up

adverb

1》 towards a higher place or position.

    ↘to or at a place perceived as higher: a walk up to the shops.

    ↘(of the sun) visible in the sky.

    ↘towards the north.

2》 (often up and about) out of bed.

3》 to the place where someone is.

4》 Brit. towards or in the capital or a major city.

    ↘at or to a university, especially Oxford or Cambridge.

5》 at or to a higher level or value.

    ↘winning by a specified margin.

6》 into the desired or a proper condition.

    ↘so as to be finished or closed.

7》 into a happy mood.

8》 in a publicly visible place.

9》 (of sailing) against the current or the wind.

    ↘(of a ship's helm) moved round to windward.

10》 Baseball at bat.

11》 (up with ——) expressing support for a person or thing.

preposition

1》 from a lower to a higher point of.

2》 from one end to another of (a street or other area).

3》 informal at or to (a place).

adjective

1》 directed or moving towards a higher place or position.

    ↘denoting trains travelling towards the main terminus.

2》 (of the road) being repaired.

3》 cheerful.

4》 (of a computer system) working properly.

5》 at an end.

6》 (of a jockey) in the saddle.

7》 Physics denoting a flavour of quark having a charge of + 2/3.

noun informal a period of good fortune.

verb (ups, upping, upped)

1》 (up and do something) informal do something abruptly or boldly.

2》 increase (a level or amount).

3》 lift up.

Phrases

be up on be well informed about.

it is all up with informal it is the end or there is no hope for.

on the up and up informal

1》 Brit. steadily improving.

2》 chiefly N. Amer. honest; sincere.

something is up informal something unusual or undesirable is happening.

up against close to or touching.

↘informal confronted with.

up and doing active.

up and down in various places throughout.

up and running functioning.

up before appearing for a hearing in the presence of (a judge, magistrate, etc.).

up for

1》 available for.

2》 due or being considered for.

3》 (often up for it) informal ready to take part in.

up hill and down dale all over the place.

up to

1》 as far as.

    ↘(also up until) until.

2》 indicating a maximum amount.

3》 [with negative or in questions] good enough for.

4》 capable of.

5》 the duty or choice of.

6》 informal occupied with.

up top Brit. informal in the way of intelligence.

up yours vulgar slang expressing angry or contemptuous defiance or rejection.

what's up? informal what is going on?

↘what is the matter?

Origin

OE up(p), uppe, of Gmc origin.