1 up
Pronounced:
/ˈʌp/
Function:
adverbMeaning:
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.
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.
up and down
1 : forward and backward several or many times : repeatedly in one direction and then the opposite direction ▪ He paced up and down in the waiting room.
2 : from a lower position to a higher position several times ▪ The children were jumping up and down. ▪ Her father looked me up and down [=looked at me carefully to decide what he thought of me] before inviting me in.
2 : from a lower position to a higher position several times ▪ The children were jumping up and down. ▪ Her father looked me up and down [=looked at me carefully to decide what he thought of me] before inviting me in.
up close —see 3close