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Webster 1913 Edition

Up

Up

(ŭp)
,
adv.
[AS.
up
,
upp
,
ūp
; akin to OFries.
up
,
op
, D.
op
, OS.
ūp
, OHG.
ūf
, G.
auf
, Icel. & Sw.
upp
, Dan.
op
, Goth.
iup
, and probably to E.
over
. See
Over
.]
1.
Aloft; on high; in a direction contrary to that of gravity; toward or in a higher place or position; above; – the opposite of
down
.
But
up
or down,
By center or eccentric, hard to tell.
Milton.
2.
Hence, in many derived uses, specifically: –
(a)
From a lower to a higher position, literally or figuratively; as, from a recumbent or sitting position; from the mouth, toward the source, of a river; from a dependent or inferior condition; from concealment; from younger age; from a quiet state, or the like; – used with verbs of motion expressed or implied.
But they presumed to go
up
unto the hilltop.
Num. xiv. 44.
I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth
up
.
Ps. lxxxviii. 15.
Up
rose the sun, and
up
rose Emelye.
Chaucer.
We have wrought ourselves
up
into this degree of Christian indifference.
Atterbury.
(b)
In a higher place or position, literally or figuratively; in the state of having arisen; in an upright, or nearly upright, position; standing; mounted on a horse; in a condition of elevation, prominence, advance, proficiency, excitement, insurrection, or the like; – used with verbs of rest, situation, condition, and the like;
as, to be
up
on a hill; the lid of the box was
up
; prices are
up
.
And when the sun was
up
, they were scorched.
Matt. xiii. 6.
Those that were
up
themselves kept others low.
Spenser.
Helen was
up
– was she?
Shakespeare
Rebels there are
up
,
And put the Englishmen unto the sword.
Shakespeare
His name was
up
through all the adjoining provinces, even to Italy and Rome; many desiring to see who he was that could withstand so many years the Roman puissance.
Milton.
Thou hast fired me; my soul’s
up
in arms.
Dryden.
Grief and passion are like floods raised in little brooks by a sudden rain; they are quickly
up
.
Dryden.
A general whisper ran among the country people, that Sir Roger was
up
.
Addison.
Let us, then, be
up
and doing,
With a heart for any fate.
Longfellow.
(c)
To or in a position of equal advance or equality; not short of, back of, less advanced than, away from, or the like; – usually followed by to or with;
as, to be
up
to the chin in water; to come
up
with one's companions; to come
up
with the enemy; to live
up
to engagements
.
As a boar was whetting his teeth,
up
comes a fox to him.
L'Estrange.
(d)
To or in a state of completion; completely; wholly; quite;
as, in the phrases to eat
up
; to drink
up
; to burn
up
; to sum
up
; etc.; to shut
up
the eyes or the mouth; to sew
up
a rent
.
☞ Some phrases of this kind are now obsolete; as, to spend up (
Prov. xxi. 20
); to kill up (
B. Jonson
).
(e)
Aside, so as not to be in use;
as, to lay
up
riches; put
up
your weapons
.
☞ Up is used elliptically for get up, rouse up, etc., expressing a command or exhortation. “Up, and let us be going.”
Judg. xix. 28.
Up
,
up
, my friend! and quit your books,
Or surely you 'll grow double.
Wordsworth.

Up

,
p
rep.
1.
From a lower to a higher place on, upon, or along; at a higher situation upon; at the top of.
In going
up
a hill, the knees will be most weary; in going down, the thihgs.
Bacon.
2.
From the coast towards the interior of, as a country; from the mouth towards the source of, as a stream;
as, to journey
up
the country; to sail
up
the Hudson
.
3.
Upon.
[Obs.]
“Up pain of death.”
Chaucer.

Up

,
Noun.
The state of being up or above; a state of elevation, prosperity, or the like; – rarely occurring except in the phrase ups and downs.
[Colloq.]
Ups and downs
,
alternate states of elevation and depression, or of prosperity and the contrary.
[Colloq.]
They had their
ups and downs
of fortune.
Thackeray.

Up

,
Adj.
Inclining up; tending or going up; upward;
as, an
up
look; an
up
grade; the
up
train
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Up

