ramp up

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/ræmp ʌp/
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To increase activity, output, speed, power, effort, or intensity, either gradually or quickly.

Examples

  • The factory will ramp up production before the holiday season.
  • The campaign ramped up its advertising in the final week.
  • Demand ramped up quickly after the product launch.
  • The motor gradually ramps up to full power.
  • Hospitals are ramping up staffing for the winter surge.

Similar words

intensify
increase
scale up
step up
boost

Meanings

Usage

Use ramp up for movement to a higher level, especially in production, operations, pressure, spending, speed, or effort. Do not assume the phrase itself specifies a slow change.

Common mistakes

Writing ramp up to production is wrong when production is the object. Write ramp up production, or use to before a target level.

Etymology

Built from ramp, a sloping surface connecting different levels, and up. The image is of movement toward a higher level. Merriam-Webster dates the related noun ramp-up to 1980.

FAQ

What does ramp up mean?

It means to increase, or cause something to increase, in amount, activity, speed, power, effort, or intensity.

Does ramp up always mean a gradual increase?

No. The phrase describes movement to a higher level, and context may make the increase gradual or quick.

Can ramp up be transitive and intransitive?

Yes. A company can ramp up production, while demand or activity can simply ramp up.

What is the difference between ramp up and scale up?

Ramp up focuses on increasing a level of activity or output. Scale up often focuses on expanding capacity while preserving a process or system.

What is the opposite of ramp up?

Ramp down is the closest matching expression for reducing activity or output toward a lower level.

Is ramp-up also a noun?

Yes. The hyphenated noun names an increase or the period in which activity rises, as in a production ramp-up.

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