use up

British  

verb

1. to finish (a supply); consume completely

2. to exhaust; wear out

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use up Idioms  

1. Consume completely, as in The kids used up all their money playing video games . [Late 1700s]

2. Exhaust, tire out, as in I'm totally used up from digging that hole . [ Colloquial ; mid-1800s]

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Example Sentences

For decades millions of Indian students have opted to study abroad, taking loans and using up family savings, mainly to migrate for better work opportunities.

From BBC

The initial construction cost around $75,000, which used up a chunk of our savings, but we’ve stayed debt-free and will add the internal fixtures and fittings slowly, as we earn the money.

From The Wall Street Journal

"We don't have any vaccines. We always keep a small stock which was used up very quickly."

From BBC

Web tracking, aside from having nefarious connotations, can drain your device of battery — but with this tool, you can browse up to 44% faster, use up to 39% less bandwidth and greatly improve battery life.

From Salon

Instead, the U.S. has continued to use up missiles, in some cases at a faster rate than they are being produced.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• clear
• consume
• deplete
• discharge
• drain
• drink
• dump
• escape
• evacuate
• exhaust
• gut
• leak
• purge
• run out
• unload
• vacate