UP

, adv.
1.
Aloft; on high
But up or down -
2.
Out of bed. He is not up.
3.
Having risen from a seat.
Sir Roger was up.
4.
From a state of concealment or discumbiture.
5.
In a state of being built.
Up with my tent.
6.
Above the horizon. The sun is up.
7.
To a state of excitement. He was wrought up to a rage.
8.
To a state of advance or proficiency.
- Till we have wrought ourselves up to this degree of christian indifference.
9.
In a state of elevation or exaltation.
Those that were up, kept others low.
10.
In a state of climbing or ascending. We went up to the city or town.
11.
In a state of insurrection.
The gentle archbishop of York is up.
My soul is up in arms.
12.
In a state of being increased or raised. The river is up; the flood is up.
13.
In a state of approaching; as up comes a fox.
14.
In order. He drew up his regiment.
15.
From younger to elder years; as from his youth up.
1.
Up and down, from one place to another; here and there.
2.
From one state or position to another; backwards and forwards.
1.
Up to, to an equal highth with; as up to the chin in water.
2.
To a degree or point adequate. Live up to the principles professed.
Up with, raise; life; as, up with the fist; up with the timber.
Up is much used to modify the actions expressed by verbs. It is very often useful and necessary; very often useless.
To bear up, to sustain.
To go up, to ascend.
To lift up, to raise.
To get up, to rise from bed or a seat.
To bind up, to bind together.
To blow up, to inflate; to distend; to inflame.
To grow up, to grow to maturity.
Up stream, from the mouth towards the head of a stream; against the stream; hence up is in a direction towards the head of a stream or river; as up the country.
Up sound, in the direction from the sea; opposed to down sound, that is, in the direction of the ebb tide.
Up is used elliptically for get up, expressing a command or exhortation.
Up, let us be going. Judges 19.

UP

, prep. From a lower to a higher place. Go up the hill.

Definition 2024

up

up

See also: UP, úp, -up, up-, U.P., and ир

English

Adverb

up ‎(not comparable)

  1. Away from the surface of the Earth or other planet; in opposite direction to the downward pull of gravity.
    I looked up and saw the airplane overhead.
  2. (intensifier) Used as an aspect marker to indicate a completed action or state Thoroughly, completely.
    I will mix up the puzzle pieces.
    Tear up the contract.
    He really messed up.
    Please type up our monthly report.
  3. To or from one's possession or consideration.
    I picked up some milk on the way home.
    The committee will take up your request.
    She had to give up her driver's license after the accident.
  4. North.
    I will go up to New York to visit my family this weekend.
  5. To a higher level of some quantity or notional quantity, such as price, volume, pitch, happiness, etc.
    Gold has gone up with the uncertainty in the world markets.
    Turn it up, I can barely hear it.
    Listen to your voice go up at the end of a question.
    Cheer up, the weekend's almost here.
  6. (rail transport) Traditional term for the direction leading to the principal terminus, towards milepost zero.
  7. (sailing) Against the wind or current.
  8. (Cartesian graph) In a positive vertical direction.
  9. (cricket) Relatively close to the batsman.
    The bowler pitched the ball up.
  10. (hospitality, US) Without additional ice.
    Would you like that drink up or on ice?
  11. (Britain, academia) Towards Cambridge or Oxford.
    She's going up to read Classics this September.
    • 1867, John Timbs, Lives of wits and humourists, page 125
      The son of the Dean of Lichfield was only three years older than Steele, who was a lad of only twelve, when at the age of fifteen, Addison went up to Oxford.
    • 1998, Rita McWilliams Tullberg, Women at Cambridge, page 112
      Others insinuated that women 'crowded up to Cambridge', not for the benefits of a higher education, but because of the proximity of 2,000 young men.
    • 2002, Peter Harman, Cambridge Scientific Minds, page 79
      A precocious mathematician, Babbage was already well versed in the Continental mathematical notations when he went up to Cambridge.
  12. 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.
    I was up to my chin in water.
    A stranger came up and asked me for directions.
  13. To or in a state of completion; completely; wholly; quite.
    Drink up. The pub is closing.
    Can you sum up your research?
    The comet burned up in the atmosphere.
    I need to sew up the hole in this shirt.
  14. Aside, so as not to be in use.
    to lay up riches; put up your weapons

Antonyms

  • (away from the centre of the Earth): down
  • (louder): down
  • (higher in pitch): down
  • (towards the principal terminus): down

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Preposition

up

They walk up the steps.
  1. Toward the top of.
    • 1898, Winston Churchill, chapter 4, in The Celebrity:
      Judge Short had gone to town, and Farrar was off for a three days' cruise up the lake. I was bitterly regretting I had not gone with him when the distant notes of a coach horn reached my ear, and I descried a four-in-hand winding its way up the inn road from the direction of Mohair.
    The cat went up the tree.   They walk up the steps.‎
  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.   They took a boat up the river from the coast.   I felt something crawling up my arm.‎
  3. Further along (in any direction).
    Go up the street until you see the sign.‎
  4. From south to north of
    • 2012 October 31, David M. Halbfinger, "," New York Times (retrieved 31 October 2012):
      Though the storm raged up the East Coast, it has become increasingly apparent that New Jersey took the brunt of it.

