shot up

USAGE SUMMARY

'shot up' is correct and usable in written English.
It is generally used to describe a sudden increase in something, such as price, level, volume, popularity, intensity, etc. For example: "The stock market shot up this week, with many companies experiencing a 10% increase in share prices."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Taxes shot up.

The Economist

My hand shot up.

The New York Times

My eyebrows shot up.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

You're shot up.

The New York Times

Housing prices shot up.

The New Yorker

Three hands shot up.

The New Yorker

Hands shot up.

The New York Times

His temperature shot up.

The New York Times - Health

Most hands shot up.

The New York Times

Mortgage rates shot up.

The New Yorker

Vacancy rates have shot up.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "shot up" to describe a sudden and noticeable increase in numerical values, statistics, or metaphorical concepts such as prices or emotions. For instance, "The company's profits shot up after the new marketing campaign."

Common error

While "shot up" is acceptable in many contexts, avoid using it excessively in formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise and sophisticated alternatives like "increased significantly" or "rose substantially" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "shot up" is as a phrasal verb. It modifies a noun or pronoun, indicating a rapid or sudden increase. This is supported by Ludwig, which provides numerous examples where "shot up" describes changes in quantities or levels.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

8%

Science

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "shot up" is a phrasal verb indicating a rapid increase, commonly used in news and media to describe changes in quantities or levels. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage. While versatile, it might be less suitable for highly formal contexts where alternatives such as "increased sharply" could be more appropriate. Remember to use "shot up" when you want to convey the sudden and noticeable nature of an increase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

increased sharply

Focuses on the magnitude of the increase, emphasizing the steepness of the rise.

rose rapidly

Highlights the speed of the ascent, suggesting a quick upward trajectory.

surged upward

Implies a strong, forceful increase, often used in financial or economic contexts.

skyrocketed

Suggests an extremely rapid and significant increase, often used for dramatic effect.

climbed steeply

Emphasizes the angle of ascent, indicating a sharp and consistent rise.

escalated quickly

Focuses on the quick progression to a higher level, often used in discussions of conflict or intensity.

jumped suddenly

Highlights the abruptness of the change, indicating an unexpected increase.

spiked

Indicates a very sharp, temporary increase, often used for graphs or measurements.

soared

Implies a graceful and impressive increase, often used in more poetic contexts.

leapt up

Conveys a sudden and energetic upward movement, suitable for describing physical actions or abstract increases.

FAQs

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

"Shot up" is a phrasal verb used to describe a sudden and rapid increase. For example, "After the announcement, the company's stock price "shot up" significantly."

What can I say instead of "shot up"?

You can use alternatives like "increased sharply", "rose rapidly", or "skyrocketed" depending on the context. Each conveys a similar meaning of a quick or substantial increase.

Is it appropriate to use "shot up" in formal writing?

While "shot up" is widely understood, it might be considered too informal for some academic or professional contexts. In such cases, consider more formal alternatives like "increased substantially" or "rose significantly".

What's the difference between "shot up" and "increased gradually"?

"Shot up" implies a sudden and rapid increase, whereas "increased gradually" suggests a slow and steady rise over time. The choice depends on whether the increase was abrupt or incremental.