Phrasal Verb Vocabulary - Increasing and Decreasing with "Up" and "Down"

Here is a list of some of the most common phrasal verbs concerning increasing and decreasing using the prepositions UP and DOWN. Each phrasal verb includes an explanation and example sentence.

Category Preposition Phrasal Verb Explanation Notes Example Sentence

to put up: to increase prices They put up the price on that model by five dollars.

to bring: up to raise children They brought their children up in the countryside.

to blow up: to make something more important than it really is They blew that issue up until it became noticed by the media.

to go up: used for increases in prices, profits and production Production went up at the plant by 15 percent.

to grow up: children getting older My daughter has grown up so quickly!

to speed up: used for machines increasing velocity The car sped up and passed the slow driver.

to hurry up: to increase the speed of doing something when someone
feels late We're going to have to hurry up if we want to finish this project on time.

to heat up:with temperatures It's really heated up these past few days.

to cheer up: to become happier He cheered up at the news of a raise.

to liven up: to make more exciting The party livened up when he arrived.

to turn up: used with volume Can you turn the sound up?

to speak up: to increase speaking volume You'll have to speak up if you want him to pay attention to you.

to build up: improve health He built his strength up over a number of months.

to pick up: used when a general situation improves The local economy has really picked up since the new factory was built.

to go down for prices, profits and production The quarterly profits went down from the second to the third quarter.

to come down for prices, profits and production Computer prices have really come down recently.

to slow down: used for machines and people He slowed down as he approached the city limits.

to calm down: used when calming other people She did her best to calm her child down.

to turn down: used with volume Turn down that horrible music!

to keep down: decrease volume Please keep the noise down in this room!

to quieten down: decrease volume He asked the students to quieten down.

to cool down: with temperatures It's really cooled down these past few days.