Antonyms

  • (toward the top of): down

Derived terms

Translations

Adjective

up ‎(not comparable)

  1. Awake.
    I can’t believe it’s 3 a.m. and you’re still up.
  2. Finished, to an end
    Time is up!
  3. In a good mood.
    I’m feeling up today.
  4. Willing; ready.
    If you are up for a trip, let’s go.
  5. Next in a sequence.
    Smith is up to bat.
  6. Happening; new.
    What is up with that project at headquarters?
  7. Facing upwards; facing toward the top.
    Put the notebook face up on the table.
    Take a break and put your feet up.
  8. Larger, greater in quantity.
    Sales are up from last quarter.
  9. Standing.
    Get up and give her your seat.
  10. On a higher level.
  11. Available; made public.
    The new notices are up as of last Tuesday.
  12. (poker, postnominal) Said of the higher-ranking pair in a two pair.
    AAKK = aces up
    QQ33 = queens up
  13. Well-informed; current.
    I’m not up on the latest news. What’s going on?
  14. (computing) Functional; working.
    Is the server back up?
  15. (of a railway line or train) Traveling towards a major terminus.
    The London train is on the up line.
  16. Headed, or designated to go, upward, as an escalator, stairway, elevator etc.
  17. (bar tending) Chilled and strained into a stemmed glass.
    A Cosmopolitan is typically served up.
  18. (slang) Erect.
  19. (of the Sun or Moon) Above the horizon, in the sky (i.e. during daytime or night-time)
    • 1898, J. Meade Falkner, Moonfleet Chapter 4
      I have said I was still in darkness, yet it was not the blackness of the last night; and looking up into the inside of the tomb above, I could see the faintest line of light at one corner, which showed the sun was up.
  20. (slang, graffiti) well-known; renowned
    • 1996, Matthew Busby Hunt, The Sociolinguistics of Tagging and Chicano Gang Graffiti (page 71)
      Being "up" means having numerous graffiti in the tagging landscape.
    • 2009, Gregory J. Snyder, Graffiti Lives: Beyond the Tag in New York's Urban Underground (pages 16-40)
      Graffiti writers want their names seen by writers and others so that they will be famous. Therefore writers are very serious about any opportunity to “get up.” […] The throw-up became one of the fundamental techniques for getting up, and thereby gaining recognition and fame.
    • 2011, Adam Melnyk, Visual Orgasm: The Early Years of Canadian Graffiti
      From his great rooftop pieces, selected for high visibility, to his sneaky tags and fun loving stickers, he most certainly knows how to get up.

Antonyms

  • (facing upwards): down
  • (on a higher level): down
  • (computing: Functional): down
  • (traveling towards a major terminus): down

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

up ‎(usually uncountable, plural ups)

  1. (uncountable) The direction opposed to the pull of gravity.
    Up is a good way to go.
  2. (countable) A positive thing.
    I hate almost everything about my job. The only up is that it's so close to home.
  3. An upstairs room of a two story house.
    She lives in a two-up two-down.

Usage notes

  • Up is not commonly used as object of a preposition.

Antonyms

  • (direction opposed to the pull of gravity): down

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

up ‎(third-person singular simple present ups, present participle upping, simple past and past participle upped)

  1. (transitive, colloquial) To increase or raise.
    If we up the volume, we'll be able to make out the details.
    We upped anchor and sailed away.
    • 2008, Randy Wayne White, Black Widow, page 181:
      Part of the woman's mystique, I guess. Makes people want to meet her all the more. A year ago, she upped her stock with that crowd when she bought the Midnight Star — among the world's most famous star sapphires
    • 2011 December 10, Marc Higginson, “Bolton 1 - 2 Aston Villa”, in BBC Sport:
      After a dreadful performance in the opening 45 minutes, they upped their game after the break and might have taken at least a point from the match.
  2. (transitive, colloquial) To promote.
    It wasn’t long before they upped him to Vice President.
    • 1940, Jessica Mitford, Peter Y. Sussman, Decca: The Letters of Jessica Mitford, published 2010, page 64:
      The other day Mr. Meyer came to see me in Weinbergers, it caused a great sensation & I think upped me a lot in prestige there
    • 2003, Richard K. Morgan, Altered Carbon, page 136:
      "Ryker's a--" He swallowed. "A cop. Used to work Sleeve Theft, then they upped him to the Organic Damage Division.
    • 2005, Larry Brody, Turning Points in Television, page 70:
      (And who, by the way, got his start as a producer from Desi Arnaz, who upped him from film editor to take charge of the Desilu series The Untouchables
  3. (intransitive) To act suddenly, usually with another verb.
    He just upped and quit.
    He upped and punched that guy.
  4. (intransitive) To ascend; to climb up.
    • 1863, Charles Kingsley, The Water Babies, page 10
      "Will ye up, lass, and ride behind me?".

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

References

  • Andrea Tyler and Vyvyan Evans, "Spatial particles of orientation", in The Semantics of English Prepositions: Spatial Scenes, Embodied Meaning and Cognition, Cambridge University Press, 2003, 0-521-81430 8

Statistics

Most common English words before 1923: more · out · into · #56: up · your · any · what

Anagrams

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *upp, akin to Old High German ūf, Old Norse upp.

Alternative forms

Adverb

up

  1. up

Old Saxon

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *ūp-.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /uːp/

Adverb

ūp

  1. up

Preposition

ūp

  1. upon

Etymology

From Old English upp, from Proto-Germanic *upp.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) enPR: ŭp, IPA(key): /ʌp/, [ɐp]
  • (US) enPR: ŭp, IPA(key): /ʌp/
  • (Australia) IPA(key): /ap/, [äp]
  • Rhymes: -ʌp

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