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up-
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pref.
1. Up; upward: upheave.
2. Upper: upland.

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

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 
UP
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abbr.
Upper Peninsula

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 
up (ŭp)
Share:
adv.
1.
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.
3.
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.
2.
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.
5.
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.
n.
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.
4.
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.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 

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.