sign up

join or register for a class, activity, or service

B1

What does "sign up" mean?

To sign up means to register for something for the first time — a class, event, service, or subscription. You use it when you are creating a new account or joining something you have never been part of before. For example, you might sign up for a gym membership, a free trial, or an online course. It is a very common phrase in everyday English and appears a lot in digital contexts, such as on websites and apps that ask you to create an account. It has a neutral, everyday tone and works in both spoken and written situations.

Examples

How to use it

sign up for + thing

The most common pattern — use 'for' to say what you are registering for.

I decided to sign up for a pottery class at the community centre.

sign up to + thing

Used mainly in British English as an alternative to 'sign up for', especially with mailing lists and subscriptions.

Have you signed up to their newsletter yet? It has some great tips.

sign up + infinitive of purpose

Use an infinitive after 'sign up' to explain why someone is registering.

She signed up to improve her Spanish before her trip to Mexico.

sign up (without complement)

When the context is already clear, you can use 'sign up' without adding 'for' or 'to' and an object.

The event is free — just sign up before Friday and bring a friend.

sign up as + role

Use 'as' when the thing you are registering for is a role or position, such as a volunteer.

More than 50 people signed up as volunteers for the local food festival.

Common Collocations

sign up for a coursesign up for a newslettersign up for a free trialsign up onlinesign up as a volunteersign up for classes

Common Mistakes

Wrong preposition

Learners sometimes write 'sign up in' or 'sign up on', but these are not standard. The correct preposition is 'for' in most situations, or 'to' in British English.

✗ I want to sign up in the new fitness programme.
✓ I want to sign up for the new fitness programme.
Confusing 'sign up' with 'sign in'

'Sign up' is only for creating a new account or registration for the first time. 'Sign in' is what you do when you already have an account and want to access it. They are not interchangeable.

✗ I already have an account — I just need to sign up.
✓ I already have an account — I just need to sign in.

Usage

'Sign up' is neutral and works in both spoken and written English, but it is especially common in informal and digital contexts. In British English, you may hear both 'sign up for' and 'sign up to', but 'sign up for' is standard in American English and safe to use everywhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'sign up' always need 'for' after it?

No — you can use 'sign up' on its own if it is clear from the context what you mean, for example: 'Have you signed up yet?' However, when you want to mention what you are registering for, you normally add 'for' before it, or 'to' in British English.

Is there a difference between 'sign up for' and 'sign up to'?

Both are correct, but they are used differently depending on the variety of English. American English almost always uses 'sign up for'. British English uses both 'sign up for' and 'sign up to', especially with subscriptions and mailing lists. Either way, 'sign up for' is always safe to use.

Can 'sign up' be used in the passive?

Yes, but mainly when someone else registers you for something. For example: 'All new members were signed up online before the event.' When you register yourself, the active form is more natural.

What kinds of things can you 'sign up for'?

You can sign up for a very wide range of things — courses, classes, events, newsletters, free trials, memberships, subscriptions, volunteer roles, and more. It is especially common in online and digital contexts where you create a new account or join a service.

Does 'sign up' have more than one meaning?

The core meaning of 'sign up' is to register or enrol for something, and this is the most common use. In British English, 'sign up to' can sometimes mean to agree to support a plan or idea, but this is a different sense. There is also a transitive use where someone registers another person, for example 'She signed her son up for classes', which is covered separately.

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