2 up
Function:
adjectiveMeaning:
1 not used before a noun a : in a high place or position ▪ The candy is up on the top shelf. b : raised so as to be opened ▪ The window is already up. c : risen above the horizon ▪ The sun is up. d : risen from beneath the ground or water to the surface ▪ The tulips are up. e : in a forward place or position ▪ Your package is up at the front desk. ▪ We were up near the stage.
2 not used before a noun a : out of bed ▪ Are the kids up yet? ▪ We are up every morning at six. b : awake ▪ I was up all night studying for the test. —see also up and about (below)
3 not used before a noun : higher than usual ▪ Gas prices are up again. ▪ The river is up. ▪ Attendance has been up. ▪ The interest rate is up (by) three percent. ▪ Profits are up on last year. [=profits are higher than they were last year]
4 always used before a noun : moving or going to a higher level ▪ the up escalator
5 not used before a noun informal : happening : going on ▪ I could tell something was up by the look on her face. ▪ Your order should have arrived. Let me find out what's up. ▪ “Can I talk to you for a minute?” “Sure. What's up?” [=what do you want to talk to me about?] ▪ (US) “Hi, Jim. What's up?” [=what's new?] “Not much.” —often + with ▪ Something's up with her. She looks upset. ▪ Let me find out what's up with your order. ▪ What's up with you? Why are you so grumpy? ▪ “Did you hear that he quit his job?” “Yeah. What's up with that?” [=why did he quit his job?]
6 not used before a noun : having more points than an opponent : ahead of an opponent ▪ The team was 10 points up [=it had a lead of 10 points] in the third quarter. ▪ The team was up (by) two runs.
7 not used before a noun : operating or functioning ▪ The system/network is up again. = The system/network is up and running again.
8 not used before a noun : beginning your turn in an activity ▪ Get ready. You're up next.
9 not used before a noun of time : at an end ▪ Put your pencils down. Time is up. [=the time during which you are allowed to work on the test has ended] ▪ His term as president is nearly up. [=has nearly ended]
10 not used before a noun [more up; most up] : happy or excited ▪ She was feeling down, but now she's up again.
11 informal : having a lot of knowledge about something ▪ She's always up on the latest fashions.
12 chiefly Brit of a road : having the surface broken because repairs are being done ▪ They've had the road up for weeks.
2 not used before a noun a : out of bed ▪ Are the kids up yet? ▪ We are up every morning at six. b : awake ▪ I was up all night studying for the test. —see also up and about (below)
3 not used before a noun : higher than usual ▪ Gas prices are up again. ▪ The river is up. ▪ Attendance has been up. ▪ The interest rate is up (by) three percent. ▪ Profits are up on last year. [=profits are higher than they were last year]
4 always used before a noun : moving or going to a higher level ▪ the up escalator
5 not used before a noun informal : happening : going on ▪ I could tell something was up by the look on her face. ▪ Your order should have arrived. Let me find out what's up. ▪ “Can I talk to you for a minute?” “Sure. What's up?” [=what do you want to talk to me about?] ▪ (US) “Hi, Jim. What's up?” [=what's new?] “Not much.” —often + with ▪ Something's up with her. She looks upset. ▪ Let me find out what's up with your order. ▪ What's up with you? Why are you so grumpy? ▪ “Did you hear that he quit his job?” “Yeah. What's up with that?” [=why did he quit his job?]
6 not used before a noun : having more points than an opponent : ahead of an opponent ▪ The team was 10 points up [=it had a lead of 10 points] in the third quarter. ▪ The team was up (by) two runs.
7 not used before a noun : operating or functioning ▪ The system/network is up again. = The system/network is up and running again.
8 not used before a noun : beginning your turn in an activity ▪ Get ready. You're up next.
9 not used before a noun of time : at an end ▪ Put your pencils down. Time is up. [=the time during which you are allowed to work on the test has ended] ▪ His term as president is nearly up. [=has nearly ended]
10 not used before a noun [more up; most up] : happy or excited ▪ She was feeling down, but now she's up again.
11 informal : having a lot of knowledge about something ▪ She's always up on the latest fashions.
12 chiefly Brit of a road : having the surface broken because repairs are being done ▪ They've had the road up for weeks.
up against
1 : placed so as to be touching (something) ▪ The bed was up against the wall. —see also up against a/the wall at 1wall
2 : confronted with ▪ The problem we are up against [=the problem that we have to deal with] is a difficult one.
