01

at or toward a higher level or position

up definition and meaning
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She looked up and saw the bird perched above her.
He reached up and turned on the light.
1.1

toward the north or a place regarded as northward

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They're heading up to the cabin tomorrow.
He moved up to Canada last year.
1.2

upstairs or to a higher level inside a building

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I ran up to get my phone charger.
He's up in his room studying.
1.3

above the horizon or in the sky

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A new star showed up in the east.
Look, the clouds are lifting up.
1.4

(theater) in the direction of the back part of a theater stage

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She backed up toward the curtain.
He stepped up, signaling the end of the scene.
1.5

upward from a flat or lower area into the air or space above

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The flower sprang up from the soil.
Dust rose up as the car sped by.
1.6

(of food consumed) out of the stomach and through the mouth

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He threw up after the ride.
She brought up everything she'd eaten.
02

toward a higher intensity or level

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She turned the music up before dancing.
The crowd fired up as the game progressed.
2.1

to or at a higher level of cost or quantity

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Gas prices shot up overnight.
Her stock went up by 15 percent.
03

ahead in a competition, comparison, or quantitative measure

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Our team was two points up by halftime.
He finished the round five strokes up.
04

toward where someone is physically situated

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The dog ran up to greet her.
She crept up behind her friend with a laugh.
05

toward or being present in a primary city, especially a national capital

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He's gone up to Washington for the summit.
They travel up to London twice a year.
5.1

at or to a university, especially Oxford or Cambridge

Dialectbritish flagBritish
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She 's up at Oxford reading law.
They were both up at Cambridge in the ' 90s.
06

into a state of proper order, preparation, or readiness

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We set the lab up for the experiment.
They got the system up and running.
6.1

to the point of completion or conclusion

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I wrapped it up last night.
Let's eat up before the movie starts.
07

into a more cheerful, positive, or optimistic state

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That song always cheers me up.
She brightened up when she saw him.
7.1

into a state of emotional agitation or distress

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His harsh words wound her up.
The delay got everyone worked up.
08

into an upright, elevated, or raised position

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He stood up and gave a speech.
The flag shot up quickly after the victory.
8.1

from a recumbent or sleeping position to a standing or waking state

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She was already up when I arrived.
He never gets up before nine.
09

in a publicly visible position

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His name is up on the list.
The notice went up this morning.
10

(of sailing) in the direction against wind or current

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They sailed up into the wind to gain position.
The crew worked hard to keep the boat heading up.
10.1

with the helm turned leeward, turning the bow into the wind

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The helmsman pushed up to adjust course.
He called for the helm to go up quickly.
11

(baseball) at the plate and ready to bat

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He was up in the ninth inning.
Every time he's up, the crowd gets quiet.
12

into view, awareness, or existence

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The missing file finally turned up.
A clue showed up during the inspection.
12.1

forward for consideration or discussion

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The issue came up at the meeting.
He brought up a new proposal.
13

securely in place

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She buttoned her coat up against the wind.
He tied the sack up tightly.
14

into storage or reserved position

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They laid up supplies for winter.
She put the preserves up for the season.
15

to a halt, ending movement or operation

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He pulled up at the red light.
The car drew up beside us.
16

to or at an equal level in a competition or comparison

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The game is 15 up going into the final round.
They were two up after five holes.
17

into separate pieces or parts or broken apart

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She tore the letter up in frustration.
He chopped the wood up for kindling.
18

to or toward a more advanced stage of life or development

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He grew up in a small town.
They raised three children up to adulthood.
19

used to refer to drinks served without ice or dilution

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I'll have my whiskey up, please.
He ordered a martini up.
to up
01

to increase, typically in levels, efforts, or intensity

Transitive: to up sth
to up definition and meaning
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She decided to up her workout intensity.
The company is currently upping its production capacity.
02

to get up physically from a lower to a higher bodily position

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He upped from the bench and stretched.
She ups from the ground with effort.
2.1

to go or travel in an upward direction

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The balloon upped slowly into the sky.
Mist ups from the valley each morning.
03

to raise something physically to a higher position

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Everyone upped their glasses for a toast.
He ups the child onto his shoulders every time they go to the park.
04

