hook up
14 synonyms and 2 antonyms for hook up, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Phrasal verb — To have a casual sexual encounter with someone, usually without being in a relationship with them.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. 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.”
2. phrasal verb
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.”
Opposites
3. phrasal verb informal
To meet someone in order to spend time together, often after arranging it informally.
“We hooked up with the others outside the stadium.”
4. phrasal verb informal
To provide someone with something they want or need; used with with.
“My cousin hooked me up with tickets for the final.”
How to Use Hook Up
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Informal in the meeting and providing senses; neutral and technical in the connecting sense.
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.