up

Definitions

1. adverb

   Toward a higher place, away from the ground.

   Examples

   • I looked up and saw the airplane overhead.
   • The plants grow up toward the light.
   ≈alley oop
2. adverb

   To a higher position.

   Examples

   • All day we climbed up and up.
   • Lift the carpet up and look underneath.
3. adverb

   To a higher level or amount.

   Examples

   • The price of gold has gone up.
   • Turn it up, I can barely hear it.
4. adverb

   To a standing or sitting straight position.

   Examples

   • Please sit up and listen.
   • It's time to get up out of bed.
5. adverb

   Toward the top of something.

   Examples

   • Go back up to the top of the page.
   • A pain shot up from my toes to my chest.
6. adverb

   Toward a main place, such as a big city.

   Examples

   • We traveled from Yorkshire up to London.
   • I'm going up to the other end of town.
7. adverb

   Toward the north.

   Examples

   • I live in Florida, but I'm going up to New York this weekend.
   • We drove up to Scotland for the holidays.
8. adverb

   Against the direction of the wind or a river.

   Examples

   • The boat struggled to sail up against the current.
   • Rowing up the river took twice as long as coming down.
9. adverb

   Toward the main station on a railway line.

   Examples

   • The up train leaves platform two at nine o'clock.
   • We took the up line back into the city.
10. adverb

    To a university such as Oxford or Cambridge, in British English.

    Examples

    • She is going up to Cambridge this September.
    • He went up to Oxford at the age of eighteen.