Stop up means to block or plug an opening, preventing flow or passage: The drain got stopped up with hair.
It applies to pipes, sinks, noses, and other passages that can become obstructed.
In British usage, to stop up also means to stay awake late: We stopped up talking until midnight.
1. block — plug, Something that blocks openings; clog (Block or wooden shoe); obstruct (Block or hinder passage); jam (Cooked fruit spread); choke · congest · occlude · fill · stuff · dam · blockade · impede · lodge · close
2. seal — caulk, Waterproof gap filler; plug (Something that blocks openings); cork (Tree bark bottle seal); sealant (Gap-blocking substance); gasket · putty · epoxy · silicone · grout · weatherstrip · insulate · airtight · watertight · hermetic
Opposites
BLOCKING VS. OPENING PASSAGESstop up ≠ open up Reveal inner thoughts; unblock · unclog · unstop · clear · open
SEALING VS. UNSEALINGstop up ≠ unseal Remove a fastening from; unplug · unstop · open · uncork · release
CLOSURE/APERTUREstop up ≠ open wide Request for mouth access; widen · enlarge · unseal · uncover · expose
Family
stop, up, stopped, stopping, nonstop, stops, stopper, stoppage, unstoppable
- Familiarity
- Top 100,000
- Profile
- Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G