measure up

verb

measured up; measuring up; measures up

intransitive verb

1
: to have necessary or fitting qualifications
often used with to
2
: to be the equal (as in ability)
used with to

Examples of measure up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Confidently identifying wild mushrooms requires expertise, Claypool said, and tech tools haven’t measured up. Tatum Hunter, Washington Post, 18 Mar. 2024 Yes, there's plenty of quarterback uncertainty, and Las Vegas' outlook doesn't measure up to Los Angeles' in a few factors. Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA TODAY, 11 Jan. 2024 Recent storms have bumped that measure up to about 45% as of Wednesday. Evan Bush, NBC News, 11 Jan. 2024 The only way to avoid unsightly gaps or the horrible discovery that your shade is just a bit too wide for the space is to measure up properly. Simon Hill, WIRED, 7 Jan. 2024 And traditionally, women earned lower salaries than men, so their retirement benefits often don’t measure up. Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2024 Its impressive carapace alone can measure up to 12 inches across, with legs that can extend up to 12 feet from claw to claw. Anna Nordseth, Discover Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024 How has your experience in the industry measured up to that? Allison Deangelis, STAT, 29 Feb. 2024 However, some small animals can make incredibly loud noises for their size, including the snapping shrimp, which use their claws to make popping sounds that measure up to 250 decibels, the release adds. Jack Guy, CNN, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'measure up.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of measure up was in 1854

Dictionary Entries Near measure up

Cite this Entry

“Measure up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/measure%20up. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

measure up

verb
1
: to have necessary or fitting qualifications
2
: to be the equal (as in ability)
used with to

More from Merriam-Webster on measure up

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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