What does lineup mean?
A lineup is a group of people, products, or activities arranged or scheduled together, usually in a particular order. In sport, it often means the roster of players chosen for a match; in entertainment, it can refer to the performers appearing at an event; and in commerce, it may describe a range of goods offered by a seller. The related verb “line up” means to arrange people or objects in a row, form a line, or organize something for future use. The noun may likewise refer to the line or roster itself rather than merely to the process of forming it. Although “lineup” sounds modern and promotional, particularly in phrases describing an impressive group of performers, it is an ordinary word used across formal and informal registers. It is useful because it captures both the people or items in a group and the idea that their participation has been deliberately arranged.
A group of people, performers, players, products, or other items presented or scheduled together, especially in a particular order.
"The museum has assembled an impressive lineup of paintings from its collection."
The meaning varies by context, from a sports roster to an event programme or a range of products.
To arrange people or objects in a line, or to form an organized roster or order.
"The organizers lineup the performers before the opening ceremony."
Although “lineup” can function as a verb, “line up” is the usual spelling and phrasing in everyday use.
“Lineups” is the standard plural; the hyphenated spelling “line-ups” is also common in British usage.
"The starting lineups for both teams have been announced."
The word began with the idea of making a line; today it also names the famous people who fill that line.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does lineup come from?
The word is a compound of “line” and “up.” Early uses referred to arranging people or objects in a line, after which the noun developed meanings for the resulting row and, later, for an organized roster or programme. The element “line” comes through Old French from Latin “linea,” meaning a row, line, or linen thread; forms such as “linear” and “alignment” belong to the same broader Latin family.
How lineup is actually used
The noun is neutral and common in sport, entertainment, business, and publishing contexts. British usage also commonly writes it as “line-up,” while the verb is normally written as the two-word phrase “line up.”