26984 words

ups

79 definitions • 136 examples
1
towards a higher position; towards a higher value, number, or level:

Examples:

Put those books up on the top shelf.
A gravel road leads through the jungle and up into the Andes.
Pushing the number of unit sales up every quarter can't be continued indefinitely.
up to The water was up to/had come up to the level of the windows.
2
out of the ground:

Examples:

3

Examples:

jump up and down My little girl started jumping up and down with rage when she heard she couldn't go.
4
in or into a vertical position:

Examples:

Would you stand up for a minute? I want to see how tall you are.
5
in a high position; at the top:

Examples:

Our boardroom is up on the 23rd floor.
way up You can tell which way up the crates have to be because they all say "TOP".
6
very near:

Examples:

up to Carrying a gun, he walked up to the cashier and demanded money.
draw up A limousine drew up (= parked) outside the hotel.
7
to a greater degree; in order to increase:

Examples:

heat something up The fire heats the room up (= makes it warmer) within minutes.
turn something up Grandma always turns the TV up really loud because she can't hear very well.
get worked up Try not to get worked up (= increasingly excited or angry) - I'm sure we can resolve this.
8
If a level or amount is up, it has increased:

Examples:

The cost of car insurance is up, but not very much.
up something on something Last year the company's turnover was $240 billion, up three percent on (= compared with) the previous year.
9
not in bed:

Examples:

get up It's time to get up now!
I was up all night, finishing my essay.
10
to be able to get out of bed and move around again after a period of illness, because your health has improved enough:

Examples:

I was up and about a few hours after giving birth.
11
into existence, view, or attention:

Examples:

be set up Originally the charity was set up to help orphans in urban areas.
come up I'm sorry, but something unexpected has come up (= has happened) at the office, and I'll be home late.
coming up Coming up (= happening next) after the break, we have a man who claims he can communicate with fish.
bring something up Would this be a good time to bring up the issue of salary?
12
so as to be equal in quality, knowledge, or achievement:

Examples:

catch up (with) She couldn't go to school for a few weeks because of illness, but she'll be able to catch up (with her work) quickly.
keep up (with) So much scientific research is being performed that it's virtually impossible to keep up (with all the new developments).
13
in a state of being together with other similar things:

Examples:

You have half an hour to gather up anything you'll need for the journey.
add something up Add up the column of numbers in your head and then tell me what the total is.
14
tightly or firmly in order to keep something safe or in position:

Examples:

tie something up Tie up the top of the bag so the rubbish doesn't fall out.
wrap up You'd better wrap up (= wear warm clothes) - it's cold outside.
do something up UK Can you do my shoelaces up for me?
15
broken or cut into smaller pieces; made smaller in area:

Examples:

cut something up He cut the letter up into a hundred pieces.
fold something up She folded the newspaper up and put it in her bag.
blow up The car blew up (= exploded) when flames reached its fuel tank.
16
to a greater age:

Examples:

grow up No one said that growing up would be easy or painless.
bring someone up Many single parents struggle to bring their children up on a low income.
17
used when talking or asking about what is happening or wrong:

Examples:

Everyone was talking in whispers, and I could tell something was up (= something unusual was happening).
18
used to ask what is wrong:

Examples:

You seem upset. What's up?
19
used to ask what is happening, often as a way of greeting someone:

Examples:

What's up, guys?
20
used to say that you do not understand something, or to ask for an explanation of something:

Examples:

I don't get what's up with all the bad reviews. I actually liked this place!
21
When a period of time is up, it is finished:

Examples:

When the two hours were up nobody had answered all of the questions.
time is up Your time is up - it's someone else's turn on the training equipment now.
22
into an improved position or state:

Examples:

move up By lap 26, Hamilton had moved up into second position.
up with Stein had a bad start to the race, but by the ninth lap she was up with the leaders.
23
to an end, finish, or state of being complete:

Examples:

finish something up Finish up the old loaf of bread before you start a new one.
end up in Crime won't help - you'll end up in prison.
round something up I'd like to round up the meeting by thanking all those who were able to attend at such short notice.
24
towards the north:

