Phrase guide

patch up

verb · 6 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 repair by adding a patch.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • I needed to patch up my trousers after ripping them on the brambles.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To mend quickly.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To repair relations; to improve relations.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively, idiomatic

Examples

  • You need to patch things up with your sister after that horrible argument.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To overlay.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete

Topics: media, printing, publishing

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

mend by putting a patch on

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • patch a hole

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: patch

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: repair, mend, fix, bushel, doctor, furbish up, restore, touch on

6

verb

Meaning 6

come to terms

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • After some discussion we finally made up

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: reconcile, make up, conciliate, settle

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: agree, hold, concur, concord

Narrower terms: propitiate, appease, make peace

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Basque: adabakitu — to mend quickly and roughly
  • Basque: adabatu — to mend quickly and roughly
  • German: zusammenflicken — to mend quickly and roughly
  • German: zusammenklittern — to mend quickly and roughly
  • German: klittern — to mend quickly and roughly
  • German: zusammenschustern — to mend quickly and roughly
  • German: zurechtflicken — to mend quickly and roughly
  • Italian: rattoppare — to mend quickly and roughly
  • Italian: rammendare — to mend quickly and roughly
  • Māori: pūnotinoti — to mend quickly and roughly
  • Polish: łatać — to mend quickly and roughly
  • Polish: załatać — to mend quickly and roughly
  • Spanish: parchear — to mend quickly and roughly
  • Spanish: emparchar — to mend quickly and roughly