View synonyms for up

up

[uhp]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adverb

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.
sunny-side 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)

upped, upping

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)

upped, upping

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!

up-

a combining form of up.
upland; upshot; upheaval.

up.

abbreviation

underproof (alcohol).
upper.

U.P.

⁴

abbreviation

Upper Peninsula.

/ ʌp /

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
1. to a more important place
  up to London
2. to a more northerly place
  up to Scotland
3. (of a member of some British universities) to or at university
4. 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
1. over; finished
2. doomed to die
(functioning as imperative) wanting the beginning or continuation of
up with the monarchy!
informal, something strange is happening
1. touching
2. having to cope with
  look what we're up against now
in operation; functioning properly
1. as a candidate or applicant for
  he's up for re-election again
2. 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
1. devising or scheming; occupied with
  she's up to no good
2. dependent or incumbent upon
  the decision is up to you
3. equal to (a challenge, etc) or capable of (doing, etc)
  are you up to playing in the final?
4. aware of
  up to a person's tricks
5. as far as
  up to his waist in mud
6. as many as
  up to two years' waiting time
7. comparable with
  not up to your normal standard
informal, in the head or mind
slang, a vulgar expression of contempt or refusal
informal
1. what is the matter?
2. 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
1. trustworthy or honest
2. 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

up-

prefix

up, upper, or upwards
uproot
upmost
upthrust
upgrade
uplift

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Usage

The use of up before until is redundant and should be avoided: the talks will continue until (not up until ) 23rd March

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Word History and Origins

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 up²

Middle English; Old English

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Word History and Origins

Origin of up¹

Old English upp; related to Old Saxon, Old Norse up, Old High German ūf, Gothic iup

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Idioms and Phrases

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,
1. back and forth; backward and forward.
  He paced up and down.
2. 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,
1. 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.
2. in full realization or attainment of.
  He worked up to president of the company.
3. as many as; to the limit of.
  The car will seat up to five persons.
4. having adequate powers or ability for; capable of; equal to.
  He didn't think I was up to the job.
5. the duty or responsibility of; incumbent upon.
  It's up to you to break the news to him.
6. 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.

More idioms and phrases containing up

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The panel said Monguia abused his authority in some cases — including in September 2023, when a woman voluntarily showed up for a bench warrant with her child.

From Los Angeles Times

"It's a good start to the group, but there are lots of points still to pick up," Clarke said.

From BBC

Like many Australians, Rach grew up "terrified of the sun" in a country that has the unenviable title of skin cancer capital of the world.

From BBC

"We are the party that stands up for decent working people, and we are the party on the rise."

From BBC

We talked to Slash about a week before Halloween Horror Nights opened from Orlando, Fla., where he was holed up recording an album with his band the Conspirators.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

U. of S. Afr.up a creek

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