measure up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "measure up" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate whether someone or something meets a certain standard or expectation. Example: "The new employee really needs to measure up to the company's high standards for quality and performance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Will I measure up?

The New York Times

Would the meal measure up?

The New York Times

Desserts don't measure up.

The New York Times

"I didn't measure up.

The New York Times

Will this measure up?

The Guardian - Film

How do the tech toys measure up?

The New York Times - Tech

How do we measure up here?

The New York Times

So how do they measure up?

The New York Times - Books

So how does American rhetoric measure up?

The New York Times

So how did Whitstable Sounding measure up?

Independent

Mostly, the songs measure up.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "measure up", clearly define the standard or expectation against which something or someone is being compared to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "measure up" without clearly establishing what criteria are being used for evaluation. Vague comparisons can lead to misinterpretations and unfair judgments.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "measure up" functions as an intransitive phrasal verb, indicating whether someone or something meets a certain standard or expectation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to assess performance or quality against a predefined criteria, as seen in examples such as 'Will I "measure up"?'

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Academia

12%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Science

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrasal verb "measure up" is a versatile and frequently used expression to determine if someone or something meets expectations or standards. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically sound and widely applicable. It's most commonly found in news and media, academic writing, and other general contexts. When using "measure up", ensure the criteria for evaluation are clear to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "live up to" or "meet expectations" can be used to vary your language. With 67 real-world examples, "measure up" proves to be a valuable addition to effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

live up to

Implies fulfilling expectations or standards.

meet expectations

Focuses on satisfying anticipated requirements.

reach the standard

Highlights attaining a specific level of quality or performance.

be as good as

Simple comparison indicating equivalent quality.

come up to par

Refers to meeting an expected level, often in performance.

satisfy requirements

Emphasizes fulfilling necessary conditions.

fulfill the criteria

Focuses on meeting specific conditions or benchmarks.

prove sufficient

Indicates being adequate or enough for a purpose.

equal to

Direct comparison of equivalence.

hack it

An informal idiom expressing the ability to cope or succeed.

FAQs

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

You can use "measure up" to describe whether someone or something meets expectations or standards. For example, "Will the new product "measure up" to the quality of the original?"

What are some alternatives to "measure up"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "live up to", "meet expectations", or "reach the standard" instead of "measure up".

Is it correct to say "measure up to the expectations"?

Yes, it is correct. The phrase "measure up to the expectations" is commonly used to indicate that someone or something has met the required standards or hopes.

What does it mean when someone asks, "How do I measure up?"

The question "How do I measure up?" generally means the person is asking for an evaluation of their performance or abilities in relation to a specific benchmark or standard.