up
1 Americanadverb
-
to, toward, or in a more elevated position.
to climb up to the top of a ladder.
-
to or in an erect position.
to stand up.
-
out of bed.
to get up.
-
above the horizon.
The moon came up.
-
to or at any point that is considered higher.
-
to or at a source, origin, center, or the like.
to follow a stream up to its source.
-
to or at a higher point or degree, as of rank, size, value, pitch, loudness, brightness, maturity, or speed.
to move up in a firm;
to pump up a tire;
to turn a lantern up;
Prices are going up.
Speak up! Hurry up!
-
ahead; in a leading position in a competition.
He managed to get up on his opponent by three points.
-
in continuing contact, especially as reflecting continuing awareness, knowledge, etc..
to keep up with the latest developments in mathematics.
-
into or in activity, operation, etc..
to set up vibrations.
-
into a state of emotional agitation or distress.
His insults left her all roiled up.
-
into existence, visible form, etc..
His sample was worked up in the studio.
-
into view, prominence, or consideration.
The lost papers have turned up.
-
into or in a place of safekeeping, storage, retirement, etc..
to lay up riches;
to put up preserves.
-
into or in a state of union, contraction, etc..
to add up a column of figures;
to fold up.
-
to the required or final point.
to pay up one's debts;
burned up.
-
to a state of completion; to an end.
She finished it all up.
-
to a halt.
The riders reined up and dismounted.
-
Baseball. being the player or team batting; at bat.
-
(used as a function word for additional emphasis, sometimes preceded byit ).
Go wake your father up.
What plugged it up?
We laughed it up.
-
ahead of an opponent or opponents in points, games, etc..
The golfer was two strokes up on his nearest competitor.
-
each; apiece.
The score was seven up in the final quarter.
-
(of machines or equipment, as computers) working; in working order or in operation.
-
Informal. without the addition of ice; straight up.
Bring me a martini, up.
-
Nautical. toward the wind.
Put the helm up.
preposition
-
to, toward, or at an elevated place on or in.
They went up the stairs.
The cat is up the tree.
-
to, toward, or at a high or higher station, condition, or rank on or in.
He is well up the social ladder.
-
at or to a farther point or higher place on or in.
She is up the street.
I'm going up the street.
-
toward the source, origin, etc., of.
up the stream.
-
toward a particular direction or in the interior of, as a region or territory.
The explorers were up north.
-
in a course or direction that is contrary to that of.
to row up the current.
adjective
-
moving in or related to a direction that is up or is regarded as up.
the up elevator;
the up train traveling north;
the up platform of a railroad station.
-
informed; familiar; aware (usually followed by on orin ).
She is always up on current events.
-
concluded; ended; finished; terminated.
The game is up.
Your hour is up.
-
going on or happening; taking place; occurring.
What's up over there?
-
having a high position or station.
He is up in society.
-
in an erect, vertical, or raised position.
The gate at the railroad crossing is up.
The tent is up.
-
above the earth or ground.
The corn is up and ready to be harvested.
-
in the air; aloft.
The meteorological balloons are up.
The airplanes are up for their reconnaissance flights.
-
(of heavenly bodies) risen above the horizon.
The sun is up.
-
awake or out of bed.
to be up with insomnia.
-
mounted on horseback.
He knows which jockeys are up in every race.
-
(of water in natural bodies) high with relation to the banks or shore.
The tide is up.
-
built; constructed.
The new museum is up and open to the public.
-
facing upward.
He is resting and his face is up.
-
(of roads, highways, etc.) having the surface broken or removed (usually used in combination).
a torn-up road.
-
in revolt, mutiny, or rebellious agitation.
Many territories were up and preparing to send troops against the government.
-
in a state of agitation.
Beware of him when his temper is up.
-
Informal. cheerful or optimistic; high-spirited; happy; exuberant; upbeat.
-
Informal. productive, favorable, or profitable.
a string of up months for the company.
-
afoot or amiss.
Her nervous manner told me that something was up.
-
in a state of enthusiastic or confident readiness (usually followed byfor ).
The team was definitely up for the game.
-
bound; on the way.
She was on a ship up for Australia.
-
resolved in an unfavorable or undesired way.
They knew that their game was up.
-
higher than formerly in cost, amount, degree, etc..
The price of meat was up.
-
(of age) advanced (usually followed byin ).
He is rather spry for a man so up in years.
-
active.
The captain wished to set sail as soon as the wind was up.
-
in a legal proceeding as defendant.
He is up for murder.
-
in operation or ready for use.
The theater's lights are up.
-
(of points or other standards used to determine the winner in a competition) ahead; in advance.
He won the game with two points up over his opponent.
-
considered or under consideration.
a candidate up for reelection;
a bill that is up before Congress.
-
wagered; bet.
He won all the money up in the game.
-
living or located inland or on elevated ground.
They live in a village two miles up from the coast.
-
(used with a preceding numeral to indicate that a score is tied in a competition).
It was 10 up at the end of the first half.
-
ahead of an opponent or opponents.
They scored three times in a row to go two up.
noun
-
an upward movement; ascent.
-
a rise of fortune, mood, etc.
-
a time of good fortune, prosperity, or happiness.
He has had more ups than downs in his career.
-
an upbound means of public transportation, as a train or bus.
-
Informal. a feeling or state of happiness, exuberance, or elation.
