Skip to main content
up

up

∞ 1.0
In a higher place or moving to a higher level
  • adjective
  • /ʌp/
: arriba
  • A floating boardwalk enables the visitor to observe the plants up close without harming them.
  • up and down
  • up there
  • walk up

And Izzidor won't go up to help him out.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • You went so high up in the air.

  • There is not only left and right, but also up and down, forward and backward.

    Academic text (1990)
  • That first path goes straight up and over.

  • Well, it's kind of up to us, right?

  • We're better off up here in case anybody comes home.

  • What are you up to?

  • Robert decided it was up to him, the only son, to save his family.

    Academic text (2011)
  • It was all up to me.

  • You are up here looking for a friend, aren't you?

  • The children climbed up the tree to reach the highest branches.

Synonyms

upwards
vsup
81 1.0

Moves toward a higher place, level, or amount

is broader including being located above as well as movement
high up
vsup
48 2.3

At a great height above the ground

means being above in position but not necessarily at great height
upward
vsup
44 1.1

Pointing or moving toward something higher

also covers being located above, not only movement
higher up
vsup
35 3.2

At or towards a place above something

focuses more generally on moving into or to places above

Antonyms

∞ 1.0

At a lower level or amount than before

Idioms

what's up
  • Informal
∞ 7.2

A friendly question asking how someone is or what they are doing

634 2.8

Good enough to do something

up to
  • Informal
527 2.8

Busy doing something, often secret or causing trouble

423 1.9

Moving both ways along the whole length of something

343 5.1

Facing a difficult problem you must deal with

it's up to you
  • Informal
161 3.0

The person you are talking to decides what to do

fed up
  • Informal
125 3.6

Annoyed, bored, or tired because you have had too much of something

112 3.6

Payment made before work starts or words that are honest and direct

108 3.7

Working properly after it is started or fixed

worked up
  • Informal
93 6.5

Very upset or nervous because of strong feelings

93 4.0

Busy with something and cannot do other things

fed up with
  • Informal
81 3.9

Feeling annoyed or bored because something has gone on too long

first up
  • Informal
69 3.7

To say which person or thing comes first

up to something
  • Informal
62 7.0

Doing something secret that may be wrong or harmful

wrapped up
  • Informal
55 4.8

Very interested and completely involved in something

A repeated movement where both feet leave the ground to show excitement

42 3.6

Available for anyone to claim or win

wound up
  • Informal
36 5.2

Feeling very nervous and unable to relax

35 3.2

At or towards a place above something

33 1.6

Before now, until the present moment

32 4.7

Not yet decided or settled

chin up
  • Informal
30 7.1

Stay positive and keep going when things are difficult

up to no good
  • Informal
29 7.4

Acting in a secret or suspicious way to do something wrong

29 6.9

Become completely destroyed or lost suddenly, often by fire

28 6.1

Very angry and protesting about something they think is unfair

28 4.6

To take responsibility and act when a difficult situation happens

cooped up
  • Informal
28 5.5

Being kept in a small space makes you restless and unhappy

To build something completely from the very beginning

27 6.9

Cannot sleep at night because you are worried

pumped up
  • Informal
24 5.1

Very excited and full of energy because something good is about to happen

21 7.5

Getting better and more successful

up to here
  • Informal
19 7.4

Someone who has no more patience because of many annoying things

on the up-and-up
  • Informal
19 7.7

Honest and legal

18 5.5

Plans or hopes suddenly fail and disappear for good

15 3.4

To become friendly again after an argument

15 9.9

A very rude way to tell someone you strongly refuse their idea or order

14 6.5

To be wrong about who or what caused something

dolled up
  • Informal
13 6.9

Dressed in fancy clothes and makeup for a special event

12 7.7

As good or impressive as people say

11 6.7

Act as if everything is fine in front of other people

10 9.0

To no longer accept something annoying or unfair

the jig is up
  • Informal
10 9.5

Their plan to trick people is discovered so they cannot continue

9 5.6

Not able to work because you are sick or injured and must stay in bed

hard up
  • Informal
9 8.0

Having very little money and struggling to pay bills

8 7.7

Tell someone to do what they say or stop talking

straight up
  • Jargon
8 7.6

A drink that is shaken or stirred with ice but served without ice

surf's up
  • Informal
8 9.1

The waves are good for riding on a surfboard

what's up Doc
  • Informal
7 9.6

A friendly joking greeting that asks how someone is, copying Bugs Bunny

coked up
  • NSFW
7 9.9

Feeling very excited or distracted after taking cocaine

up against it
  • Informal
7 8.0

In a difficult situation with little time or help

up the wazoo
  • Offensive
6 9.9

In very large amounts

up the river
  • Informal
6 8.5

In trouble and not able to fix the situation

Compounds

cover-up
  • Literature
151 5.5

An attempt to hide a crime or scandal from the public

heads-up
  • Informal
148 4.1

A quick warning that something will happen

