“Meetup” is a noun for an arranged gathering, and Cambridge also records the hyphenated noun “meet-up.” “Meet up” is the two-word phrasal verb for meeting another person by arrangement.
ReviewedEvidence2 sourcesSectionEnglish Usage
Quick answer
Use “meet up” for the verb. For the noun, “meetup” and “meet-up” are both documented.
Key details
Confusion Familyword-boundary
Noun Variant ScopeCambridge records “meetup” and “meet-up” as noun spellings while keeping the phrasal verb “meet up” as two words.
Rule Familyorthographic-boundary
Termsmeetup, meet-up, meet up
Choose the right form
Decision table for Meetup vs. Meet-up vs. Meet Up
If you mean / need
Use
Why
an arranged gathering
meetup / meet-up
Both noun spellings are documented.
the action of meeting by arrangement
meet up
The phrasal verb is written as two words.
Further guidance
Core difference
Use “meet up” when the expression functions as a verb; use the documented noun form for the person, thing, event, result, or modifier.
Fast Test
If tense or inflection works naturally—such as a past or -ing form—you are using the verb and should keep “meet up” as separate words.
Variant Boundary
Cambridge records “meetup” and “meet-up” as noun spellings while keeping the phrasal verb “meet up” as two words.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
Standard English writes “a lot” as two words for a large amount, number, frequency, or degree. “Alot” is a common misspelling in this sense; it should not be confused with the separate verb “allot.”
“Blackout” is the closed noun, while “black out” is the two-word phrasal verb. The verb can describe losing consciousness or obscuring/darkening something; the noun names the resulting event or state.
“Blowout” is a closed noun for several events or results, and Cambridge also records “blow-out” as a noun variant. “Blow out” is the two-word phrasal verb, including the sense of extinguishing a flame.
“Breakout” is a closed noun for an escape and an adjective in several established senses. Cambridge also documents “break-out” in modifier use. “Break out” is the two-word phrasal verb for meanings such as beginning suddenly or escaping.
“Breakthrough” is a closed noun for an important discovery or advance and can also modify a following noun. “Break through” is the two-word phrasal verb for forcing or moving through a barrier or threshold.
“Build up” is the two-word phrasal verb. For the noun, Cambridge records hyphenated “build-up,” while its American dictionary also records closed “buildup.” The noun spelling therefore has a documented regional/style variant rather than one universal form.