-
a person or thing that is in a favorable position of wealth, fortune, etc..
People who were ups in the business world suffered losses in the economic depression.
-
an upward slope; elevation.
-
an upward course or rise, as in price or value.
The landlord promised his tenants there would be no further ups in the rent this year.
-
Slang. upper.
verb (used with object)
-
to put or take up.
-
to make larger; step up.
to up output.
-
to raise; go better than (a preceding wager).
to up the ante.
verb (used without object)
-
Informal. to start up; begin something abruptly (usually followed by and and another verb).
Then he upped and ran away from home.
-
(often used imperatively or hortatively) to rise up.
Up, men, and fight until all the enemy are defeated!
idioms
-
up and doing, actively engaged; alert; busy.
During her convalescence she longed to be up and doing.
-
up for, considered as eligible or as a possibility for (something).
The child is up for adoption.
Three actresses are up for the role.
-
on the up and up, frank; honest; sincere: Also on the up-and-up.
He seems to be on the up and up.
-
all up with, at or approaching the end of; with defeat or ruin imminent for.
He realized it was all up with him when the search party began to close in.
-
straight up. straight.
-
up against it, in a difficult situation, especially in financial straits.
There was no one to help him when he was up against it.
-
up and down,
-
back and forth; backward and forward.
He paced up and down.
-
from top to bottom or head to toe.
She looked me up and down before replying.
-
-
go up in one's lines. line.
-
up and around, recovered from an illness; able to leave one's bed. Also up and about.
-
up to,
-
as far as or approaching (a certain part, degree, point, etc.).
She went wading up to her knees.
I am up to the eighth lesson.
-
in full realization or attainment of.
He worked up to president of the company.
-
as many as; to the limit of.
The car will seat up to five persons.
-
having adequate powers or ability for; capable of; equal to.
He didn't think I was up to the job.
-
the duty or responsibility of; incumbent upon.
It's up to you to break the news to him.
-
engaged in; contriving; doing.
What have you been up to lately?
-
-
up your ass, shove. Also up yours
-
up against, faced or confronted with.
They were up against formidable obstacles.
abbreviation
-
underproof (alcohol).
-
upper.
abbreviation
preposition
-
indicating movement from a lower to a higher position
climbing up a mountain
-
at a higher or further level or position in or on
soot up the chimney
a shop up the road
adverb
-
(often particle) to an upward, higher, or erect position, esp indicating readiness for an activity
looking up at the stars
up and doing something
-
(particle) indicating intensity or completion of an action
he tore up the cheque
drink up now!
-
to the place referred to or where the speaker is
the man came up and asked the way
-
-
to a more important place
up to London
-
to a more northerly place
up to Scotland
-
(of a member of some British universities) to or at university
-
in a particular part of the country
up north
-
-
above the horizon
the sun is up
-
appearing for trial
up before the magistrate
-
having gained
ten pounds up on the deal
-
higher in price
coffee is up again
-
raised (for discussion, etc)
the plan was up for consideration
-
taught
well up in physics
-
(functioning as imperative) get, stand, etc, up
up with you!
-
informal
-
over; finished
-
doomed to die
-
-
(functioning as imperative) wanting the beginning or continuation of
up with the monarchy!
-
informal something strange is happening
-
-
touching
-
having to cope with
look what we're up against now
-
-
in operation; functioning properly
-
-
as a candidate or applicant for
he's up for re-election again
-
informal keen or willing to try
she's up for anything
-
-
informal keen or willing to try something out or make a good effort
it's a big challenge and I'm up for it
-
-
devising or scheming; occupied with
she's up to no good
-
dependent or incumbent upon
the decision is up to you
-
equal to (a challenge, etc) or capable of (doing, etc)
are you up to playing in the final?
-
aware of
up to a person's tricks
-
as far as
up to his waist in mud
-
as many as
up to two years' waiting time
-
comparable with
not up to your normal standard
-
-
informal in the head or mind
-
slang a vulgar expression of contempt or refusal
-
informal
-
what is the matter?
-
what is happening?
-
adjective
-
(predicative) of a high or higher position
-
(predicative) out of bed; awake
the children aren't up yet
-
(prenominal) of or relating to a train or trains to a more important place or one regarded as higher
the up platform
-
(predicative) over or completed
the examiner announced that their time was up
-
(predicative) beating one's opponent by a specified amount
three goals up by half-time
verb
-
(tr) to increase or raise
-
informal (intr; foll by and with a verb) to do (something) suddenly, unexpectedly, etc
she upped and married someone else
noun
-
high point; good or pleasant period (esp in the phrase ups and downs )
-
slang another word (esp US) for upper
-
-
trustworthy or honest
-
on the upward trend or movement
our firm's on the up and up
-
-
slang self-absorbed or arrogant
he's so up himself
abbreviation
-
United Press
-
Uttar Pradesh
prefix
Usage
The use of up before until is redundant and should be avoided: the talks will continue until (not up until ) 23rd March
Etymology
Origin of up1
First recorded before 900; Middle English up(pe) (adverb), Old English up(p) “to a higher position,” uppe “in a higher position”; cognate with Old Frisian up, Old Saxon up, Middle Dutch up, op, Old Norse upp; akin to Old High German ūf (which gave rise to German auf ), Gothic iup
Origin of up-2
Middle English; Old English
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