2 : confronted with ▪ The problem we are up against [=the problem that we have to deal with] is a difficult one.
up against it
informal : in a difficult situation ▪ With hardly any money or time left, we are really up against it!
up and about or chiefly US up and around
: out of bed and doing things ▪ She recently had surgery, but now she's up and about again. ▪ I didn't expect you to be up and around this early.
up and down
informal : sometimes good and sometimes bad ▪ Her relationship with him is up and down. ▪ They have an up and down relationship.
up for
1 informal : wanting to have or do (something) ▪ I'm up for some Chinese food. ▪ Are you up for watching a movie? ▪ We're going out dancing tonight. Are you up for it? [=are you interested in joining us?]
2 a —used to say that someone or something is or will be involved in a particular process and especially one that leads to a decision ▪ His proposal is up for consideration. [=is being considered] ▪ The budget is up for discussion in today's meeting. ▪ She is up for reelection next year. [=she will be trying to get reelected next year] ▪ He'll be up for parole in two more years. b —used to say that something is available to be bought ▪ Our house is up for sale. [=our house is being sold] ▪ items that are up for auction
3 : appearing in a court of law because of being accused of (a crime) ▪ He was up for armed robbery.
2 a —used to say that someone or something is or will be involved in a particular process and especially one that leads to a decision ▪ His proposal is up for consideration. [=is being considered] ▪ The budget is up for discussion in today's meeting. ▪ She is up for reelection next year. [=she will be trying to get reelected next year] ▪ He'll be up for parole in two more years. b —used to say that something is available to be bought ▪ Our house is up for sale. [=our house is being sold] ▪ items that are up for auction
3 : appearing in a court of law because of being accused of (a crime) ▪ He was up for armed robbery.
up to
1 a : capable of performing or dealing with (something) ▪ She feels she is up to her role in the play. ▪ She feels up to the challenge. ▪ The patient is now up to seeing visitors. [=is now healthy enough to see visitors] b : good enough for (something) ▪ Her performance wasn't up to her usual standards. [=wasn't as good as it usually is] ▪ The hotel wasn't up to our expectations. [=wasn't as good as we expected it to be] ▪ (Brit) My Spanish isn't up to much. [=my Spanish is not very good]
2 : doing something especially in a way that is secret and with intentions that are bad ▪ What are they up to? ▪ I know they're up to something, but I don't know what. ▪ I'm sure he is up to no good.
3 —used to say who is responsible for making a choice or decision ▪ “Do you want Chinese food tonight or Italian?” “It doesn't matter to me, so it's up to you.” ▪ The amount of your donation is entirely up to you. ▪ It is up to you to decide.
4 a —used to indicate the place or level that is reached by something ▪ The water was up to our knees. = We were in water up to our knees. b : to or at (a specified amount, level, etc.) ▪ Estimates for repairing the car ran from $500 up to $1,000. ▪ The lottery is up to five million dollars. c : as many or as much as (a specified number or amount) ▪ Up to eight people can play the game. ▪ The car holds up to six people. ▪ The ship can carry up to 10 tons.
5 : during the time or period before ▪ Up to this point, we have been discussing our long-term goals. ▪ Up to [=until] that time they had been fairly successful.
2 : doing something especially in a way that is secret and with intentions that are bad ▪ What are they up to? ▪ I know they're up to something, but I don't know what. ▪ I'm sure he is up to no good.
3 —used to say who is responsible for making a choice or decision ▪ “Do you want Chinese food tonight or Italian?” “It doesn't matter to me, so it's up to you.” ▪ The amount of your donation is entirely up to you. ▪ It is up to you to decide.
4 a —used to indicate the place or level that is reached by something ▪ The water was up to our knees. = We were in water up to our knees. b : to or at (a specified amount, level, etc.) ▪ Estimates for repairing the car ran from $500 up to $1,000. ▪ The lottery is up to five million dollars. c : as many or as much as (a specified number or amount) ▪ Up to eight people can play the game. ▪ The car holds up to six people. ▪ The ship can carry up to 10 tons.
5 : during the time or period before ▪ Up to this point, we have been discussing our long-term goals. ▪ Up to [=until] that time they had been fairly successful.
up to here
informal —used to show that you have too much of something to deal with or that you are very annoyed by something and will not accept any more of it ▪ I have work up to here to do. [=I have a lot of work to do] ▪ I've had it up to here with your nonsense! [=I am sick of your nonsense]
up to par —see par
up to snuff —see 2snuff
up to speed —see 1speed
up to your ears —see 1ear
up to your eyeballs —see 1eyeball