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up-

pref.

1. Up; upward: upheave.

2. Upper: upland.

[Middle English, from Old English ūp-, upp-; see upo in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

abbr.

Upper Peninsula

(ŭp)

adv.

a. In or to a higher position: looking up.

b. In a direction opposite to the center of the earth or a comparable gravitational center: up from the lunar surface.

2. In or to an upright position: sat up in bed.

a. Above a surface: coming up for air.

b. So as to detach or unearth: pulling up weeds.

c. Above the horizon: as the sun came up.

4. Into view or existence: draw up a will.

5. Into consideration: take up a new topic.

6. In or toward a position conventionally regarded as higher, as on a scale, chart, or map: temperatures heading up; up in Canada.

7. To or at a higher price: stocks that are going up.

8. So as to advance, increase, or improve: Our spirits went up.

9. With or to a greater intensity, pitch, or volume: turn the sound up.

10. Into a state of excitement or turbulence: stir up; rouse up.

11. Completely; entirely: drank it up in a gulp; fastened up the coat.

12. Used as an intensifier of the action of a verb: typed up a list.

13. So as to approach; near: came up and kissed me.

14. To a stop: pulled up in front of the station.

15. Each; apiece: The score was tied at 11 up.

16. Apart; into pieces: tore it up.

17. Nautical To windward.

adj.

1. Being above a former position or level; higher: My grades are up. The pressure is up.

a. Out of bed: was up by seven.

b. Standing; erect.

c. Facing upward: two cards up, one down; the up side of a tossed coin.

3. Raised; lifted: a switch in the up position.

4. Moving or directed upward: an up elevator.

a. Marked by increased excitement or agitation; aroused: Our fighting spirit was up.

b. Informal Cheerful; optimistic; upbeat.

c. Slang Happily excited; euphoric: After receiving the award, the performer was really up.

6. Informal Taking place; going on: wondered what was up back home.

7. Being considered; under study: a contract that is up for renewal.

8. Running as a candidate.

9. On trial; charged: The defendant is up for manslaughter.

10. Having been finished; over: Your time is up.

11. Informal

a. Prepared; ready: had to be up for the game.

b. Well informed; abreast: not up on sports.

12. Functioning or capable of functioning normally; operational: Their computers are now up.

13. Sports Being ahead or at a numerical advantage over one's opponent: up two strokes in golf; up one man during the power play.

14. Baseball At bat.

15. As a bet; at stake.

16. Nautical Bound; headed: a freighter up for Panama.

prep.

1. From a lower to or toward a higher point on: up the hill.

2. Toward or at a point farther along: two miles up the road.

3. In a direction toward the source of: up the Mississippi.

4. Nautical Against: up the wind.

1. An upward slope; a rise.

2. An upward movement or trend.

3. Slang A feeling of excitement or euphoria.

v. upped, up·ping, ups

v.tr.

1. To increase: upped their fees; upping our output.

2. To raise to a higher level, especially to promote to a higher position.

3. Nautical To raise: up anchor; up sail.

v.intr.

To get up; rise.

Idioms:

on the up-and-up/up and up Informal

Open and honest.

up against

Confronted with; facing: up against a strong opponent.

up and

Abruptly and unexpectedly: They up and left without saying goodbye.

up to

1. Occupied with, especially devising or scheming: a prowler up to no good.

2. Able to do or deal with: didn't feel up to a long drive.

3. Dependent on: The success of this project is up to us.

a. To the point of; as far as or until: I'm up to chapter 15 in my book. The kids played right up to dinnertime.

b. As long as: allowed up to two hours to finish the test.

c. As many as: seed that yields up to 300 bushels per acre.

[Middle English up, upward and uppe, on high, both from Old English ūp; see upo in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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