Jump To:

• lace-up
  lace-up

  noun

  anything that laces up, especially a boot with shoelaces that lace up from the vamp to the top of the boot.
• lace up
  lace up

  verb

  (tr, adverb) to tighten or fasten (clothes or footwear) with laces

lace-up

American  

[leys-uhp] / ˈleɪsˌʌp /

noun

1. anything that laces up, especially a boot with shoelaces that lace up from the vamp to the top of the boot.

---

adjective

1. having a lace that is laced up as a closure.

   a lace-up blouse.

lace up British  

verb

1. (tr, adverb) to tighten or fasten (clothes or footwear) with laces

---

adjective

1. (of footwear) to be fastened with laces

noun

1. a lace-up shoe or boot

Etymology

Origin of lace-up

First recorded in 1830–40; noun and adj. use of verb phrase lace up

Example Sentences

He suggests reading between the lines: If an email offers a starting time for sign-ups, but no end time, it may be because organizers expect things to go quickly, suggesting it’s time to lace up.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 8, 2026

So lace up your walking shoes, throw on some shades and start strutting to the beat of this playlist.

From New York Times • May 21, 2024

After a week away, mourning the death of his father, the Russian didn’t wait long to lace up his skates and step onto the ice.

From Washington Times • Feb. 22, 2023

“They got to lace up your skates,” Oshie said.

From Washington Post • Feb. 15, 2023

He is wearing short black pants and brown ankle boots that lace up.

From "The Boy Who Dared" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti