Move sth up sth Meaning / Examples / How to Use

What Does “Move sth up sth” Mean?

“Move sth up sth” means to change the position or time of something to an earlier or higher point. It often refers to rescheduling or physically shifting an item.

Introduction

The phrasal verb “move sth up sth” is commonly used in English to describe changing the position or timing of something. For example, you might move a meeting up a day, meaning you schedule it earlier than planned. It can also mean physically shifting an object to a higher place. Understanding the move sth up sth meaning is important because it helps you communicate changes clearly in everyday conversations and professional settings. This phrase is versatile and appears in various contexts, from time management to organizing objects.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: move something up something
• Type: transitive
• Level: B1 (Intermediate)
• Short meaning: to change the position or time of something to an earlier or higher point

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Move sth up sth” is a separable phrasal verb. You can place the object between “move” and “up” or after “up”.

• Move + object + up + something (e.g., move the meeting up a day)
• Move + up + object + something (less common, but sometimes used for emphasis)

The “sth” stands for “something,” which is the object being moved. The second “sth” indicates the reference point (often time or place).

How to Use “Move sth up sth”?

Use “move sth up sth” when you want to talk about changing when or where something happens. It often refers to rescheduling events to an earlier time or shifting items to a higher position. For example, if a meeting was planned for Friday but you want it on Thursday, you can say you want to move the meeting up a day. Similarly, if you move a photo up the wall, you physically place it higher.

Examples

Here are some natural examples of “move sth up sth in a sentence”:

• We need to move the appointment up two hours because of the new schedule.
• Can you move the painting up a little? It looks better higher on the wall.
• They moved the deadline up by a week to finish the project sooner.
• I moved my flight up a day to attend the conference.
• She moved the books up the shelf to make room for the new ones.

Common Mistakes

People often confuse “move sth up sth” with “move sth up to sth” or misuse the word order. Here are some examples:

• Incorrect: I moved up the meeting two days.
• Correct: I moved the meeting up two days.
• Incorrect: Move the deadline to up a week.
• Correct: Move the deadline up a week.

Remember, the object should come immediately after “move,” followed by “up” and the reference point.

Differences / Synonyms

“Move sth up sth” is similar to “bring sth forward” and “reschedule earlier,” but there are differences. “Bring sth forward” usually refers only to time changes, while “move sth up sth” can be about time or physical position. “Reschedule earlier” is more formal and specific to time.

• Move sth up sth: Change time or position earlier/higher
• Bring sth forward: Make an event happen earlier (time only)
• Reschedule earlier: Change appointment to an earlier time (formal)

Common Collocations

Here are common objects used with “move sth up sth” and their meanings:

• Meeting: Change the time to earlier
• Deadline: Set an earlier due date
• Appointment: Reschedule to an earlier time
• Flight: Change departure to an earlier date/time
• Object (e.g., picture, book): Shift to a higher physical position

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of move sth up sth:

• Move Sth Up
• Move Past Sb
• Move Towards Sb
• Move Off Sth
• Move Sb Into Sth

Real-life Dialogue

Here’s a short conversation using “move sth up sth”:

Anna: The meeting is scheduled for Friday, but can we move it up a day?

John: Yes, moving it up to Thursday works for me.

Anna: Great! Also, can you move the whiteboard up a little? It’s hard to see.

John: Sure, I’ll move it up the wall this afternoon.

Practice

Try to complete the sentences using “move sth up sth”:

• They decided to ______ the deadline ______ a week to finish earlier.
• Can you ______ the picture ______ a bit? It’s too low.
• We should ______ the meeting ______ two hours because of the new plan.

FAQs

• Q: Can “move sth up sth” be used for both time and place?
  A: Yes, it can refer to changing time or physical position.
• Q: Is “move sth up” the same as “bring sth forward”?
  A: They are similar but “bring sth forward” usually refers only to time.
• Q: Can I say “move up the meeting two days”?
  A: No, the correct form is “move the meeting up two days.”
• Q: What level is “move sth up sth” suitable for?
  A: It is suitable for intermediate learners (B1).
• Q: Is the phrasal verb separable?
  A: Yes, you can separate “move” and “up” with the object.