up
Part of speech: adv
prep
adj
noun
verb
Morphological type: simple
Topics: academia
arts
ball-games
card-games
computing
cricket
engineering
games
graffiti
hobbies
horse-racing
horseracing
horses
lifestyle
mathematics
natural-sciences
nautical
pets
physical-sciences
physics
poker
racing
rail-transport
railways
sailing
scholarly
sciences
sports
transport
visual-arts
Etymology: Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *upó
Proto-Germanic *ub
Proto-Germanic *upp
Proto-West Germanic *upp
Old English upp
Middle English up
English up
From Middle English up, op, oup, from Old English upp, up, ūp (“up”), from Proto-West Germanic *upp, *ūp, from Proto-Germanic *upp, *eup (“up”).
Cognate with Saterland Frisian ap (“up”), West Frisian op (“up”), Dutch op (“up”), German Low German up, op (“up”), German auf (“up”), Danish op (“up”), Swedish upp (“up”), Icelandic upp (“up”), Gothic 𐌹𐌿𐍀 (iup, “up”).
Inflected forms:
form: ups
pos: noun
tags: plural
form: ups
pos: verb
tags: present
singular
third-person
form: upping
pos: verb
tags: participle
present
form: upped
pos: verb
tags: participle
past
form: upped
pos: verb
tags: past
Senses:
gloss: Indicating movement towards or location at a higher place or position.
pos: adv
tags: not-comparable
examples: I looked up and saw the airplane overhead.
Shoots grow up and roots grow down.
gloss: Indicating movement towards or location at a higher place or position.
pos: adv
tags: not-comparable
examples: All day we climbed up and up.
Lift the carpet up and look underneath.
He lives up in the hills.
1925, Walter Anthony and Tom Reed (titles), Rupert Julian (director), The Phantom of the Opera, silent movie
‘The Phantom! The Phantom is up from the cellars again!’
gloss: Indicating movement towards or location at a higher place or position.
pos: adv
tags: not-comparable
examples: sit up; stand up; get up out of bed
gloss: Indicating movement towards or location at a higher place or position.
pos: adv
tags: figuratively
not-comparable
examples: Gold has gone up with the uncertainty in the world markets.
Turn it up, I can barely hear it.
Listen to your voice go up at the end of a question.
Cheer up, the weekend's almost here.
gloss: Indicating movement in any other direction visualised as "up".
pos: adv
tags: not-comparable
examples: Go back up to the top of the page.
As I lay on my back, a pain shot up from my toes to my chest.
Let’s move up to the front of the bus.
gloss: Indicating movement in any other direction visualised as "up".
pos: adv
tags: not-comparable
examples: I live in Florida, but I'm going up to New York to visit my family this weekend.
gloss: Indicating movement in any other direction visualised as "up".
pos: adv
tags: not-comparable
examples: We travelled from Yorkshire up to London.
I'm going up to the other end of town.
He lives up by the railway station.
gloss: Indicating movement in any other direction visualised as "up".
pos: adv
tags: not-comparable
gloss: Indicating movement in any other direction visualised as "up".
pos: adv
tags: UK
dated
not-comparable
examples: She's going up to read Classics this September.
The son of the Dean of Lichfield was only three years older than Steele, who was a lad of only twelve, when at the age of fifteen, Addison went up to Oxford.
Others insinuated that women 'crowded up to Cambridge', not for the benefits of a higher education, but because of the proximity of 2,000 young men.
A precocious mathematician, Babbage was already well versed in the Continental mathematical notations when he went up to Cambridge.
gloss: Indicating movement in any other direction visualised as "up".
pos: adv
tags: not-comparable
gloss: Indicating movement in any other direction visualised as "up".
pos: adv
tags: not-comparable
examples: We started in London and rowed all the way up to Oxford.
gloss: Indicating movement in any other direction visualised as "up".
pos: adv
tags: not-comparable
gloss: To or in a position of equal advance or equality; not short of, back of, less advanced than, away from, etc.; usually followed by to or with.
pos: adv
tags: not-comparable
examples: I was up to my chin in water.
A stranger came up and asked me for directions.
I'm going to be walking quickly, but try to keep up with me.
gloss: Used as an aspect marker to indicate a completed action or state; thoroughly, completely.
pos: adv
tags: emphatic
intensifier
not-comparable
examples: I will mix up the puzzle pieces.
Tear up the contract.
He really messed up.
Please type up our monthly report.
Drink up. The pub is closing.
Can you sum up your research?
The meteor burned up in the atmosphere.
I need to sew up the hole in this shirt.
gloss: To one's possession or consideration.
pos: adv
tags: not-comparable
examples: I picked up some milk on the way home.
The committee will take up your request.
gloss: From one's possession or consideration.
pos: adv
tags: not-comparable
examples: She had to give up her driver's license after the accident.
Instead of apologising, he offered up excuse after excuse.
gloss: Aside or away, so as no longer to be present or in use.
pos: adv
tags: not-comparable
examples: to lay up riches; put up your weapons
gloss: Relatively close to the batsman.
pos: adv
tags: not-comparable
examples: The bowler pitched the ball up.
gloss: Without additional ice.
pos: adv
tags: US
not-comparable
examples: A Cosmopolitan is typically served up.
gloss: Toward the top of.
pos: prep
examples: The cat climbed up the tree.
They walk up the steps.
Her eyes scanned up and down the page.
Judge Short had gone to town, and Farrar was off for a three days' cruise up the lake. I was bitterly regretting I had not gone with him when the distant notes of a coach horn reached my ear, and I descried a four-in-hand winding its way up the inn road from the direction of Mohair.
gloss: Toward the center, source, or main point of reference; toward the end at which something is attached.
pos: prep
examples: The information made its way up the chain of command to the general.
I felt something crawling up my arm.
gloss: From south to north of.
pos: prep
examples: We sailed up the East Coast of England from Ipswich to South Shields.
Though the storm raged up the East Coast, it has become increasingly apparent that New Jersey took the brunt of it.
gloss: Further along (in any direction).
pos: prep
examples: Go up the street until you see the sign.
gloss: From the mouth towards the source of (a river or waterway).
pos: prep
examples: He led an expedition up the Amazon.
gloss: Of a person: having sex with.
pos: prep
tags: slang
vulgar
examples: Phwoar, look at that bird. I'd love to be up her.
gloss: At (a given place, especially one imagined to be higher or more distant from a central location).
pos: prep
tags: colloquial
examples: I'll see you later up the snooker club.
“I'll tell you how I got on in the fight if I should see you up the Smokers.”
gloss: Facing upwards.
pos: adj
tags: not-comparable
examples: Turn the cloth over so that the patterned side is up.
Suppose that we roll a fair die and flip a fair coin in a game that awards 10 dollars whenever one pip shows on the up face of the die and 2 dollars whenever a head shows on the up side of the coin.
gloss: On or at a physically higher level.
pos: adj
tags: not-comparable
examples: The flood waters are up again across large areas of the country.
gloss: Headed or designated to go upward (as an escalator, stairway, elevator etc.) or toward (as a run-up).
pos: adj
tags: not-comparable
examples: Where is the up escalator?
gloss: Fitted or fixed at a high or relatively high position, especially on a wall or ceiling.
pos: adj
tags: not-comparable
examples: All the notices are up now.
The Christmas decorations are up.
gloss: Available to view or use; made public; posted.
pos: adj
tags: broadly
not-comparable
examples: Is your new video up yet? I looked on the website, but I couldn't find it.
gloss: Aloft.
pos: adj
tags: not-comparable
examples: The kite is up!
gloss: Raised; lifted.
pos: adj
tags: not-comparable
examples: The castle drawbridge was up.
Don't go into the living room just now – I've got the carpet up.
gloss: Of a river, in flood or at a high level.
pos: adj
tags: Australia
not-comparable
examples: In the late afternoon we rode among the fine trees of the Barker, which was ‘up’ too, but not so strongly as the Lennard.
gloss: Built, constructed.
pos: adj
tags: not-comparable
examples: Are the new buildings up yet?
gloss: Standing; upright.
pos: adj
tags: not-comparable
examples: The audience were up and on their feet.
gloss: Risen up, rebelling, in revolt.
pos: adj
tags: not-comparable
obsolete
examples: The fearefull newes that whilſt the flame doth but begin,
Sad pollicie may ſerue to quench the fire:
The Commons nowe are vp in Kent, let vs not ſuffer this firſt attempt too farre.
gloss: Awake and out of bed.
pos: adj
tags: not-comparable
examples: So if you find yourself regularly up late at night, basking in the TV's glow, you might be doing more than just depriving yourself of sleep.
