ENGLISH
REFERENCE

box up

phr. v..
B1 Intermediate Oxford

phr. v.. to put things into boxes so you can move them or store them away.

phr. v.. to place items into containers for the purpose of transport or storage; often implies a systematic clearing of a space.


SIMPLE

We need to box up these old books.

CONTEXTUAL

After she lost her job, she spent the whole weekend boxing up her office supplies.

COMPLEX

The archivists spent months boxing up the delicate manuscripts to ensure their preservation during the museum's extensive renovation project.

Particles
up
Separability
optional
Pattern
box + (object) + up
Usage

commonly used when moving house or putting items into a garage or attic.

Teaching tip

contrast with 'pack', which is more general; 'box up' specifically focuses on the use of boxes as the container.

Pitfall

I boxed up them.I boxed them up.when using a pronoun like 'them' or 'it', the pronoun must go between the verb and the particle.

© 2026 English Reference