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top up

British  

verb

  1. to raise the level of (a liquid, powder, etc) in (a container), usually bringing it to the brim of the container

    top up the sugar in those bowls

    1. to increase the benefits from (an insurance scheme), esp to increase a pension when a salary rise enables higher premiums to be paid

    2. to add money to (a loan, bank account, etc) in order to keep it at a constant or acceptable level

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

    1. an amount added to something in order to raise it to or maintain it at a desired level

    2. ( as modifier )

      a top-up loan

      a top-up policy

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Employees have no control over the type of scheme that's used, so the government has decided to top up those who have missed out, through what's called a low earner's pension payment.

From BBC Sep. 6, 2026

Reiner also wanted the trust to top up his commissary account, court records show.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 16, 2026

These are currently only used as back-up, to top up the national grid as and when required, such as during a cold winter.

From BBC Jun. 21, 2026

With credit quality declining amid pressures created by the Iran conflict, the analysts assume Westpac will have to further top up its collective provisioning in the second half.

From The Wall Street Journal May 6, 2026

He shrugged as he parked next to a glossy red convertible with the top up.

From "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer

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