phrasal verb

hook up

HUUK UP

Hook up (phrasal verb) means to have a casual sexual encounter with someone, usually without being in a relationship with them. Example: “They hooked up after the party and never spoke about it again.”

phrasal verb

informal To have a casual sexual encounter with someone, usually without being in a relationship with them.

"They hooked up after the party and never spoke about it again."

"He admitted he was only looking to hook up, not to date."

To connect a piece of equipment to a power supply, a network or another device.

"It took ten minutes to hook up the printer to the new laptop."

"The van was hooked up to the mains at the campsite."

informal To meet someone in order to spend time together, often after arranging it informally.

"We hooked up with the others outside the stadium."

"Let's hook up for a coffee when you are back in town."

informal To provide someone with something they want or need; used with with.

"My cousin hooked me up with tickets for the final."

"Can you hook us up with a decent plumber?"

How to Use Hook up

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo get together with someone casually, most often for sex.

When to use it

Informal in the meeting and providing senses; neutral and technical in the connecting sense.

Memory tip

Hook up to is for equipment and power; hook up with is for people.

Easily confused with

hookup → meet up link up

Common pairings

hook up to the mains hook up with friends hook me up with hooked up and ready

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

He admitted he was only looking to _____, not to date.

Synonyms

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get together sleep together fool around connect plug in wire up link meet up link up join forces set up sort out

Antonyms

disconnect unplug

Related Words

state play meet situation relationship effect contact link

Rhymes for hook up

hookup

See all rhymes for hook up →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between hook up and link up?

Both can mean meet or connect, but link up is more often used for organisations or systems joining together, while hook up is more casual and is the usual choice for plugging equipment in.

Is hook up one word or two?

Two words when it is a verb, as in we will hook up later. One word, hookup, when it is a noun, as in the campsite has electrical hookups.

Can hook up mean simply to meet a friend?

Yes, and in British and older American usage that is the ordinary meaning. Because the phrase also carries a romantic implication in modern American slang, many speakers prefer meet up when there is any risk of confusion.

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