I can’t believe it’s 3 a.m. and you’re still up.
gloss: Riding the horse; mounted.
pos: adj
tags: not-comparable
gloss: Above the horizon, in the sky.
pos: adj
tags: not-comparable
examples: It'll get warmer once the sun's up.
I have said I was still in darkness, yet it was not the blackness of the last night; and looking up into the inside of the tomb above, I could see the faintest line of light at one corner, which showed the sun was up.
gloss: Larger; greater in quantity, volume, value etc.
pos: adj
tags: not-comparable
examples: Sales are up compared to last quarter.
My temperature is up this morning.
gloss: Indicating a larger or higher quantity.
pos: adj
tags: not-comparable
examples: The barometer is up, so fine weather should be on the way.
gloss: Ahead; leading; winning.
pos: adj
tags: not-comparable
examples: The home team were up by two goals at half-time.
gloss: Finished, at an end
pos: adj
tags: not-comparable
predicative
examples: Time is up!
Her contract is up next month, so it's time to negotiate another one.
gloss: In a good mood.
pos: adj
tags: not-comparable
examples: I’m feeling up today.
gloss: Willing; ready.
pos: adj
tags: not-comparable
examples: If you are up for a trip, let’s go.
gloss: Next in a sequence.
pos: adj
tags: not-comparable
examples: Smith is up to bat.
gloss: Happening; new; of concern. See also what's up, what's up with.
pos: adj
tags: not-comparable
predicative
examples: What's up, bro?
What is up with that project at headquarters?
When I saw his face, I knew something was up.
gloss: Said of the higher-ranking pair in a two pair.
pos: adj
tags: not-comparable
postpositional
examples: AAKK = aces up
QQ33 = queens up
gloss: Well-informed; current.
pos: adj
tags: not-comparable
examples: I’m not up on the latest news. What’s going on?
gloss: Functional; working.
pos: adj
tags: not-comparable
examples: Is the server back up?
gloss: Traveling towards a major terminus.
pos: adj
tags: not-comparable
examples: The London train is on the up line.
gloss: Chilled and served without ice; (often specifically) shaken with ice and then strained into a coupe for serving, leaving the ice behind.
pos: adj
tags: US
not-comparable
examples: Would you like that drink up or on ice?
gloss: Erect.
pos: adj
tags: not-comparable
slang
gloss: At university (especially Oxford or Cambridge).
pos: adj
tags: UK
dated
not-comparable
examples: When I was up (1965–68) I had a group of idle friends who occupied their time and mine betting on horses, getting drunk and sprawling about telling creepy tales.
gloss: well-known; renowned
pos: adj
tags: not-comparable
slang
examples: Being "up" means having numerous graffiti in the tagging landscape.
Graffiti writers want their names seen by writers and others so that they will be famous. Therefore writers are very serious about any opportunity to “get up.” […] The throw-up became one of the fundamental techniques for getting up, and thereby gaining recognition and fame.
From his great rooftop pieces, selected for high visibility, to his sneaky tags and fun loving stickers, he most certainly knows how to get up.
Won by Park Top (Lester Piggott up), at Epsom on June 5, 1969
gloss: The direction opposed to the pull of gravity.
pos: noun
tags: uncountable
examples: Up is a good way to go.
gloss: A positive thing, or a time or situation when things are going well.
pos: noun
tags: countable
examples: I hate almost everything about my job. The only up is that it's so close to home.
There are many ups to caravanning, but also many downs.
I've been on an up all this week.
One last impression — and one of the biggest "ups" for me — was the Saturday night cultural presentations.
gloss: An up quark.
pos: noun
tags: countable
particle
uncountable
gloss: An upstairs room of a two story house.
pos: noun
tags: countable
uncountable
examples: She lives in a two-up two-down.
gloss: To physically raise or lift.
pos: verb
tags: in-certain-phrases
poetic
transitive
examples: We upped anchor and sailed away.
gloss: To increase the level or amount of.
pos: verb
tags: colloquial
transitive
examples: If we up the volume, we may be able to hear what he says.
