phrasal verb🧩 phrasal verb

stay up

to remain awake late

What it means

To remain awake instead of going to bed, usually until later than usual. It often implies waiting for someone or doing something specific late at night.

Examples

  • I stayed up until three in the morning finishing my essay.
  • Don't stay up waiting for me — I might be home very late tonight.
  • The kids begged to stay up and watch the New Year's fireworks.
  • She stays up most nights binge-watching documentaries on streaming services.

Where it comes from

Inseparable phrasal verb. Closely related to 'sit up' which historically had the same meaning, dating back to at least the 17th century.

Related phrasal verbs

#wake up#get up#sit up#hang on

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