Up

/[ʊp]/ adj, adv, name, noun, prep, verb, slang

adj, adv, name, noun, prep, verb, slang ·Top 500 ·Elementary level

Meaning at a glance

  • Primary sense: The direction opposed to the pull of gravity.
  • Grammar: up is listed as adj, adv, name, noun, prep, verb, slang.
  • Nearest alternatives: above, abovestairs, abreast, access.
  • Useful contrasts: below, down, downward.
  • Usage evidence: I may give up soon and just nap instead.

How to use "up"

  1. Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
  2. Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "up" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
  3. Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.

Meaning check

  • Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
  • Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
  • Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
  • Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?

Source and review context

This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "up" in a final draft.

If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.

Before you rely on this definition

Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "up" as the right word for your sentence.

If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "up" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.

Compare nearby meanings

  • Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
  • Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
  • Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
  • Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.

Definition decision workflow

1. Identify the role

Check whether "up" is acting as adj, adv, name, noun, prep, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.

2. Test the nearest option

Compare it with "above" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.

3. Confirm with context

Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.

Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.

Final meaning check

Before publishing a sentence with "up", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.

When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The direction opposed to the pull of gravity. uncountable

    "Up is a good way to go."

  2. 2
    Initialism of unqualified prospect. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
  3. 3
    A positive thing, or a time or situation when things are going well. countable

    "I hate almost everything about my job. The only up is that it's so close to home."

  4. 4
    Initialism of university press. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism

    "Oxford UP; Princeton UP"

  5. 5
    An up quark. countable, particle, uncountable
Show 1 more definition
  1. 6
    An upstairs room of a two story house. countable, uncountable

    "She lives in a two-up two-down."

Verb
  1. 1
    To physically raise or lift. in-certain-phrases, poetic, transitive

    "We upped anchor and sailed away."

  2. 2
    raise wordnet
  3. 3
    To increase the level or amount of. colloquial, transitive

    "If we up the volume, we may be able to hear what he says."

  4. 4
    To promote. colloquial, transitive

    "It wasn’t long before they upped him to Vice President."

  5. 5
    To rise to a standing position; hence, by extension, to act suddenly; see also up and. in-compounds, intransitive, often

    "She was sitting there quietly, then all of a sudden she upped and left."

Show 2 more definitions
  1. 6
    To ascend; to climb up. archaic, intransitive, poetic

    ""Will ye up, lass, and ride behind me?"."

  2. 7
    To upload. slang, transitive

    "100 new apps and games have just been upped."

Adjective
  1. 1
    Facing upwards. not-comparable

    "Turn the cloth over so that the patterned side is up."

  2. 2
    On or at a physically higher level. not-comparable

    "The flood waters are up again across large areas of the country."

  3. 3
    Headed or designated to go upward (as an escalator, stairway, elevator etc.) or toward (as a run-up). not-comparable

    "Where is the up escalator?"

  4. 4
    Fitted or fixed at a high or relatively high position, especially on a wall or ceiling. not-comparable

    "All the notices are up now."

  5. 5
    Available to view or use; made public; posted. broadly, not-comparable

    "Is your new video up yet? I looked on the website, but I couldn't find it."

Show 24 more definitions
  1. 6
    Aloft. not-comparable

    "The kite is up!"

  2. 7
    Raised; lifted. not-comparable

    "The castle drawbridge was up."

  3. 8
    Built, constructed. not-comparable

    "Are the new buildings up yet?"

  4. 9
    Standing; upright. not-comparable

    "The audience were up and on their feet."

  5. 10
    Risen up, rebelling, in revolt. not-comparable, obsolete

    "The fearefull newes that whilſt the flame doth but begin, Sad pollicie may ſerue to quench the fire: The Commons nowe are vp in Kent, let vs not ſuffer this firſt attempt too farre."

  6. 11
    Awake and out of bed. not-comparable

    "So if you find yourself regularly up late at night, basking in the TV's glow, you might be doing more than just depriving yourself of sleep."

