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• ramp-up
  ramp-up

  noun

  an increase in amount, intensity, extent, etc., especially a steady increase; growth or buildup (often used attributively).
• ramp up
  ramp up

  verb

  to increase or cause to increase

ramp-up

American  

[ramp-uhp] / ˈræmpˌʌp /

Or ramp up

noun

1. an increase in amount, intensity, extent, etc., especially a steady increase; growth or buildup (often used attributively).

   Feeding the world by 2050 will necessitate a massive global ramp-up of industrial-scale agriculture.

   An oil field’s life cycle consists of a ramp-up period, a production plateau, and a period of decline.

2. the gradual process of learning or mastering something; learning curve (often used attributively).

   Training for new hires should focus on shortening the ramp-up to proficiency.

   Even if customers switch platforms, they should still be able to use the application with little or no ramp-up time.

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verb phrase

1. to increase in amount, intensity, extent, etc., especially steadily; build.

   You can ramp up your studying in the weeks before taking the SAT.

   Immunity takes time to ramp up if the body has never seen the pathogen before.

2. to progressively learn or become familiar with something.

   The two-year program allows for time to ramp up, develop skills, and apply them in real-world scenarios.

ramp up British  

verb

1. to increase or cause to increase

2. (intr) to increase the effort involved in a process

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Usage

What does ramp up mean? To ramp up is to increase or to cause to increase, either in speed, effort, or a similar attribute, as in You’d better ramp up your studying if you want to pass the final exam. When you say something is ramping up, you’re implying that it is just getting started or that there is much more of it left. It often describes level, amount, or frequency, especially an increase that is large or dramatic. Example: Production of the new console is just ramping up this month.

Etymology

Origin of ramp-up

First recorded in 1980–85; noun use of verb phrase ramp up

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ramp-up ramp up

Still, Crisis Group's senior Asia advisor Richard Horsey told AFP there is evidence of "a steady but uneven ramp-up" at the mine.

From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026

Donald said his ramp-up has gone better than he anticipated.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026

“It’s saying which decisions are being transferred on day one and which responsibilities are transferring over after a defined ramp-up period.”

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 1, 2026

Mr. Burnham seems disinclined to try even that, while promising to ramp-up other domestic spending.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026

“Execution remains key in another complex year, given ongoing restructuring, high share of projects in ramp-up, and new platforms advancing,” the analyst adds.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026

In a July earnings report, it highlighted “continued momentum” for its data-center sales and it pledged to ramp up production for large-megawatt backup generators.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 16, 2026

While the UK economy unexpectedly managed to grow in July, price pressures are set to ramp up towards the end of the year as higher energy costs feed through to the wider economy.

From Barron's ● Sep. 16, 2026

In 2020, the department along with other police agencies formed the Orange County Street Racing/Takeover Enforcement Team to ramp up enforcement.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2026

By that logic, Maxson expects Oracle’s current projects to generate positive free cash flows “very shortly after” they ramp up.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026

“Oh, it’s a terrific plan. It could really ramp up our timetable. Get us to our financing source sooner. I just have one concern. One qualm.”

From "The Smartest Kid in the Universe" by Chris Grabenstein