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up

SayUPUK/ʌp//ɐp/

Verbups, upping, upped

61 meanings of up

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  1. 1
    higher placeadverb
    To or at a higher place, or nearer the top of something like a page or a list.

    Move your name up to the top of the list.

    The red balloon floated up until we could not see it.

    UsageSay up on the roof or up in the tree.

    Similarupward

    Oppositedown

    Note
  2. 2
    adverbfiguratively
    To a higher level, amount or sound.

    Gold has gone up again.

    Turn it up, I can barely hear.

    UsageSay prices go up.

    Similarhigher, upward

    Oppositedown, lower

    Note
  3. 3
    thoroughlyadverbemphaticintensifier
    Completely, or all the way to the end.

    Please eat up your vegetables before you leave the table.

    She used up all the hot water before I got in the shower.

    UsageSay eat up your dinner or eat your dinner up, but eat it up (not incorrect: eat up it).

    Note
  4. 4
    adverb
    Into your hands or your attention.

    She picked up the phone on the first ring.

    I want to bring up a problem at the next team meeting.

  5. 5
    preposition
    Toward the top of something, as when climbing it.

    We rode our bikes up the hill to the old church.

    They walked up the steps.

    UsageSay up the stairs.

    Oppositedown

    Note
  6. 6
    uprightadverb
    Into a standing or sitting position.

    Stand up when the judge comes in.

    Sit up straight.

    UsageSay sit up or stand up.

    Similarupright

    Oppositedown

    Note
  7. 7
    awakeadjective
    Awake and out of bed, especially very late or very early.

    It's three in the morning and you're still up.

    I've been up since five.

    UsageSay stay up late.

    Similarawake

    Oppositeasleep

  8. 8
    raise (amount)verbcolloquialtransitive
    To make something higher or bigger.

    If we up the volume, we might hear him.

    The gym has upped its monthly fee by ten dollars.

    UsageUp your game means do better.

    Similarraise, increase, boost, hike, lift

    Oppositelower, reduce, decrease, cut

  9. 9
    adverb
    Level with someone or something, or as far as it, and not behind (often used before to or with).

    The little boy ran to keep up with his big sister.

    The snow was up to our knees.

  10. 10
    adjective
    Higher than before or than usual, as in 'prices are up' or 'the river is up'.

    The river is up after three days of heavy rain.

    Gas prices are up again, so we're taking the bus to work.

    Similarhigher

    Oppositedown, lower

    Note
  11. 11
    preposition
    Further along a road or path, in any direction.

    There's a gas station about a mile up the highway.

    The shop is just up the road.

    Similaralong

    Note
  12. 12
    adverb
    Into pieces or parts, used after words like cut, tear, break or chop.

    Cut the apple up so the baby can eat it.

    He tore up the letter and threw the pieces away.

    UsageSay cut it up (not incorrect: cut up it).

    Note
  13. 13
    adjective
    Knowing the latest about something, usually with 'on'.

    My grandma is surprisingly up on all the latest phone apps.

    Are you up on what happened at the meeting?

    UsageSay up on the news.

    Similarinformed, knowledgeable, abreast, conversant

    Oppositeignorant, uninformed

  14. 14
    adverb
    Put away, aside, or into storage, so it is no longer used.

    The fishing boats stay laid up until spring.

    The boat was laid up for the winter.

    Similaraway, aside

  15. 15
    adverb
    Toward or at a main place, or any place people call up, even if it is not higher.

    I'm going up to the city to see a show.

    She lives up at the end of our street.

    Oppositedown

    Note
  16. 16
    adverb
    To or toward the north.

    Every summer we drive up from Florida to visit family in Maine.

    My cousins moved up north last year.

    UsageNorth is up, south is down: go up to Scotland.

    Similarnorth

    Oppositedown, south

    Note

More uses

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Origin

"Up" comes from Old English "upp" (up). It goes back to older Germanic words with the same meaning.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts