English Dictionary

UP (upped, upping)

Pronunciation (US): Play  (GB): Play

IPA (US): 

Irregular inflected forms: upped  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation, upping  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation

 Dictionary entry overview: What does up mean? 

UP (adjective)
  The adjective UP has 8 senses:

1. being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or levelplay

2. out of bedplay

3. getting higher or more vigorousplay

4. extending or moving toward a higher placeplay

5. (usually followed by 'on' or 'for') in readinessplay

6. openplay

7. (used of computers) operating properlyplay

8. used upplay

  Familiarity information: UP used as an adjective is common.


UP (verb)
  The verb UP has 1 sense:

1. raiseplay

  Familiarity information: UP used as a verb is very rare.


UP (adverb)
  The adverb UP has 5 senses:

1. spatially or metaphorically from a lower to a higher positionplay

2. to a higher intensityplay

3. nearer to the speakerplay

4. to a more central or a more northerly placeplay

5. to a later timeplay

  Familiarity information: UP used as an adverb is common.


 Dictionary entry details 


UP (adjective)


Sense 1

Meaning:

Being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

Context example:

the corn is up

Similar:

upward (directed up)

upfield (away from the defending teams' end of the playing field)

upbound (heading in any direction that is conventionally up)

sprouted ((of growing vegetation) having just emerged from the ground)

risen ((of e.g. celestial bodies) above the horizon)

heavenward; skyward (directed toward heaven or the sky)

dormie; dormy (in match play a side that stands as many holes ahead as there are holes remaining to be played)

aweigh ((used of an anchor) hanging clear of the bottom)

ahead; in the lead; leading (having the leading position or higher score in a contest)

Also:

ascending (moving or going or growing upward)

high ((literal meaning) being at or having a relatively great or specific elevation or upward extension (sometimes used in combinations like 'knee-high'))

Antonym:

down (being or moving lower in position or less in some value)


Sense 2

Meaning:

Out of bed

Synonyms:

astir; up

Context example:

up by seven each morning

Similar:

awake (not in a state of sleep; completely conscious)


Sense 3

Meaning:

Getting higher or more vigorous

Synonyms:

improving; up

Context example:

an improving economy

Similar:

rising (advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status)


Sense 4

Meaning:

Extending or moving toward a higher place

Synonyms:

up; upward

Context example:

a general upward movement of fish

Similar:

ascending (moving or going or growing upward)


Sense 5

Meaning:

(usually followed by 'on' or 'for') in readiness

Context example:

had to be up for the game

Similar:

prepared (made ready or fit or suitable beforehand)


Sense 6

Meaning:

Open

Context example:

the windows are up

Similar:

raised (located or moved above the surround or above the normal position)


Sense 7

Meaning:

(used of computers) operating properly

Context example:

how soon will the computers be up?

Similar:

functioning (performing or able to perform its regular function)

Domain category:

computer; computing device; computing machine; data processor; electronic computer; information processing system (a machine for performing calculations automatically)


Sense 8

Meaning:

Used up

Context example:

time is up

Similar:

finished (ended or brought to an end)


UP (verb)

 Conjugation: 
Present simple: I / you / we / they up  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation ... he / she / it ups  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation
Past simple: upped  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation
Past participle: upped  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation
-ing form: upping  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation


Sense 1

Meaning:

Raise

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

up the ante

Hypernyms (to "up" is one way to...):

increase (make bigger or more)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something


UP (adverb)


Sense 1

Meaning:

Spatially or metaphorically from a lower to a higher position

Synonyms:

up; upward; upwardly; upwards

Context example:

upwardly mobile

Antonym:

down (spatially or metaphorically from a higher to a lower level or position)


Sense 2

Meaning:

To a higher intensity

Context example:

he turned up the volume

Antonym:

down (to a lower intensity)


Sense 3

Meaning:

Nearer to the speaker

Context example:

he walked up and grabbed my lapels


Sense 4

Meaning:

To a more central or a more northerly place

Context example:

up to Canada for a vacation

Antonym:

down (away from a more central or a more northerly place)


Sense 5

Meaning:

To a later time

Synonyms:

up; upward; upwards

Context example:

from childhood upward


 Context examples 


Up to a certain point he did well.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"Shut up your wishin' and your croakin'," Henry burst out angrily.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

But from one cause or another, I gave it up in disgust.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

I motioned him to take up the letter, while I walked up and down the room in the extremest agitation.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

He nodded, then added, “Or he wouldn’t be keepin’ up such a clip.”

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

They are both so very large, and take up so much room; and Mr Musgrove always sits forward.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

Your airs are funny now, but you'll grow up an affected little goose, if you don't take care.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

It quite broke the old man up.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

At sight of Mr. Utterson, he sprang up from his chair and welcomed him with both hands.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

This is a terrible thought; for if so, what does it mean that he could control the wolves, as he did, by only holding up his hand in silence.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)



 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"Look before you leap." (English proverb)

"Who is shy dies from hunger." (Albanian proverb)

"Thought he was a great catch, turns out he is a shackle." (Arabic proverb)

"He who leads an immoral life dies an immoral death." (Corsican proverb)



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