top up

British

verb

to raise the level of (a liquid, powder, etc) in (a container), usually bringing it to the brim of the container

top up the sugar in those bowls
1. to increase the benefits from (an insurance scheme), esp to increase a pension when a salary rise enables higher premiums to be paid
2. to add money to (a loan, bank account, etc) in order to keep it at a constant or acceptable level

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

1. an amount added to something in order to raise it to or maintain it at a desired level
2. ( as modifier )
  
  a top-up loan
  a top-up policy

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Once he is adequately refuelled, Mahamed will sleep for an hour or two and then wake for more food at about 4am, before returning to bed to top up on sleep.

From BBC

After taking her results back to her GP, she now receives some testosterone on the NHS, and a small top up through a private prescription.

From BBC

Dropping into the garage to top up his fuel, Michael said "day to day" he hadn't noticed a drop in the prices.

From BBC

Barrick said it would target a payout of 50% of attributable free cash flow annually, comprising a fixed base dividend for each quarter and top up at year-end.

From The Wall Street Journal

More rain is also on the way, with an additional 5-10mm falling widely through Tuesday night and Wednesday, bringing an unwelcome top up.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023