sign up

/ˌsaɪn ˈʌp/

Reviewed on

Type

Phrasal verb

Meaning

  1. To agree to participate in an activity, join an organization, or receive a service by putting your name on a list.

    • Over fifty students decided to sign up for the creative writing workshop.

    • Did you sign up yet, or are the classes completely full?

  2. To persuade or contract someone to join an organization or agree to an arrangement.

    • The talent agency managed to sign up three promising young actors this week.

    • They have signed several clients up for the new advisory service.

How it's used

When this means “join an activity or service”

  • sign up for the workshop

Say “sign up for it.” Not “sign it up.”

She wanted to sign up for the advanced course.

When this means “enlist or contract someone”

Both orders mean the same thing.

  • sign up new members
  • sign new members up

it and them go in the middle: “sign them up.” Not “sign up them.”

The recruiter signed up several candidates at the fair.

Collocations

  • sign up for a class
  • sign up for an account
  • sign up for the newsletter
  • sign up as a volunteer
  • sign up new members

Synonyms

Antonyms