indicate that a decision or action depends on someone else, such as "It will <a href="/s/be+up+to+you" target="_blank" rel="alternative">be up to you to decide the winner."

What is a more formal synonym for "be up to"?

In professional contexts, you can replace it with "<a href="/s/responsible+for" target="_blank" rel="alternative">responsible for" or "<a href="/s/at+the+discretion+of" target="_blank" rel="alternative">at the discretion of".

Does "be up to" imply that someone is doing something bad?

Often, yes. When used to ask what someone is <a href="/s/doing" target="_blank" rel="alternative">doing in a suspicious context (e.g., 'What are they up to?'), it suggests mischief.

Can "be up to" be used for measurements?

Yes, it is commonly used to describe a maximum limit, similar to "<a href="/s/as+much+as" target="_blank" rel="alternative">as much as" or "<a href="/s/up+to+a+maximum+of" target="_blank" rel="alternative">up to a maximum of".