1
a(1)
: in or into a higher position or level
especially
: away from the center of the earth
(2)
: from beneath the ground or water to the surface
(3)
: from below the horizon
(4)
(5)
: in or into an upright position
sit up
especially
: out of bed
b
: upward from the ground or surface
pull up a daisy
c
: so as to expose a particular surface
2
: with greater intensity
speak up
3
a
: in or into a better or more advanced state
b
: at an end
your time is up
c
: in or into a state of greater intensity or excitement
d
: to or at a greater speed, rate, or amount
prices went up
e
: in a continual sequence : in continuance from a point or to a point
from third grade up
at prices of $10 and up
up until now
4
a(1)
: into existence, evidence, prominence, or prevalence
(2)
: into operation or practical form
b
: into consideration or attention
bring up for discussion
5
: into possession or custody
6
a
: entirely, completely
button up your coat
b
—used as an intensifier
clean up the house
7
: in or into storage : by
lay up supplies
8
a
: so as to arrive or approach
b
: in a direction conventionally the opposite of down:
(1)
: to windward
(2)
(3)
: to or at the top
(4)
: to or at the rear of a theatrical stage
9
: in or into parts
10
: to a stop
—usually used with draw, bring, fetch, or pull
11
: for each side
the score is 15 up
1
a
: risen above the horizon
the sun is up
b
: standing
c
: being out of bed
d
: relatively high
the river is up
was well up in her class
e
: being in a raised position : lifted
windows are up
f
: being in a state of completion : constructed, built
g
: having the face upward
h
: mounted on a horse
a new jockey up
i
: grown above a surface
the corn is up
j(1)
: moving, inclining, or directed upward
the up escalator
(2)
: bound in a direction regarded as up
2
a(1)
: marked by agitation, excitement, or activity
(2)
: positive or upbeat in mood or demeanor
b
: being above a former or normal level (as of quantity or intensity)
attendance is up
the wind is up
c
: exerting enough power (as for operation)
sail when steam is up
d
: ready
specifically
: highly prepared
e
: going on : taking place
find out what is up
3
a
: risen from a lower position
men up from the ranks
b
: being at the same level or point
did not feel up to par
c(1)
: well informed : abreast
up on the news
(2)
: being on schedule
up on his homework
d
: being ahead of one's opponent
4
a
: presented for or undergoing consideration
contract up for negotiation
also
: charged before a court
up for robbery
b
: being the one whose turn it is
you're up next
1
a
—used as a function word to indicate motion to or toward or situation at a higher point of
went up the stairs
b
: up into or in the
was hid away up garret—
Mark Twain
Mark Twain2
a
: in a direction regarded as being toward or near the upper end or part of
lives a few miles up the coast
walked up the street
b
: toward or near a point closer to the source or beginning of
sail up the river
3
: in the direction opposite to
sailed up the wind
1
: one in a high or advantageous position
2
: an upward slope
3
: a period or state of prosperity or success
4
5
: a fundamental quark that has an electric charge of +2/3 and that is one of the constituents of a nucleon
upped
ˈəpt 
or in intransitive verb sense 2 up; upped; upping; ups or in intransitive verb sense 2 up
or in intransitive verb sense 2 up; upped; upping; ups or in intransitive verb sense 2 up
1
a
: to rise from a lying or sitting position
b
: to move upward : ascend
2
—used with and and another verb to indicate that the action of the following verb was either surprisingly or abruptly initiated
he up and quit his job
2
b
Upper Peninsula (of Michigan)
Synonyms
Examples of up in a Sentence
Adverb
The land rises up from the valley.
She stood beneath the window and called up to her friend.
Please pick your clothes up off the floor.
We watched the sun come up.
He held up his hand.
We stored the boxes up in the attic.
She stuck a notice up on the wall.
What's going on up there?
He looked up at the stars.
The cards were on the table facing up.
Adjective
The candy is up on the top shelf.
The window is already up.
Your package is up at the front desk.
We were up near the stage.
Are the kids up yet?
We are up every morning at six.
I was up all night studying for the test.
Gas prices are up again.
Preposition
He climbed up the ladder.
She had to walk her bike up the hill.
The bathroom is up the stairs.
Go up the street and turn left.
