Phrasal verb
settle up
Definition
phrasal verb. to pay the money you owe, especially after a meal or a trip with other people.
phrasal verb. to pay a debt or a bill in full; often used in social contexts to describe the final resolution of shared expenses.
Examples
“Let's settle up for the pizza now.”
“After our weekend trip to the coast, we sat down to settle up and see who owed what.”
“The business partners agreed to settle up their outstanding accounts before dissolving the company at the end of the fiscal year.”
Examples
simple
“Let's settle up for the pizza now.”
contextual
“After our weekend trip to the coast, we sat down to settle up and see who owed what.”
complex
“The business partners agreed to settle up their outstanding accounts before dissolving the company at the end of the fiscal year.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “settle up” in context.
Verb
01. finally settle up the bill
“After a long discussion about who ordered what, we finally settled up the bill.”
adv + verb + noun
02. settle up and leave
“Once we finished our coffee, we settled up and left the cafe.”
verb + and + verb
03. wait to settle up
“We had to wait to settle up because the restaurant's card machine was broken.”
verb + infinitive
Preposition
04. settle up for the drinks
“Don't worry about the taxi; let's just settle up for the drinks we had earlier.”
verb + adv + prep + noun
05. settle up with the waiter
“I'll go to the bar to settle up with the waiter while you get your coat.”
verb + adv + prep + noun
Usage
often used with 'with' to indicate the person being paid or 'for' to indicate the item.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'pay back', which focuses on returning a loan; 'settle up' focuses on reaching a zero balance in a shared situation.
Pitfall
I will settle up you later.
I will settle up with you later.
the preposition 'with' is required when the object is a person.
Phrasal verb
Particles
up
Separability
optional
Pattern
settle + up (+ with + person) (+ for + thing)
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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