1
as in increases
to make greater in size, amount, or number
climbing fuel prices have forced the delivery company to up its prices
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in lifts
to move from a lower to a higher place or position
upped the catboat's sail
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in rises
to move or extend upward
the road constantly ups and downs as it makes its way over the hills
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ups
Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
Megaphone in hand, Cardi B ups the volume at an Am I the Drama?
—Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
But this year’s Series 11 likely won’t be a dramatic update, with Apple retaining the same look, including a new screen that ups the maximum brightness and shuffling its color (the Jet Black Series 10, for instance, has had chipping issues) and band offerings.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 5 Sep. 2025
This is especially true of the dazzling Mulliner variant, which ups the glamour with bespoke details and loads of premium materials.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 4 Sep. 2025
No matter what the species, Shivji said that if people were spearfishing, leading to blood in the water, that ups the odds that sharks would be more prone to attack.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2025
As long as all passengers are securely buckled, that dramatically ups the odds of survival in a rollover crash.
—Diana Hubbell, Popular Science, 21 Aug. 2025
Instead of a two-way switch, the sequel ups the chaos with a four-way body swap.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Jim’s reaction when Christy does finally summon the courage to leave is a shocking jolt of violence that ups the intensity and will undoubtedly be the movie’s most talked-about moment.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Noun
But the change also ups the pressure on Meta to prevent personal or difficult conversations with the AI — for example, about a relationship, given how many people now use chatbots like therapists — from prompting potentially harmful content recommendations.
—Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
Megaphone in hand, Cardi B ups the volume at an Am I the Drama?
—Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
But this year’s Series 11 likely won’t be a dramatic update, with Apple retaining the same look, including a new screen that ups the maximum brightness and shuffling its color (the Jet Black Series 10, for instance, has had chipping issues) and band offerings.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 5 Sep. 2025
This is especially true of the dazzling Mulliner variant, which ups the glamour with bespoke details and loads of premium materials.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 4 Sep. 2025
No matter what the species, Shivji said that if people were spearfishing, leading to blood in the water, that ups the odds that sharks would be more prone to attack.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2025
As long as all passengers are securely buckled, that dramatically ups the odds of survival in a rollover crash.
—Diana Hubbell, Popular Science, 21 Aug. 2025
Instead of a two-way switch, the sequel ups the chaos with a four-way body swap.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Jim’s reaction when Christy does finally summon the courage to leave is a shocking jolt of violence that ups the intensity and will undoubtedly be the movie’s most talked-about moment.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ups
Verb
-
The uptick in confrontations comes as the administration increases its efforts to deport millions of undocumented migrants, an approach critics say has led to aggressive enforcement tactics, due process violations and the mistreatment of migrants.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Denton's study increases the possible window of Herschel's formation from one million years to ten million.—
Nola Taylor Tillman,
Space.com,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The fragrance opens with this bright, fizzy combination of raspberry, orange flower, and mandarin that immediately lifts your mood.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
10 Oct. 2025
-
But unpaid bills can stack up and leave residents in deep trouble by the time the moratorium lifts, Rodriguez said.—
Francesca Pica,
jsonline.com,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
When only subsidized units are considered, the share rises to 90%.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Smoke rises from southern Gaza following Israeli airstrikes, in Deir al-Balah today.—
Yamiche Alcindor,
NBC news,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Wingtech is already on a US blacklist amid broader pressure aimed at curbing Beijing’s tech advances.—
J.D. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
13 Oct. 2025
-
But encouraging advances in research and development have been realized in California pilot projects off the coast of San Diego — in conjunction with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography — and more recently at the Port of Los Angeles.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
That fall application boosts new growth in the spring that’s greener and thicker, which helps choke out any weeds trying to emerge.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Meta reinstated a three‑day requirement in September 2023 with enforcement up to performance hits or termination for noncompliance, citing internal data that in‑person work boosts engineering outcomes and keeping exceptions for originally remote hires.—
Nino Paoli,
Fortune,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
While other people were asking about promotions, titles, and raises, Burns was taking on the problems nobody else wanted to solve.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Keeping Pandora’s Box closed raises the prize pot.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The country’s stocks have seen a strong rally as confidence climbs in its chip progression and AI development.—
Jaures Yip,
CNBC,
8 Oct. 2025
-
The state park also has more than 2,000 miles of hiking trails that cater to every skill level, from nature strolls to strenuous summit climbs up the Adirondack High Peaks.—
Sarah Buder,
AFAR Media,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Along the way, Juano offered bits of mountaineering history and recounted legendary first ascents of the jagged peaks surrounding us.—
Scott Yorko,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Pursuits in the Peaks The Smith brothers operated a local mountaineering school in their teens and twenties, taking neighbors and interested kids on ascents of the 14ers.—
Outside,
Outside,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ups.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ups. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share