# box up

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/box-up
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

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

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

## Examples

- We need to box up these old books.
- After she lost her job, she spent the whole weekend boxing up her office supplies.
- The archivists spent months boxing up the delicate manuscripts to ensure their preservation during the museum's extensive renovation project.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I boxed up them." but "I boxed them up." — when using a pronoun like 'them' or 'it', the pronoun must go between the verb and the particle.

## Usage notes

- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.