139 2.0

Things people put on their face or body to change how they look

138 3.9

An action to check progress after an earlier activity

132 2.3

A person who is an adult, not a child

128 3.4

Having the latest style or information

110 4.3

A desk or counter you use while standing rather than sitting

close-up
  • Specialized
96 3.4

A photograph or film shot that shows small details from very close

75 3.4

An event that makes people realize they must act or change what they do

62 1.0

Work that removes dirt and rubbish from a place

60 2.7

Light exercise you do before harder activity to get your body ready

60 2.7

A hand gesture that shows approval by raising the thumb

58 3.3

A mistake that happens when someone confuses one thing with another

55 2.7

A person or team that finishes second in an event

48 2.3

At a great height above the ground

46 2.7

Wearing special formal clothes for a party or event

44 3.1

Modern and having the latest information, style, or technology

43 7.1

A person with an important job in an organization

41 3.1

A work that continues an earlier book or project

38 4.0

Likely to become successful or popular soon

screw-up
  • Informal
34 6.1

A careless mistake that causes problems or embarrassment

33 3.0

A doctor's appointment to check recovery after treatment

31 2.5

A visit to a doctor to check your general health

leg up
  • Informal
30 3.4

A form of help or small advantage that makes reaching a goal easier

28 3.6

An increase in amount, level, or strength

28 3.8

An event that pairs two sides, like sports teams, to compete

27 3.6

A time of work to reach the same level after falling behind

toss-up
  • Informal
24 6.2

A situation where two results have the same chance

23 4.1

A service that adjusts and checks an engine so it runs better

write-up
  • Literature
23 3.9

A short article that describes an event, often in a newspaper or magazine

21 6.0

A way that starts with small parts and moves to the whole

21 2.3

An exercise where you lie on your back and lift your upper body to strengthen stomach muscles

higher-up
  • Informal
20 4.2

A person with more power in a company or group

screw-up
  • Offensive
19 7.0

A person who often makes mistakes in important situations

hang-up
  • Informal
19 6.8

An emotional problem that makes someone feel nervous or unable to act normally

19 3.4

A small window that suddenly appears on your computer screen

16 4.2

A drink or small activity that makes you feel more energetic when tired

16 3.0

A form where people write their names to join an activity

mock-up
  • Specialized
15 4.8

A full size model of something to test or show it

15 4.3

A major change in how people run an organization

bang-up job
  • Informal
15 4.2

A piece of work that is done very well

15 3.7

A small careless mistake you make by accident

14 4.2

The parts that form a person, group or thing

13 6.0

A sudden increase in violence, anger, or symptoms

13 3.9

A small repair to make something look better

pop-up
  • Texting
12 3.8

A shop that opens in one place for a short time

12 3.5

Relating to joining something, used before a noun

12 6.0

A person who is becoming successful and well known

11 3.2

Placed so the top part faces up

The latest information available now

mess-up
  • Informal
10 5.1

A situation that is badly organized and full of mistakes

9 4.0

An object made into a tight tube, like a poster or snack

dial-up
  • Archaic
9 3.5

Relating to an internet connection that uses a telephone line and is usually very slow

8 3.9

An exercise where you hang from a bar and pull your chin above it

8 5.9

A sudden rise in prices or values over a short time

call up
  • Formal
8 6.4

An official order telling someone to report for military service

8 5.4

A robbery using threats or a sudden delay

8 4.6

A toy that moves after you turn a key or handle

frame-up
  • Informal
8 8.7

An act of falsely accusing someone by making fake evidence against them

get-up
  • Informal
8 5.6

A set of clothes worn to attract attention or to hide who you are

hyped up
  • Informal
8 8.0

People make it seem more exciting or important than it is

An egg fried on one side with the yolk still runny on top

heads-up
  • Informal
7 5.2

Fully alert and ready to act quickly

6 3.5

An event that takes place later to replace one cancelled or missed

lay-up
  • Jargon
5 3.4

A close shot near the basket in basketball made with one hand, often off the backboard

5 3.2

Stopping trying because you think you cannot succeed

pin-up
  • NSFW
5 7.5

A picture of an attractive person or the person shown

foul-up
  • Informal
5 7.7

A serious, embarrassing mistake often caused by confusion or poor planning

5 8.1

A fast action game or movie with a lot of shooting

5 3.2

A crash involving several vehicles on a road

5 8.4

A funny copy of a person or movie that makes fun of their style

5 3.4

A small job to make something look or work better

5 2.7

A phone call arranged to wake someone at a set time

How High

skyward
12 3.2
aloft
22 5.0
up
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

up positive
uppish comparative
uppest superlative

Etymology

Up comes from an old Germanic word that meant 'up' or 'high', so imagine climbing stairs or a mountain to remember it. That's why up means being in or moving to a higher place or position.