If people line up or if you line them up, they move so that they are standing in a line.
The senior leaders lined up behind him in orderly rows. [VERBPARTICLE]
The gym teachers lined us up against the cement walls. [VERB noun PARTICLE]
When he came back the sergeant had lined up the suspects. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
2. phrasal verb
If you line things up, you move them into a straight row.
I would line up my toys on this windowsill and play. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
He finished polishing the cocktail glasses and lined them up behind the bar. [VERB noun PARTICLE]
3. phrasal verb
If you line one thing upwith another, or one thing lines upwith another, the first thing is moved into its correct position in relation to the second. You can also say that two things line up, or are lined up.
You have to line the car up with the ones beside you. [VERB noun PARTICLE + with]
Gas cookers are adjustable in height to line up with your kitchen work top. [VERBPARTICLE + with]
Mahoney had lined up two of the crates. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
When the images line up exactly, the projectors should be fixed in place. [VERBPARTICLE]
All we have to do is to get the two pieces lined up properly. [VERB-ed PARTICLE]
4. phrasal verb
If you line up an event or activity, you arrange for it to happen. If you line someone up for an event or activity, you arrange for them to be available for that event or activity.
She lined up executives, politicians and educators to serve on the board of directors. [VP n to-inf]
The band is lining up a two-week U.K. tour for the New Year. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
5. phrasal verb
If you line up with, behind, or alongside a person or group, you support them. If you line up against a person or group, you oppose them.
Some surprising names have lined up behind the idea. [VERBPARTICLE preposition]
We Spaniards have lined up against each other all too often. [VERB-ed PARTICLE]
6. See also line-up
See full dictionary entry for line
line-up
Word forms: plural line-ups
1. countable noun
A line-up is a group of people or a series of things that have been gathered together to be part of a particular event.
He is likely to be in Wales's starting line-up for their World Cup qualifying match.
The programme is back for a new series with a great line-up of musicians and comedyacts. [+ of]
Synonyms: arrangement, team, row, selection More Synonyms of line-up
2. countable noun
At a line-up, a witness to a crime tries to identify the criminal from among a line of people.
He failed to identify Graham from photographs, but later picked him out of a policeline-up.
line-up in British English
noun
1.
a row or arrangement of people or things assembled for a particular purpose
the line-up for the football match
2.
the members of such a row or arrangement
3.
an identity parade
verbline up(adverb)
4.
to form, put into, or organize a line-up
5. (transitive)
to produce, organize, and assemble
they lined up some questions
6. (transitive)
to align
line up in American English
1.
to form a line
2.
to bring into a line
3.
to organize effectively, secure a pledge of support from, etc.
4.
to take a position (against a competitor or rival)
See full dictionary entry for line
Examples of 'line-up' in a sentence
line-up
Broker tried to line up Sommer's green parka with the end of the point that appeared, then disappeared, playing peek-a-boo.
Chuck Logan ABSOLUTE ZERO (2002)
Sonia adjusted her full-blown crown, beamed at her subjects, and swaggered back into the line-up.
Christina Jones TICKLED PINK (2002)
He had not seen Inspector Malone when he came out of the line-up room.
Jon Cleary YESTERDAY'S SHADOW (2002)
In other languages
line up
British English: line-up NOUN
A line-up is a group of people or a series of things that have been gathered together to be part of a particular event.
The team's star midfielder is sure to be in the lineup.
American English: lineup
Brazilian Portuguese: escalação
Chinese: 阵容
European Spanish: alineación
French: équipe
German: Aufstellung
Italian: formazione
Japanese: ラインアップ
Korean: 참석 예정자 목록 라인업
European Portuguese: escalação
Latin American Spanish: alineación
(phrasal verb)
The senior leaders lined up behind him in orderly rows.
Synonyms
queue up
file
fall in
He waved them to fall in behind him.
form a queue
form ranks
See line
(noun)
Definition
to form or organize a line-up
a great line-up of musicians and comedy acts
Synonyms
arrangement
an imaginative flower arrangement
team
Mr Hunter and his management team
row
selection
this selection of popular songs
array
the markets with their wonderful arrays of fruit and vegetables
dream team
Additional synonyms
in the sense of array
Definition
an impressive display or collection
the markets with their wonderful arrays of fruit and vegetables
Synonyms
arrangement,
show,
order,
supply,
display,
collection,
exhibition,
line-up,
mixture,
parade,
formation,
presentation,
spectacle,
marshalling,
muster,
disposition (archaic)
in the sense of fall in
Definition
to get into line or formation in a display, march, or procession
He waved them to fall in behind him.
Synonyms
get in line,
line up,
queue,
form a crocodile
in the sense of selection
Definition
a thing or number of things that have been selected
this selection of popular songs
Synonyms
anthology,
collection,
medley,
choice,
line-up,
mixed bag (informal),
potpourri,
miscellany,
pick `n' mix
Nearby words of
line up
limpid
line
line something up
line up
lineage
lineaments
lined
Related terms of
line up
line something up
Synonyms of 'line up'
line up
Explore 'line up' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of team
Definition
a group of people organized to work together
Mr Hunter and his management team
Synonyms
group,
company,
set,
body,
band,
crew (informal),
gang,
line-up,
bunch (informal),
dream team,
posse (informal)
Chinese translation of 'line up'
line up
vi
(= form queue) 排队(隊) (páiduì)
vt
[people, objects]使排队(隊) (shǐ páiduì)
⇒ The men were lined up against a wall.这些男子们被靠墙排成排。 (Zhèxiē nánzǐmen bèi kàoqiáng páichéng pái.)
(= organize)[event, celebration]安排 (ānpái)
⇒ A formal party was lined up.人们正在安排一场正式的晚会。 (Rénmen zhèngzài ānpái yī chǎng zhèngshì de wǎnhuì.)
to line sb up (for sth)(为(為)某事)安排组(組)织(織)好某人 ((wèi mǒushì) ānpái zǔzhī hǎo mǒurén)
⇒ I had lined up a wonderful cast.我已经安排好一组优秀的演员到场。 (Wǒ yǐjīng ānpái hǎo yī zǔ yōuxiù de yǎnyuán dàochǎng.)
to have sb/sth lined up安排某人/某事 (ānpái mǒurén/mǒushì)