Dictionary
up
Pronunciation: (up), [key]
—adv., prep., adj., n., v., upped, up•ping.
—
adv.
1. to, toward, or in a more elevated position:
to climb up to the top of a ladder.
2. to or in an erect position:
to stand up.
3. out of bed:
to get up.
4. above the horizon:
The moon came up.
5. to or at any point that is considered higher.
6. to or at a source, origin, center, or the like:
to follow a stream up to its source.
7. to or at a higher point or degree, as of rank, size, value, pitch, loudness, brightness, maturity, or speed:
to move up in a firm; to pump up a tire; to turn a lantern up; Prices are going up. Speak up! Hurry up!
8. ahead; in a leading position in a competition:
He managed to get up on his opponent by three points.
9. in continuing contact, esp. as reflecting continuing awareness, knowledge, etc.:
to keep up with the latest developments in mathematics.
10. into or in activity, operation, etc.:
to set up vibrations.
11. into a state of emotional agitation or distress:
His insults left her all roiled up.
12. into existence, visible form, etc.:
His sample was worked up in the studio.
13. into view, prominence, or consideration:
The lost papers have turned up.
14. into or in a place of safekeeping, storage, retirement, etc.:
to lay up riches; to put up preserves.
15. into or in a state of union, contraction, etc.:
to add up a column of figures; to fold up.
16. to the required or final point:
to pay up one's debts; burned up.
17. to a state of completion; to an end:
She finished it all up.
18. to a halt:
The riders reined up and dismounted.
19. Baseball.being the player or team batting; at bat.
20. (used as a function word for additional emphasis, sometimes prec. by
it):
Go wake your father up. What plugged it up? We laughed it up.
21. ahead of an opponent or opponents in points, games, etc.:
The golfer was two strokes up on his nearest competitor.
22. each; apiece:
The score was seven up in the final quarter.
23. (of machines or equipment, as computers) working; in working order or in operation.
24. Informal.without the addition of ice; straight up:
Bring me a martini, up.
25. Naut.toward the wind:
Put the helm up.
26. all up with, at or approaching the end of; with defeat or ruin imminent for:
He realized it was all up with him when the search party began to close in.
27. go up in one's lines. See
line 1 (def. 58).
28. up against, faced or confronted with:
They were up against formidable obstacles.
29. up against it, in a difficult situation, esp. in financial straits:
There was no one to help him when he was up against it.
30. up and around, recovered from an illness; able to leave one's bed.
Also,up and about.
31. up and down,
a. back and forth; backward and forward:
He paced up and down.
b. from top to bottom or head to toe:
She looked me up and down before replying.
32. up for, considered as eligible or as a possibility for (something):
The child is up for adoption. Three actresses are up for the role.
33. up to,
a. as far as or approaching (a certain part, degree, point, etc.):
She went wading up to her knees. I am up to the eighth lesson.
b. in full realization or attainment of:
He worked up to president of the company.
c. as many as; to the limit of:
The car will seat up to five persons.
d. having adequate powers or ability for; capable of; equal to:
He didn't think I was up to the job.
e. the duty or responsibility of; incumbent upon:
It's up to you to break the news to him.
f. engaged in; contriving; doing:
What have you been up to lately?
—
prep.
1. to, toward, or at an elevated place on or in:
They went up the stairs. The cat is up the tree.
2. to, toward, or at a high or higher station, condition, or rank on or in:
He is well up the social ladder.
3. at or to a farther point or higher place on or in:
She is up the street. I'm going up the street.
4. toward the source, origin, etc., of:
up the stream.
5. toward a particular direction or in the interior of, as a region or territory:
The explorers were up north.
6. in a course or direction that is contrary to that of:
to row up the current.
7. up your ass, Slang (vulgar). See
shove (def. 6).
Also,up yours.
—
adj.
1. moving in or related to a direction that is up or is regarded as up:
the up elevator; the up train traveling north; the up platform of a railroad station.