  7. 12
    Riding the horse; mounted. not-comparable
  8. 13
    Above the horizon, in the sky. not-comparable

    "It'll get warmer once the sun's up."

  9. 14
    Larger; greater in quantity, volume, value etc. not-comparable

    "Sales are up compared to last quarter."

  10. 15
    Indicating a larger or higher quantity. not-comparable

    "The barometer is up, so fine weather should be on the way."

  11. 16
    Ahead; leading; winning. not-comparable

    "The home team were up by two goals at half-time."

  12. 17
    Finished, to an end not-comparable, predicative

    "Time is up!"

  13. 18
    In a good mood. not-comparable

    "I’m feeling up today."

  14. 19
    Willing; ready. not-comparable

    "If you are up for a trip, let’s go."

  15. 20
    Next in a sequence. not-comparable

    "Smith is up to bat."

  16. 21
    Happening; new; of concern. See also what's up, what's up with. not-comparable, predicative

    "What's up, bro?"

  17. 22
    Said of the higher-ranking pair in a two pair. not-comparable, postpositional

    "AAKK = aces up"

  18. 23
    Well-informed; current. not-comparable

    "I’m not up on the latest news. What’s going on?"

  19. 24
    Functional; working. not-comparable

    "Is the server back up?"

  20. 25
    Traveling towards a major terminus. not-comparable

    "The London train is on the up line."

  21. 26
    Chilled and served without ice. US, not-comparable

    "Would you like that drink up or on ice?"

  22. 27
    Erect. not-comparable, slang
  23. 28
    At university (especially Oxford or Cambridge). UK, dated, not-comparable

    "When I was up (1965–68) I had a group of idle friends who occupied their time and mine betting on horses, getting drunk and sprawling about telling creepy tales."

  24. 29
    well-known; renowned not-comparable, slang

    "Being "up" means having numerous graffiti in the tagging landscape."

Adjective
  1. 1
    out of bed wordnet
  2. 2
    used up wordnet
  3. 3
    (used of computers) operating properly wordnet
  4. 4
    open wordnet
  5. 5
    (usually followed by ‘on’ or ‘for’) in readiness wordnet
Show 3 more definitions
  1. 6
    extending or moving toward a higher place wordnet
  2. 7
    getting higher or more vigorous wordnet
  3. 8
    being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level wordnet
Adverb
  1. 1
    Indicating movement towards or location at a higher place or position.; Away from the surface of the Earth or other planet; in opposite direction to the downward pull of gravity. not-comparable

    "I looked up and saw the airplane overhead."

  2. 2
    Indicating movement towards or location at a higher place or position.; To or at a physically higher or more elevated position. not-comparable

    "All day we climbed up and up."

  3. 3
    Indicating movement towards or location at a higher place or position.; To an upright or erect position. not-comparable

    "sit up; stand up; get up out of bed"

  4. 4
    Indicating movement towards or location at a higher place or position.; To a higher level of some quantity or notional quantity, such as price, volume, pitch, happiness, etc. figuratively, not-comparable

    "Gold has gone up with the uncertainty in the world markets."

  5. 5
    Indicating movement in any other direction visualised as "up".; To or towards what is considered the top of something, irrespective of whether this is presently physically higher. not-comparable

    "Go back up to the top of the page."

Show 14 more definitions
  1. 6
    Indicating movement in any other direction visualised as "up".; To the north (as north is at the top of typical maps). not-comparable

    "I live in Florida, but I'm going up to New York to visit my family this weekend."

  2. 7
    Indicating movement in any other direction visualised as "up".; Towards or at a central place, or any place that is visualised as 'up' by virtue of local features or local convention, or arbitrarily, irrespective of direction or elevation change. not-comparable

    "We travelled from Yorkshire up to London."

  3. 8
    Indicating movement in any other direction visualised as "up".; Towards the principal terminus, towards milepost zero. not-comparable
  4. 9
    Indicating movement in any other direction visualised as "up".; To university, especially to Cambridge or Oxford. UK, dated, not-comparable

    "She's going up to read Classics this September."

