Phrase guide

trump up

verb · 3 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 create falsely, to fabricate (particularly applied to accusations, (legal) charges or evidence).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • His electoral "campaign" to date has included attempts to trump up criminal charges against his opponents.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

to heavily publicise, promote or market a product.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • We don't often trump up products purely for the virtue of being "new".

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

invent

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • trump up charges

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: concoct

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: fabricate, manufacture, cook up, make up, invent

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 捏造 (niēzào) — create falsely, fabricate
  • Finnish: tekaista — create falsely, fabricate
  • Finnish: keksiä — create falsely, fabricate
  • Russian: фабриковать (fabrikovatʹ) — create falsely, fabricate
  • Chinese Mandarin: 大力宣傳 /大力宣传 (dàlì xuānchuán) — heavily publicise, promote or market a product
  • Finnish: ylimainostaa — heavily publicise, promote or market a product
  • Russian: рекламировать (reklamirovatʹ) — heavily publicise, promote or market a product