stump up

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

To pay for something, often with reluctance.

Register: informal

Examples

Jim stumped up for the cinema tickets, but I paid for the coffees afterwards.

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).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

to give one’s share, to pay the reckoning, to bring forth the money reluctantly.

Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)

Where it’s used: Origin British & Irish English
Sources & notes

Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.

Common questions

What does “stump up” mean?

To pay for something, often with reluctance.

Is “stump up” formal or informal?

stump up is generally informal.