eating up

USAGE SUMMARY

"eating up" is a correct phrase and can be used in written English.
It is a verb phrase that means consuming or devouring food. It can also be used figuratively to describe someone or something using all of their resources or attention. Example: The children were all eagerly eating up the pizza at the birthday party. Example: The new project has been eating up all of my time and energy.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Nairobi is eating up land.

The Economist

And they are eating up his inheritance.

The New York Times - Books

It's basically eating up the whole house".

The New York Times - Health

We are eating up this seed corn.

The Washington Post

Now I am eating up his words.

The New York Times

I notice the children eating up.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

What's eating up their nest eggs?

The New York Times

"I'm eating up the track today, Dad.

The New York Times

They're creating jobs and eating up more real estate".

The New York Times

The meter is running, eating up the estate".

The New York Times

"But now phones are eating up the compact camera market.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "eating up" to vividly describe the consumption of resources, time, or attention, especially when emphasizing the completeness or rapidity of the process. For example, "The project is eating up all my time."

Common error

Be mindful of the context to ensure "eating up" is not misinterpreted solely as a literal action of consuming food when you intend a figurative meaning. Clarify with surrounding words if necessary to avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "eating up" functions as a phrasal verb, where "eating" is the verb and "up" is the particle. As Ludwig AI confirms, it signifies the act of consuming something entirely or using something quickly and completely. This is evident in examples like "The fire continued eating up forest" and "They're creating jobs and eating up more real estate" from Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Science

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "eating up" is a common and versatile phrasal verb used to describe the complete consumption or utilization of something. As Ludwig AI pointed out, it can be used literally, as in consuming food, or figuratively, to describe the rapid depletion of resources. Its usage is widespread across various contexts, particularly in News & Media, making it a valuable addition to any writer's vocabulary. While generally neutral in tone, writers should be mindful of the context to avoid misinterpretations and ensure clarity. As confirmed by Ludwig, "eating up" is grammatically correct.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

consuming rapidly

Focuses on the speed of consumption rather than the totality implied by "up".

gobbling down

Focuses specifically on eating quickly and enthusiastically.

devouring eagerly

Emphasizes the enthusiasm and eagerness in consuming, shifting the focus from completion to appetite.

depleting entirely

Highlights the exhaustion of resources, removing the active sense of consumption.

using entirely

Highlights the complete usage of resources, removing the food-related connotation.

absorbing completely

Highlights the process of taking something in fully, such as information or attention.

monopolizing completely

Focuses on gaining exclusive control or use, rather than simple consumption.

relishing thoroughly

Shifts the emphasis to enjoying something greatly, rather than its depletion or consumption.

occupying fully

Focuses on filling or taking up space or time completely, rather than consuming resources.

spending lavishly

Highlights the act of spending resources freely and abundantly, especially money.

FAQs

How can I use "eating up" in a sentence?

You can use "eating up" to describe consuming something completely, like "The children were eating up the cookies", or figuratively, like "The project is eating up all my time".

What does "eating up" mean?

"Eating up" can refer to consuming food entirely or, more figuratively, using a large amount of something like time, resources, or attention.

What are some alternatives to "eating up"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "consuming rapidly", "devouring eagerly", or "using entirely".

Is "eating up" formal or informal?

"Eating up" is generally considered a neutral to slightly informal phrase suitable for everyday conversation and writing across different contexts.