amped; amping; amps
1
informal
: to make (someone) more excited or energetic : excite, energize
Players either get amped by the electricity of the event or founder in the ambient chaos.—
Jon Wertheim
—often used with upJon WertheimWhen Smith came out to accept her trophy, Bieber smothered her with kisses, and then pumped his fist to amp up the crowd …—Melissa Ruggieri
Melissa Ruggieri2
: to make (something) more intense : heighten, intensify
The violence is amped by the presence of automatic weapons and gyrating camerawork, but it all feels very familiar.—Kevin Crust
—usually used with upKevin CrustThe fledgling studio that wound up making the film … knew that it had teenage girls in its pocket, and wisely amped up the action scenes in the trailer in an attempt to snag male viewers as well.—Karen Valby
Karen ValbyRoasting the pork at a low temperature in a spiced salt mixture amps up the flavor of the meat and makes it extra-tender.—Gabrielle Hamilton
Gabrielle Hamilton3
: to increase the amount of (something) : raise
In this convention year … the stakes have been amped.—Charles McGrath
—usually used with upCharles McGrathAs investors get used to steady returns, they start borrowing to amp up gains … and buying increasingly dubious stuff …—Pat Regnier
Pat Regnier… the producers always need to amp up the stakes, and, this season, there are a few new twists …—Andy Edelstein
see also amped, amped-up
Andy Edelstein
: a nucleotide C10H12N5O3H2PO4 composed of adenosine and one phosphate group that is reversibly convertible to ADP and ATP in metabolic reactions
called also adenosine monophosphate, adenylic acid
compare cyclic ampSynonyms
Examples of amp in a Sentence
Noun (1)
He plugged his guitar into the amp.
Verb
an important news story that doesn't need to be amped up with sensationalism
inflammatory rhetoric that served only to amp up the civil unrest that was overspreading the city
Recent Examples on the WebTodd Gold, Peoplemag, 25 June 2024
McConnell's speech amps up pressure on Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to stake out a position on the controversial bill, which has drawn fierce, immediate backlash from many of the platform's 170 million American users.
—Riley Beggin, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024
Bysasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 27 June 2024
To amp up the energy following dinner and the initial hours of dancing, the couple brought out props like sombreros and mini flags of Puerto Rico and Mexico during their crazy hour.
—Kaitlin Menza, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for amp 
Noun
Before the day was over, the amp blew up, and soon the group followed suit, with Michael and Ridgeley agreeing to carry on alone.
—Todd Gold, Peoplemag, 25 June 2024
McConnell's speech amps up pressure on Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to stake out a position on the controversial bill, which has drawn fierce, immediate backlash from many of the platform's 170 million American users.
—Riley Beggin, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024
Verb
Those more affordable brands still taste good—putting pressure on the brand names to amp up their standards.
—Bysasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 27 June 2024
To amp up the energy following dinner and the initial hours of dancing, the couple brought out props like sombreros and mini flags of Puerto Rico and Mexico during their crazy hour.
—Kaitlin Menza, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for amp
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'amp.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near amp
Cite this Entry
“Amp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/amp. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
amp
1 of 2 abbreviation1
amperage
2
ampere
3
ampule
4
amputation
AMP
2 of 2 noun
: a nucleotide C10H12N5O3H2PO4 that is composed of adenosine and one phosphate group and is reversibly convertible to ADP and ATP in metabolic reactions
called also adenosine monophosphate
compare cyclic ampLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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