dial up

Verb

dial up (third-person singular simple present dials up, present participle (US) dialing up or (UK) dialling up, simple past and past participle (US) dialed up or (UK) dialled up)

1. To telephone, to call on the telephone.
   • The written instructions weren't clear, so I dialed her up and asked her to explain what she meant.

   Synonyms:

   give a ring, phone, ring, ring up

2. To connect a computer to a modem.
   • In those days it took three minutes just to dial up, and every minute you were connected was costing you a higher phone bill.
3. To increase the level (of something) by turning a dial, or (figuratively) as if by turning a dial.
   • Near-synonym: ratchet up
   • These comments are guaranteed to dial up the animosity.

   Synonyms:

   ratchet up

   Antonyms:

   dial back