ramp-up

or ramp up

[ ramp-uhp ]

noun

1. an increase in amount, intensity, extent, etc., especially a steady increase; growth or buildup (often used attributively):

   Feeding the world by 2050 will necessitate a massive global ramp-up of industrial-scale agriculture.

   An oil field’s life cycle consists of a ramp-up period, a production plateau, and a period of decline.

2. the gradual process of learning or mastering something; learning curve (often used attributively):

   Training for new hires should focus on shortening the ramp-up to proficiency.

   Even if customers switch platforms, they should still be able to use the application with little or no ramp-up time.

verb phrase

1. to increase in amount, intensity, extent, etc., especially steadily; build:

   You can ramp up your studying in the weeks before taking the SAT.

   Immunity takes time to ramp up if the body has never seen the pathogen before.

2. to progressively learn or become familiar with something:

   The two-year program allows for time to ramp up, develop skills, and apply them in real-world scenarios.

ramp up

verb

1. to increase or cause to increase
2. intr to increase the effort involved in a process

Word History and Origins

Origin of ramp-up¹

First recorded in 1980–85; noun use of verb phrase ramp up