brush up

verb

brushed up; brushing up; brushes up

transitive verb

1
: to improve or polish as if by brushing
2
: to renew one's skill in
brush up your Spanish

intransitive verb

: to refresh one's memory : renew one's skill
brush up on math
brushup noun

Examples of brush up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Find shadow, not necessarily darkness, and think of urban skies as a simplified map, as a quick and easy way to brush up on the basics. Jamie Carter, Space.com, 3 May 2026 Shrubs, trees, and plants that brush up against your house create an easy pathway for roaches and other pests to move from their branches to your home. Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 29 Apr. 2026 The best way to remove ticks from your property is to keep up with general yard maintenance, especially around bushes that pets frequently brush up against. Charlotte Maracina, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026 No scene brushes up against the real world more intimately than watching the girls touch up their (clean, organic) makeup before the big dance, nerves bubbling over into jealousy and sniping. Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for brush up

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of brush up was circa 1600

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Brush up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brush%20up. Accessed 6 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

brush up

verb
: to refresh one's memory, skill, or knowledge
brush up on your Spanish

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