Phrase guide

throw up

intj · noun · verb · 12 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

intj

Meaning 1

Used as an expression of frustration or to dismiss a conversation partner.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Qualifier: dismissal

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Misspelling of throwup (“vomit”).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: alt-of, colloquial, misspelling, uncountable

Examples

  • We had to scrub the seats for throw up when we left the dog in the car.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see throw, up.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To vomit.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: ambitransitive, informal

Topics: bacteriology, biology, microbiology, natural-sciences

Examples

  • The baby threw up all over my shirt.
  • That cat is always throwing up hairballs.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To produce or reveal something new or unexpected.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • This system has thrown up a few problems.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To cause something such as dust or water to rise into the air.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • The car wheels threw up a shower of stones.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

To erect, particularly hastily.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: dated, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: run up, knock up, throw together, knock together, slap together

Antonyms: none provided

8

verb

Meaning 8

To give up, abandon something.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: ambitransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

verb

Meaning 9

To display a gang sign using the hands.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

verb

Meaning 10

To enlarge, as a picture reflected on a screen.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: dated, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

11

verb

Meaning 11

To give special prominence to a line or lines.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete, transitive

Topics: media, printing, publishing

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

12

verb

Meaning 12

eject the contents of the stomach through the mouth

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • After drinking too much, the students vomited
  • He purged continuously
  • The patient regurgitated the food we gave him last night

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: vomit, vomit up, purge, cast, sick, cat, be sick, disgorge, regorge, retch, puke, barf, spew, spue, chuck, upchuck, honk, regurgitate

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: excrete, egest, eliminate, pass

History

Etymology

The vomit sense is a clipping of throw up one's accounts (18th century), from earlier idiom cast up one's accounts (15th century).

Across languages

Translations

16 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Spanish: lanzar — to produce something new or unexpected
  • Irish: cuir in airde — to cause something such as dust or water to rise into the air
  • Spanish: levantar — to cause something such as dust or water to rise into the air
  • Irish: caith suas — to erect, particularly hastily
  • Persian: راست بودن (râst budan) — to erect, particularly hastily
  • Persian: راست ایستادن (râst istâdan) — to erect, particularly hastily
  • Persian: شق بودن (šaq budan) — to erect, particularly hastily
  • Spanish: construir rápidamente y mal — to erect, particularly hastily
  • Irish: caith uait — to give up, abandon
  • Russian: оста́вить (ostávitʹ) — to give up, abandon
  • Russian: бро́сить (brósitʹ) — to give up, abandon
  • Russian: отказа́ться (otkazátʹsja) — to give up, abandon
  • Spanish: dejar — to give up, abandon
  • Spanish: abandonar — to give up, abandon
  • Spanish: parar — to give up, abandon
  • Spanish: echar barrio — to display a gang sign using the hands