up

1 of 6

adverb

ˈəp 

1

a(1)

: in or into a higher position or level

especially : away from the center of the earth

(2)

: from beneath the ground or water to the surface

(3)

: from below the horizon

(4)

: upstream sense 1

(5)

: in or into an upright position

sit up

especially : out of bed

b

: upward from the ground or surface

pull up a daisy

c

: so as to expose a particular surface

2

: with greater intensity

speak up

3

a

: in or into a better or more advanced state

b

: at an end

your time is up

c

: in or into a state of greater intensity or excitement

d

: to or at a greater speed, rate, or amount

prices went up

e

: in a continual sequence : in continuance from a point or to a point

from third grade up

at prices of $10 and up

up until now

4

a(1)

: into existence, evidence, prominence, or prevalence

(2)

: into operation or practical form

b

: into consideration or attention

bring up for discussion

5

: into possession or custody

6

a

: entirely, completely

button up your coat

b

—used as an intensifier

clean up the house

7

: in or into storage : by

lay up supplies

8

a

: so as to arrive or approach

b

: in a direction conventionally the opposite of down:

(1)

: to windward

(2)

: northward

(3)

: to or at the top

(4)

: to or at the rear of a theatrical stage

9

: in or into parts

10

: to a stop

—usually used with draw, bring, fetch, or pull

11

: for each side

the score is 15 up

up

2 of 6

adjective

1

a

: risen above the horizon

the sun is up

b

: standing

c

: being out of bed

d

: relatively high

the river is up

was well up in her class

e

: being in a raised position : lifted

windows are up

f

: being in a state of completion : constructed, built

g

: having the face upward

h

: mounted on a horse

a new jockey up

i

: grown above a surface

the corn is up

j(1)

: moving, inclining, or directed upward

the up escalator

(2)

: bound in a direction regarded as up

2

a(1)

: marked by agitation, excitement, or activity

(2)

: positive or upbeat in mood or demeanor

b

: being above a former or normal level (as of quantity or intensity)

attendance is up

the wind is up

c

: exerting enough power (as for operation)

sail when steam is up

d

: ready

specifically : highly prepared

e

: going on : taking place

find out what is up

3

a

: risen from a lower position

men up from the ranks

b

: being at the same level or point

did not feel up to par

c(1)

: well informed : abreast

up on the news

(2)

: being on schedule

up on his homework

d

: being ahead of one's opponent

4

a

: presented for or undergoing consideration

contract up for negotiation

also : charged before a court

up for robbery

b

: being the one whose turn it is

you're up next

up

3 of 6

preposition

1

a

—used as a function word to indicate motion to or toward or situation at a higher point of

went up the stairs

b

: up into or in the

was hid away up garret

—Mark Twain

2

a

: in a direction regarded as being toward or near the upper end or part of

lives a few miles up the coast

walked up the street

b

: toward or near a point closer to the source or beginning of

sail up the river

3

: in the direction opposite to

sailed up the wind

up

4 of 6

noun

1

: one in a high or advantageous position

2

: an upward slope

3

: a period or state of prosperity or success

4

: upper entry 3

5

: a fundamental quark that has an electric charge of +2/3 and that is one of the constituents of a nucleon

up

5 of 6

verb

upped ˈəpt  or in intransitive verb sense 2 up; upped; upping; ups or in intransitive verb sense 2 up

intransitive verb

1

a

: to rise from a lying or sitting position

b

: to move upward : ascend

2

—used with and and another verb to indicate that the action of the following verb was either surprisingly or abruptly initiated

he up and quit his job

transitive verb

1

: raise, lift

2

a

: to advance to a higher level:

(1)

: increase

(2)

: promote sense 1a

b

: raise sense 8d

UP

6 of 6

abbreviation

Upper Peninsula (of Michigan)

Phrases

up against

: confronted with : face-to-face with

the problem we are up against

up to

1

: capable of performing or dealing with

feels up to the task

2

: engaged in

what is he up to

3

: being the responsibility of

it's up to me

Synonyms

Adjective

• elevated
• escalated
• heightened
• high
• increased
• jacked (up)
• raised

Verb

• accelerate
• add (to)
• aggrandize
• amplify
• augment
• boost
• build up
• compound
• enlarge
• escalate
• expand
• extend
• hype
• increase
• multiply
• pump up
• raise
• stoke
• supersize
• swell

Examples of up in a Sentence

Adverb

The land rises up from the valley.

She stood beneath the window and called up to her friend.

Please pick your clothes up off the floor.

We watched the sun come up.

He held up his hand.

We stored the boxes up in the attic.

She stuck a notice up on the wall.

What's going on up there?

He looked up at the stars.

The cards were on the table facing up.

Adjective

The candy is up on the top shelf.

The window is already up.

Your package is up at the front desk.

We were up near the stage.

Are the kids up yet?

We are up every morning at six.

I was up all night studying for the test.

Gas prices are up again.

Preposition

He climbed up the ladder.

She had to walk her bike up the hill.

The bathroom is up the stairs.

Go up the street and turn left.

We walked up the street to meet them.

They live just up the block from us.

I paddled the canoe up the river.

The ship sailed up the coast.

Her office is all the way up the hall on the right.

He paced up and down the hall, waiting for news about his wife's operation.

Verb

climbing fuel prices have forced the delivery company to up its prices

the road constantly ups and downs as it makes its way over the hills

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

Marriott expects India to become its third-largest market after the U.S. and China within the next few years, up from fifth place currently. —Ardian Wibisono, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025

What is the median sales price of a single-family house? Miami-Dade County: $680,000 in April, up from $654,000 a year ago. —Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 23 May 2025

Adjective

The up arrows first turned down in February when Trump and his administration rolled out tariff plans for Mexico and Canada. —Jim Sergent, USA Today, 1 May 2025

Critics of the plus up question the need to throw more money at a defense industrial base that is currently maxed out, especially as benefits for veterans and military families could be subject to reductions. —William Hartung, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025

Preposition

That put the Oilers up 2-0 at 14:38 of the first period, 36 seconds after their opening goal. —Daniel Nugent-Bowman, New York Times, 26 May 2025

When the episode finally catches us up with Kevin (Paddy Considine), the troubled Harrigan son is sitting outside the nursing home having another flashback of Rusby (Nigel Lindsay) raping him. —Matt Cabral, EW.com, 26 May 2025

Verb

After qualifying last year for the first time since 2016 — albeit with the contest’s most boring song — the Baltic nation has considerably upped their game with a Björk-adjacent blend of traditional folk, tribal percussion, and ethereal native chants. —Jon O'Brien, Vulture, 13 May 2025

The expansion creates a $100 million pool earmarked solely for independent projects and ups the payout for production companies that frequently film in the state. —Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 9 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

partly from Middle English up upward, from Old English ūp; partly from Middle English uppe on high, from Old English; both akin to Old High German ūf up and probably to Latin sub under, Greek hypo under, hyper over — more at over

First Known Use

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Preposition

1509, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1536, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1643, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Rhymes for up

• cup
• pup
• sup
• yup
• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup

Kids Definition

up

1 of 5 adverb

ˈəp 

1

a

: in or to a higher position or level

especially : away from the center of the earth

held up my hand

b

: from beneath a surface (as ground or water)

pulling up weeds

c

: from below the horizon

watched the moon come up

d

: in or into an upright position

stand up

e

: out of bed

stayed up late

2

: with greater force

speak up

3

a

: in or into a better or more advanced state

worked our way up in the world

b

: at an end

our time was up

c

: in or into a state of greater activity

stir up a fire

d

: to or at a greater rate, speed, or amount

prices went up

4

a

: into existence, evidence, or knowledge

the missing ring turned up

b

: into consideration

brought the matter up

5

: into possession or control

gave himself up

6

: entirely, completely

eat it up

the house burned up

7

: in or into storage

lay up supplies

put our boat up for the winter

8

: so as to arrive or approach

came up the drive

9

: in or into parts

tear up paper

10

: to a stop

pull up

drew up at the curb

11

: for each side

score was 15 up

up

2 of 5 adjective

1

a

: risen above the horizon or ground

the sun was up

b

: being out of bed

c

: higher than usual

the river is up

prices are up

d

: raised so as to be open : lifted

windows are up

e

: put together : built

the house is up

f

: grown above a surface

the corn is up

g

: moving or going upward

the up escalator

2

a

: being on one's feet and busy

was eager to be up and doing

b

: well prepared

the team was up for the game

c

: going on : taking place

find out what is up

3

: well informed

always up on the news

4

: being ahead of an opponent

was three games up in the series

5

a

: presented for or under consideration

up for reelection

b

: charged before a court

was up for robbery

c

: being the one whose turn it is

you're up next

up

3 of 5 preposition

(ˌ)əp,

ˈəp

1

: to, toward, or at a higher point of

up the hill

2

a

: toward the beginning of

going up the river

b

: toward the northern or upper end or part of

sailed up the coast

3

: along the course of

walking up the street

up

4 of 5 noun

ˈəp

1

: an upward course or slope

2

: a period or state of success

had had my ups and downs

up

5 of 5 verb

upped or in sense 1 up; upped; upping; ups or in sense 1 up

1

: to act suddenly or surprisingly

up and left town

2

: to rise from a lying or sitting position

3

: to move or cause to move upward : ascend, raise

upped the prices

Medical Definition

UP

abbreviation

urticaria pigmentosa