star up
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To transfer (an incarcerated juvenile offender) to an adult prison earlier than the usual age of 18 or 21.
Examples
So he lost it all when he got starred up: sent to adult prison.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “star up” mean?
To transfer (an incarcerated juvenile offender) to an adult prison earlier than the usual age of 18 or 21.
Is “star up” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.