up - Definition & Meaning | Lingo Dictionary

at or toward a higher level or position

She looked up and saw the bird perched above her.
He reached up and turned on the light.
The balloon floated up.
Climbing up took more effort than she expected.
The cat leaped up onto the shelf.

Synonyms:

upwardly upwards upward

Antonyms:

down

toward a higher intensity or level

She turned the music up before dancing.
The crowd fired up as the game progressed.
He cranked the heat up in the car.
Tensions flared up during the debate.
The noise level went up as more people arrived.

Synonyms:

upward

Antonyms:

down

ahead in a competition, comparison, or quantitative measure

Our team was two points up by halftime.
He finished the round five strokes up.
We ended the night $100 up.
She was one set up in the finals.
The boxer was clearly up on the scorecards.

Synonyms:

out front ahead in the lead in front

toward where someone is physically situated

The dog ran up to greet her.
She crept up behind her friend with a laugh.
He came up while I was gardening.
They walked up just as we were leaving.
The child snuck up and surprised me.

toward or being present in a primary city, especially a national capital

He's gone up to Washington for the summit.
They travel up to London twice a year.
I'll be up in the city for a few days.
She moved up to the capital last fall.
He's staying up in New York this week.

into a state of proper order, preparation, or readiness

We set the lab up for the experiment.
They got the system up and running.
He dressed up for the occasion.
Let's clean this place up before guests arrive.
She patched the tent up after the storm.

into a more cheerful, positive, or optimistic state

That song always cheers me up.
She brightened up when she saw him.
A good laugh perked him up.
He's trying to keep up despite the bad news.
The sunny weather lifted us up.

into an upright, elevated, or raised position

He stood up and gave a speech.
The flag shot up quickly after the victory.
The baby pulled herself up on the couch.
I sat up when the phone rang.
The bottle flipped up on the table.

Synonyms:

vertically perpendicularly uprightly erectly plumb straight upright

in a publicly visible position

His name is up on the list.
The notice went up this morning.
Posters are up all over campus.
Their photos are up in the hallway.
A new schedule was put up today.

(of sailing) in the direction against wind or current

They sailed up into the wind to gain position.
The crew worked hard to keep the boat heading up.
He tacked up in choppy waters.
The vessel was steered up with great effort.
We managed to move up despite the headwind.

Synonyms:

upstream against

(baseball) at the plate and ready to bat

He was up in the ninth inning.
Every time he's up, the crowd gets quiet.
She'll be up next after the pinch hitter.
He struck out last time he was up.
The rookie is up and ready to swing.

into view, awareness, or existence

The missing file finally turned up.
A clue showed up during the inspection.
He popped up when I least expected.
A new witness came up with key info.
The solution eventually came up in conversation.

securely in place

She buttoned her coat up against the wind.
He tied the sack up tightly.
Wrap up or you'll catch a cold.
Can you do my zip up for me?
He laced his boots up before the hike.

into storage or reserved position

They laid up supplies for winter.
She put the preserves up for the season.
We packed everything up into boxes.
The boat was hauled up for repairs.
The archives were sealed up in climate-controlled vaults.

to a halt, ending movement or operation

He pulled up at the red light.
The car drew up beside us.
She brought the horse up with a sharp tug.
The truck pulled up to the gate.
They fetched up at the edge of the cliff.

to or at an equal level in a competition or comparison

The game is 15 up going into the final round.
They were two up after five holes.
The match is now all square; 12 up.
The teams were tied 5 up at halftime.
It's 10 up; a tight contest.

into separate pieces or parts or broken apart

She tore the letter up in frustration.
He chopped the wood up for kindling.
The land was split up among heirs.
They broke the ice up on the path.
The map was folded up and packed away.

Synonyms:

asunder apart

to or toward a more advanced stage of life or development

He grew up in a small town.
They raised three children up to adulthood.
The seedlings are coming up nicely in the garden.
She matured up beautifully.
Many challenges come up as they grow up.

Synonyms:

upwards upward

used to refer to drinks served without ice or dilution

I'll have my whiskey up, please.
He ordered a martini up.
Gin up with a twist, she said.
They served the vodka up, no mixer.
I like my bourbon up and neat.

Synonyms:

neat