Did you know?

Click any word in a definition or example to find the entry for that word

screw up

 - definition
Close

What are red words?

90% of the time, speakers of English use just 7,500 words in speech and writing. These words appear in red, and are graded with stars. One-star words are frequent, two-star words are more frequent, and three-star words are the most frequent.

Close

Thesaurus

The thesaurus of synonyms and related words is fully integrated into the dictionary entries. Click on the T button in an entry to review the synonyms and related words for that meaning.

more
phrasal verb
Word Forms
Close
present tense
I/you/we/theyscrew up
he/she/itscrews up
present participlescrewing up
past tensescrewed up
past participlescrewed up

Related dictionary definitions

  1. 1
    [transitive] to make something into a smaller shape by squeezing or twisting it

    Several pages had been screwed up and tossed in the basket.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  screw upThesaurus entry for this meaning of screw up
  3. 3
    [intransitive/transitive] very informal to make a serious mistake, or to spoil something, especially a situation

    I really screwed up this time, didn’t I?

    He made a bad decision that screwed up his entire life.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  screw upThesaurus entry for this meaning of screw up
  4. 4
    [transitive] informal to make someone feel so upset or confused that their whole personality is affected, often permanently

    Divorce doesn’t have to screw your children up.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  screw upThesaurus entry for this meaning of screw up
  5. 5
    screw up the courage/nerve to do something to prepare mentally for doing something difficult

    I’m trying to screw up enough nerve to ask her a favour.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  screw upThesaurus entry for this meaning of screw up

This is the British English definition of screw up. View American English definition of screw up.

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to American English.

 
See also main entry: screw

vocal fry

a speech habit in which a speaker lowers their voice at the end of a sentence

BuzzWord Article

Word of the Day Word of the Day

glottal stop

a sound made by stopping air as it passes through your throat. In some varieties of spoken...

Open Dictionary

conflict mineral

a mineral which is mined in a place where there is armed conflict, and sold to help pay for weapons

add a word

Blog

A must for anyone with an interest in the changing face of language. The Macmillan Dictionary blog explores English as it is spoken around the world today.

global English and language change from our blog