to raise the current bet in a game of poker

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He casually upped the bet by twenty dollars.
They've already upped the stakes twice this round.
05

to act abruptly, especially to leave or make a change without warning

InformalInformal
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He upped and quit his job with no notice.
One morning, she just ups and disappears.
01

from a lower point to a higher point along a surface or structure

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She climbed up the ladder to fix the light.
He ran up the hill to catch the bus.
1.1

at or to a higher point on

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The cat slept up the tree.
Notes were posted up the bulletin board.
02

used to indicate movement along the length of something, often a street or path

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They walked up the street hand in hand.
She strolled up the avenue to meet her friend.
03

toward a more elevated rank or level

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She rose up the political ranks with determination.
His name is high up the list of nominees.
04

against the natural flow or current of wind or water

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The sailboat tacked up the wind skillfully.
They struggled to row up the current.
05

together with similar things in a collection or group

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She swept up the crumbs after dinner.
He gathered up his belongings in a hurry.
06

in the direction of the beginning or origin of something

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They traced the information up the supply chain.
Engineers tracked the flaw up the supply chain to the factory.
01

directed or going toward a higher position

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We took the up elevator to the top floor.
Use the up escalator on the left.
02

in a raised or higher than usual position

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All the windows are up to let in fresh air.
The blinds were up when we arrived.
03

no longer in effect; finished

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His contract is up in June.
The time is up; submit your answers.
04

being in proper operation, especially of computers

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The server is finally up again.
Is your system up and running?
05

being in a good or positive mood

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He's been really up lately.
The team was in an up mood after the win.
5.1

agitated, excited, or energetically active

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The town was up and ready to march.
His temper is up today.
06

(of a jockey) mounted and prepared to ride

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The jockey was already up before the signal.
He's up on the favorite today.
07

being out of bed, awake, and active

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She was up early to prepare for her big presentation.
I was up all night studying for the exam.
08

completed or built

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A new hospital is up near the highway.
The new bridge was up in only a month.
09

risen above the surface, especially of plants

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The corn is up already.
The tulips are up and blooming.
10

fully set or equipped for something, often with "for"

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We're up for anything today.
I'm not up for a long hike.
11

happening or taking place

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There's a big sale up at the mall this weekend.
What's up with the noise outside?
11.1

amiss or causing concern

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I knew something was up when she avoided my questions.
He knew right away that something was up.
11.2

ended with a disappointing or negative outcome

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The project timeline is up by three weeks.
Once they found the hidden documents, he knew his game was up.
12

aware or knowledgeable about something, often followed by "in" or "on"

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He's up on the latest news.
I'm not up on current trends.
13

caught up or in line with a schedule

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He's up on his homework.
I'm not up on my reports yet.
14

appearing in court or officially accused

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He's up for robbery next week.
She's up on fraud charges.
15

immediately following in sequence or turn

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You're up next.
I think I'm up after her.
16

showing positive results, advantage, or financial gain

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Profits are up this quarter.
The market's still up.
17

having a superior or elevated social or professional position

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He's really up in the company now.
She's quite up in academic circles.
01

a time or state marked by good fortune, success, or a positive mood

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Life is full of ups and downs.
After a rough month, she's finally experiencing some ups.
02

a person who holds a high or advantageous position

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The ups in the company decided to restructure the team.
You'll need approval from the ups before making changes.
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The runners struggled on the final up before the finish line.
We hiked the steep up just before sunset.
04

a vehicle or route traveling toward a central point, terminus, or major destination

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We boarded the up to London just after noon.
The up was delayed due to track work.
01

used to urge rising or beginning action

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Up!
Up!
01

added to verbs to show upward movement or direction

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The wind uprooted several trees during the storm.
He upended the box to check if anything was left inside.
02

Added to verbs to show a shift to a newer, improved, or more current state

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She needs to update her software before installing the app.
He plans to upgrade his phone next week.
03

added to nouns to show movement in an upward or inland direction

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The boat drifted upriver as the tide changed.
We hiked uphill until we reached the summit.
04

added to nouns to show increased intensity, speed, or level

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The band played an up-tempo version of the song.
He prefers upbeat music to lift his mood.
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