  5. 10
    Indicating movement in any other direction visualised as "up".; Against the wind or current. not-comparable
  6. 11
    Indicating movement in any other direction visualised as "up".; Towards the source of a river, against the direction of flow. not-comparable

    "We started in London and rowed all the way up to Oxford."

  7. 12
    Indicating movement in any other direction visualised as "up".; In a positive vertical direction. not-comparable
  8. 13
    To or in a position of equal advance or equality; not short of, back of, less advanced than, away from, etc.; usually followed by to or with. not-comparable

    "I was up to my chin in water."

  9. 14
    Used as an aspect marker to indicate a completed action or state; thoroughly, completely. emphatic, intensifier, not-comparable

    "I will mix up the puzzle pieces."

  10. 15
    To one's possession or consideration. not-comparable

    "I picked up some milk on the way home."

  11. 16
    From one's possession or consideration. not-comparable

    "She had to give up her driver's license after the accident."

  12. 17
    Aside or away, so as no longer to be present or in use. not-comparable

    "to lay up riches; put up your weapons"

  13. 18
    Relatively close to the batsman. not-comparable

    "The bowler pitched the ball up."

  14. 19
    Without additional ice. US, not-comparable

    "A Cosmopolitan is typically served up."

Adverb
  1. 1
    spatially or metaphorically from a lower to a higher position wordnet
  2. 2
    to a later time wordnet
  3. 3
    to a more central or a more northerly place wordnet
  4. 4
    nearer to the speaker wordnet
  5. 5
    to a higher intensity wordnet
Preposition
  1. 1
    Toward the top of.

    "The cat climbed up the tree."

  2. 2
    Toward the center, source, or main point of reference; toward the end at which something is attached.

    "The information made its way up the chain of command to the general."

  3. 3
    From south to north of.

    "We sailed up the East Coast of England from Ipswich to South Shields."

  4. 4
    Further along (in any direction).

    "Go up the street until you see the sign."

  5. 5
    From the mouth towards the source of (a river or waterway).

    "He led an expedition up the Amazon."

Show 2 more definitions
  1. 6
    Of a person: having sex with. slang, vulgar

    "Phwoar, look at that bird. I'd love to be up her."

  2. 7
    At (a given place, especially one imagined to be higher or more distant from a central location). colloquial

    "I'll see you later up the snooker club."

Proper Noun
  1. 1
    Initialism of Upper Peninsula. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
  2. 2
    Initialism of United Presbyterian. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
  3. 3
    Initialism of Uttar Pradesh: a state of India. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism

    "To study old photographs from UP villages like the one where Ram Dass lived is to be reminded of how rural history writes upon the body."

  4. 4
    Initialism of Unified Process. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
  5. 5
    Initialism of University of the Philippines. Philippines, abbreviation, alt-of, initialism

Synonyms

All synonyms
aboveabovestairsabreastaccessaccessionaccretion

Example

"I may give up soon and just nap instead."

Common questions

What does "up" mean?

The direction opposed to the pull of gravity.

What is a synonym for "up"?

Common synonyms include: above, abovestairs, abreast, access, accession, accretion.

How do you use "up" in a sentence?

I may give up soon and just nap instead.

How do you pronounce "up"?

Pronounced /[ʊp]/.

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *upó Proto-Germanic *ub Proto-Germanic *upp Proto-West Germanic *upp Old English upp Middle English up English up From Middle English up, op, oup, from Old English upp, up, ūp (“up”), from Proto-West Germanic *upp, *ūp, from Proto-Germanic *upp, *eup (“up”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian ap (“up”), West Frisian op (“up”), Dutch op (“up”), German Low German up, op (“up”), German auf (“up”), Danish op (“up”), Swedish upp (“up”), Icelandic upp (“up”), Gothic 𐌹𐌿𐍀 (iup, “up”).

More for "up"

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