1 a : from a lower to a higher place or position
▪ The land rises up from the valley. ▪ Pull up your pants/socks. = Pull your pants/socks up. ▪ I'll come up [=upstairs] in a minute. ▪ 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.
b : in a high position or place
▪ Keep your head 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? 2 : toward the sky or ceiling
▪ He looked up at the stars. ▪ The cards were on the table facing up. 3 : from beneath the ground or water to the surface
▪ The dolphin came up for air. ▪ She was in the garden pulling up weeds. 4 a : to or toward the north
▪ She flew up from Florida. ▪ They drove up to Canada. ▪ The weather is much colder up north.
b informal : to or toward a place that is thought of as above or away from another place
▪ She went up to the cabin for the weekend. ▪ How long will it take to drive up (to their house) and back? ▪ Come on up and see us sometime.
c chiefly Brit : to or at a more important place (such as a large city or university)
▪ He went up to London. ▪ Their daughter is up at Oxford. 5 a : to or toward a place that is close to someone or something
▪ I walked up to her and said “hello.” ▪ Please pull up a chair. ▪ He lay down and pulled the covers up.
b : to or toward a more forward position
▪ We moved up to the front of the line. ▪ I'll bring these up to the checkout for you. 6 : in or into a vertical or upright position
▪ Please stand up for the national anthem. ▪ Sit up. Don't slouch. ▪ He helped the man up (from his seat). ▪ She turned the box up on its end. 7 : out of bed
▪ What time did you get up this morning? ▪ I stayed up late last night. [=I went to sleep late last night] 8 a : with greater force
▪ Please speak up. I can't hear you.
b : at a higher or greater important position in a list or series
▪ Supporting public education doesn't seem to be very high/far up on the government's agenda. ▪ Spending time with family ranks pretty high up on my list. [=I think it is important to spend time with family] — opposite down
c : to a higher or greater level, amount, or rate
▪ Could you turn the volume/heat up, please? ▪ It takes this car a long time to warm up. ▪ The price of oil went up. ▪ They ran up a big bill. ▪ The car sped up and then slowed down. ▪ The author is good at building up suspense. ▪ The game is for children 12 years old and up. [=and older] ▪ Students will be tested from fifth grade up. — opposite down 9 : into a better or more advanced position or state
▪ She worked herself up in the company. ▪ He grew up on a farm. 10 : so as to appear or be present
▪ The missing ring turned up. [=the missing ring was found] ▪ They never showed up. ▪ Houses were going up quickly. 11 : in or into a working or usable state
▪ He set up his new computer. ▪ We should put the tents up first. 12 : to someone's attention especially for discussion or consideration
▪ He brought up the issue at the meeting. ▪ Her contract has come up for negotiation. 13 : so as to be done or completed
▪ He filled up the gas tank. ▪ She gathered up her belongings and left. ▪ I still have some work to finish up. ▪ She used up all the tape. ▪ They cleaned up the kitchen after supper. ▪ He summed up the results of the study. ▪ She added up all the numbers. 14 : so as to be closed
▪ He sealed up the package. ▪ She zipped up her son's jacket. 15 : into pieces or parts
▪ She tore/cut up the paper. ▪ Each group had a leader who divided up the work. 16 : into a state of activity or excitement
▪ She stirred up the fire/crowd. ▪ He worked himself up over nothing. 17 : to a stop
▪ He pulled the car up at the curb. 18 : for each player or team : apiece
▪ The score is two up.