We walked up the street to meet them.
They live just up the block from us.
I paddled the canoe up the river.
The ship sailed up the coast.
Her office is all the way up the hall on the right.
He paced up and down the hall, waiting for news about his wife's operation.
Verb
climbing fuel prices have forced the delivery company to up its prices
the road constantly ups and downs as it makes its way over the hills
Recent Examples on the Web
Quartz Bot, Quartz, 15 Nov. 2024
Trump is up 5 points with male voters, while Harris is up by 11 points with women.
—Ashley Schwartz-Lavares, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2024
John Navin, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
The heaviness of the buying volume tends to offer confirmation of the up move.
—John Navin, Forbes, 27 Sep. 2024
PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024
The Drought Monitor’s latest map, released Thursday, showed drought conditions expanding from Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York up into Massachusetts and Maine.
—Denise Chow, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024
New Atlas, 2 Nov. 2024
Fremantle has upped Kevin Woodward to serve as executive VP of production, the company announced Friday.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for up 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adverb
Interest and fees on borrowings and credit facilities amounted to $0.6 million for the quarter, up from $0.3 million in the same period of 2023.
—Quartz Bot, Quartz, 15 Nov. 2024
Trump is up 5 points with male voters, while Harris is up by 11 points with women.
—Ashley Schwartz-Lavares, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
It’s backed off from that breakout as sellers moved in but remains in an up trend for the year and since the 2022 lows.
—John Navin, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
The heaviness of the buying volume tends to offer confirmation of the up move.
—John Navin, Forbes, 27 Sep. 2024
Preposition
Next up is PugetBench for Creators again, used to test Blackmagic's DaVinci Resolve Studio 18 video editor.
—PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024
The Drought Monitor’s latest map, released Thursday, showed drought conditions expanding from Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York up into Massachusetts and Maine.
—Denise Chow, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024
Verb
The larvae of these flies (Drosophila melanogaster) will also up their ethanol intake when targeted by parasitic wasps.
—New Atlas, 2 Nov. 2024
Fremantle has upped Kevin Woodward to serve as executive VP of production, the company announced Friday.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for up
Dictionary Entries Near up
Cite this Entry
“Up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/up. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
up
1 of 5 adverb1
a
: in or to a higher position or level
especially
: away from the center of the earth
held up my hand
b
: from beneath a surface (as ground or water)
pulling up weeds
c
: from below the horizon
watched the moon come up
d
: in or into an upright position
stand up
e
: out of bed
stayed up late
2
: with greater force
speak up
3
a
: in or into a better or more advanced state
worked our way up in the world
b
: at an end
our time was up
c
: in or into a state of greater activity
stir up a fire
d
: to or at a greater rate, speed, or amount
prices went up
4
a
: into existence, evidence, or knowledge
the missing ring turned up
b
: into consideration
brought the matter up
5
: into possession or control
gave himself up
6
: entirely, completely
eat it up
the house burned up
7
: in or into storage
lay up supplies
put our boat up for the winter
8
: so as to arrive or approach
came up the drive
9
: in or into parts
tear up paper
10
: to a stop
pull up
drew up at the curb
11
: for each side
score was 15 up
up
2 of 5 adjective1
a
: risen above the horizon or ground
the sun was up
b
: being out of bed
c
: higher than usual
the river is up
prices are up
d
: raised so as to be open : lifted
windows are up
e
: put together : built
the house is up
f
: grown above a surface
the corn is up
g
: moving or going upward
the up escalator
2
a
: being on one's feet and busy
was eager to be up and doing
b
: well prepared
the team was up for the game
c
: going on : taking place
find out what is up
3
: well informed
always up on the news
4
: being ahead of an opponent
was three games up in the series
5
a
: presented for or under consideration
up for reelection
b
: charged before a court
was up for robbery
c
: being the one whose turn it is
you're up next
up
3 of 5 preposition(ˌ)əp,
ˈəp
1
: to, toward, or at a higher point of
up the hill
2
a
: toward the beginning of
going up the river
b
: toward the northern or upper end or part of
sailed up the coast
3
: along the course of
walking up the street
up
4 of 5 nounˈəp
1
: an upward course or slope
2
: a period or state of success
had had my ups and downs
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share