As usual, they've upped the prices for Valentine's Day.
Part of the woman's mystique, I guess. Makes people want to meet her all the more. A year ago, she upped her stock with that crowd when she bought the Midnight Star — among the world's most famous star sapphires
After a dreadful performance in the opening 45 minutes, they upped their game after the break and might have taken at least a point from the match.
It says that while European countries upped their subsidies by 6% between 2018-20, the growth in business was only 0.45%.
gloss: To promote.
pos: verb
tags: colloquial
transitive
examples: It wasn’t long before they upped him to Vice President.
The other day Mr. Meyer came to see me in Weinbergers, it caused a great sensation & I think upped me a lot in prestige there
"Ryker's a--" He swallowed. "A cop. Used to work Sleeve Theft, then they upped him to the Organic Damage Division.
(And who, by the way, got his start as a producer from Desi Arnaz, who upped him from film editor to take charge of the Desilu series The Untouchables
gloss: To rise to a standing position; hence, by extension, to act suddenly; see also up and.
pos: verb
tags: in-compounds
intransitive
often
examples: She was sitting there quietly, then all of a sudden she upped and left.
He just upped and quit.
He upped and punched that guy.
But the swagman he up and jumped into the waterhole,
 Drowning himself by the coolibah tree.
 And his ghost may be heard as it sings by the billabong,
 'Who'll come a'waltzing Matilda, with me.'
And she didn't leave a letter, she just upped and ran away
gloss: To ascend; to climb up.
pos: verb
tags: archaic
intransitive
poetic
examples: "Will ye up, lass, and ride behind me?".
gloss: To upload.
pos: verb
tags: slang
transitive
examples: 100 new apps and games have just been upped.
Antonyms: down
Related words: all it's cracked up to be
back up
blow up
bottoms up
break up
buck up
buffer up
build up
burn up
clean up
clear up
clog up
close up
cloud up
cosy up
cozy up
crack up
cuddle up
curl up
cut up
double up
dress up
dry up
eat up
finish up
gang up
gang up on
go up
kick up
knock up
lash up
let up
link up
look up
lookup
muck up
open up
polish up
runner up
run up
shake up
shoot up
show up
shut up
snuggle up
stir up
stop up
studs up
turn up
up and at 'em
up for
up to
up to it
wet up
work up
write up
give up
pick up
put up
ring up
send up
take up
throw up
up a creek
up a tree
Up Holland
Upholland
up on one's ear
up someone's alley
ups and downs
Derived words: any road up
backup
balloon goes up
bottom-up
clean-up
close-up
double-up
follow-up
keep someone up late
lead someone up the garden path
lift-up
link-up
linkup
lookup
one-up
one-upmanship
pop-up
runup
start-up
tip up
tip-up
update
upend
upfront
upgrade
uphill
uphold
upkeep
upload
upness
upon
upper
uppity
upright
uprise
upriver
uproar
upset
upshot
upstairs
upstart
upstream
uptick
upto
uptown
upvote
upward
upwind
upzone
walkup
upside
know which end is up
Stonebeck Up
up and running
Up Exe
up for grabs
upside down
mark-up
on the up-and-up
up and
up and go
up and leave
up sticks
up the ante
up the game
Translations:
lang: Cornish
word: ughella
lang: Danish
word: op
lang: Dutch
word: omhoog
lang: Estonian
word: üles
lang: Finnish
word: ylemmäs
lang: Japanese
word: 上に
roman: ue ni
lang: Central Kurdish
word: بەرز
roman: berz
lang: Latvian
word: augstāk
lang: Macedonian
word: повисоко
roman: povisoko
lang: Macedonian
word: погласно
roman: poglasno
lang: Norwegian
word: opp
lang: Portuguese
word: aumentar
lang: Portuguese
word: elevar
lang: Russian
word: вы́ше
roman: výše
lang: Russian
word: гро́мче
roman: grómče
lang: Slovak
word: hore
lang: Swahili
word: juu
lang: Swedish
word: upp
lang: Zazaki
word: anvero (diq)