2. informed; familiar; aware (usually fol. by
on or
in):
She is always up on current events.
3. concluded; ended; finished; terminated:
The game is up. Your hour is up.
4. going on or happening; taking place; occurring:
What's up over there?
5. having a high position or station:
He is up in society.
6. in an erect, vertical, or raised position:
The gate at the railroad crossing is up. The tent is up.
7. above the earth or ground:
The corn is up and ready to be harvested.
8. in the air; aloft:
The meteorological balloons are up. The airplanes are up for their reconnaissance flights.
9. (of heavenly bodies) risen above the horizon:
The sun is up.
10. awake or out of bed:
to be up with insomnia.
11. mounted on horseback:
He knows which jockeys are up in every race.
12. (of water in natural bodies) high with relation to the banks or shore:
The tide is up.
13. built; constructed:
The new museum is up and open to the public.
14. facing upward:
He is resting and his face is up.
15. See
sunnyside up.
16. (of roads, highways, etc.) having the surface broken or removed (usually used in combination):
a torn-up road.
17. in revolt, mutiny, or rebellious agitation:
Many territories were up and preparing to send troops against the government.
18. in a state of agitation:
Beware of him when his temper is up.
19. Informal.cheerful or optimistic; high-spirited; happy; exuberant; upbeat.
20. Informal.productive, favorable, or profitable:
a string of up months for the company.
21. afoot or amiss:
Her nervous manner told me that something was up.
22. in a state of enthusiastic or confident readiness (usually fol. by
for):
The team was definitely up for the game.
23. bound; on the way:
She was on a ship up for Australia.
24. resolved in an unfavorable or undesired way:
They knew that their game was up.
25. higher than formerly in cost, amount, degree, etc.:
The price of meat was up.
26. (of age) advanced (usually fol. by
in):
He is rather spry for a man so up in years.
27. active:
The captain wished to set sail as soon as the wind was up.
28. in a legal proceeding as defendant:
He is up for murder.
29. in operation or ready for use:
The theater's lights are up.
30. (of points or other standards used to determine the winner in a competition) ahead; in advance:
He won the game with two points up over his opponent.
31. considered or under consideration:
a candidate up for reelection; a bill that is up before Congress.
32. wagered; bet:
He won all the money up in the game.
33. living or located inland or on elevated ground:
They live in a village two miles up from the coast.
34. (used with a preceding numeral to indicate that a score is tied in a competition):
It was 10 up at the end of the first half.
35. ahead of an opponent or opponents:
They scored three times in a row to go two up.
36. straight up. See
straight (def. 38).
37. up and doing, Informal.actively engaged; alert; busy:
During her convalescence she longed to be up and doing.
—
n.
1. an upward movement; ascent.
2. a rise of fortune, mood, etc.
3. a time of good fortune, prosperity, or happiness:
He has had more ups than downs in his career.
4. an upbound means of public transportation, as a train or bus.
5. Informal.a feeling or state of happiness, exuberance, or elation.
6. Slang.upper (def. 10).
7. a person or thing that is in a favorable position of wealth, fortune, etc.:
People who were ups in the business world suffered losses in the economic depression.
8. an upward slope; elevation.
9. an upward course or rise, as in price or value:
The landlord promised his tenants there would be no further ups in the rent this year.
10. Slang.upper
2.
11. on the up and up, Informal.frank; honest; sincere:
He seems to be on the up and up. Also,on the up-and-up.
—
v.t.
1. to put or take up.
2. to make larger; step up:
to up output.
3. to raise; go better than (a preceding wager):
to up the ante.
—
v.i.
1. Informal.to start up; begin something abruptly (usually fol. by
and and another verb):
Then he upped and ran away from home.
2. (often used imperatively or hortatively) to rise up:
Up, men, and fight until all the enemy are defeated! up-
a combining form of
up: upland; upshot; upheaval.up.
1. underproof (alcohol).
2. upper.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
