| English Dictionary |
UP (upped, upping)
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
| IPA (US): |  |
, upping 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 level
2. out of bed
3. getting higher or more vigorous
4. extending or moving toward a higher place
5. (usually followed by 'on' or 'for') in readiness
6. open
7. (used of computers) operating properly
8. used up
Familiarity information: UP used as an adjective is common.
• UP (verb)
The verb UP has 1 sense:
1. raise
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 position
2. to a higher intensity
3. nearer to the speaker
4. to a more central or a more northerly place
5. to a later time
Familiarity information: UP used as an adverb is common.
Dictionary entry details
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)
| Conjugation: |
... he / she / it ups Past simple: upped
Past participle: upped
-ing form: upping
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
Sense 1
Meaning:
Spatially or metaphorically from a lower to a higher position
Synonyms:
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:
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)
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