Phrase guide

measure up

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To meet expectations; to be as good as.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • It's a passable substitute, but it will never measure up to the original.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

prove capable or fit; meet requirements

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: qualify

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: suffice, do, answer, serve

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

11 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • German: gleichkommen — To meet expectations; to be as good as
  • German: auf der Höhe sein — To meet expectations; to be as good as
  • Hungarian: megfelel — To meet expectations; to be as good as
  • Italian: essere all'altezza — To meet expectations; to be as good as
  • Polish: mierzyć siły na zamiary — To meet expectations; to be as good as
  • Romanian: fi la înălțimea — To meet expectations; to be as good as
  • Russian: соотве́тствовать (sootvétstvovatʹ) — To meet expectations; to be as good as
  • Russian: удовлетворя́ть (udovletvorjátʹ) — To meet expectations; to be as good as
  • Spanish: dar la talla — To meet expectations; to be as good as
  • Spanish: estar a la altura — To meet expectations; to be as good as
  • Spanish: competir con — To meet expectations; to be as good as