Examples:

up to On Tuesday she'll be travelling up to Atlanta from New Orleans.
25
towards a more important place, especially a city:

Examples:

up to How often do you go up to London?
up from She comes up from her village about once a month on the train.
26
intended, suggested, or being considered for something:

Examples:

up for sale That house at the end of our road is up for sale again.
27
willing and able to do or take part in an activity:

Examples:

After a long day at work I wasn't really up for a party.
28
on trial in a court:

Examples:

up before If he doesn't pay the fine soon, he'll be up before the magistrate.
up for Smith is up for armed robbery.
29
When a road is up, it is being repaired and so is unsuitable for use:

Examples:

The council has got the road up because of a broken sewer.
30
If someone's long hair is up, it is arranged on the top or back of the head:

Examples:

hair up You look nice with your hair up.
31
next to play in a game or sports match, or next to perform, happen, etc.:

Examples:

Next up after that is a match against Blackburn Rovers at home.
Up next is an untitled Woody Allen film.
32
to or in a higher level or position:

Examples:

We followed her up the stairs to a large meeting room.
33
at the top of:

Examples:

You'll find a dusty attic up these stairs.
If you want Fred, he's up that ladder.
34

Examples:

The car shot off up the road at high speed.
They live just up the road.
35
along the surface of something first in one direction and then in the opposite direction, usually repeatedly:

Examples:

He was running up and down the street, shouting.
36
towards the starting point of something, especially a river or stream:

Examples:

Rowing up (the) river against the current was very hard work.
37
to or at:

Examples:

go up Are you going up the club tonight?
38
moving up:

Examples:

an up escalator
39
When a system, computer, or similar machine is up, it is operating, especially in its usual way:

Examples:

Andy, do you know when the network will be up again?
40
feeling happy:

Examples:

She's been really up since she started her new job.
41
having more points, goals, etc. than your opponent in a match or competition:

Examples:

By half time they could have been six or seven up.
With 88 seconds remaining in the game, Hungary was up by five goals.
42
to increase something such as a price:

Examples:

We won't be able to make a profit on the deal without upping the sale price.
It looks like tax rates are going to be upped again.
43
used with another verb to emphasize that someone left a place or did something in a sudden and possibly unexpected way:

Examples:

up and leave/go After dinner they just upped and left/went without saying goodbye.
44

Examples:

45
toward a higher position, or toward a higher value, number, or level:

Examples:

Pick up your clothes and put them away.
We need to push sales figures up higher next quarter.
The kids were jumping up and down on the bed.
46
in or into a vertical position:

Examples:

She jumped up to answer the phone.
They put up (= built) the house in a matter of weeks.
47
in a high position; at the top:

Examples:

They moved to a house up in the hills.
48
to a greater degree; in order to increase:

Examples:

The afternoon sun really heats up this room (= increases the heat in this room).
Please speak up (= louder) – I can’t hear you.
49

Examples:

I didn’t hesitate to bring up the salary issue.
Something came up at the office and I had to work late.
50
so as to be equal in quality or achievement:

Examples:

It’s impossible to keep up with all the new computer developments.
51
very near:

Examples:

He walked right up to me and introduced himself.
The cop pushed me up against the wall.
52
in a state of being together with other similar things:

Examples:

Gather up your things – it’s time to go.
She added up the numbers in her head.
53
tightly or firmly in order to keep something safe or in position:

Examples:

Tie the boat up at the dock.
You’d better bundle up (= wear warm clothes) – it’s cold outside.
54
made smaller in area or amount, esp. by cutting or dividing:

Examples:

Cut the cheese up into bite-size pieces.
They broke the company up into three separate units.
He folded up the newspaper and put it in his briefcase.
55
to a greater age:

Examples:

She wants to be a singer when she grows up.
56
into an improved position or state:

Examples:

By the third lap, Simms had moved up into second position.
57
toward the north:

Examples:

She comes up from Washington about once a month.
58

Examples:

There’s a coffee shop just up the street.
59
at the top of:

Examples:

His house is up the hill.
60
out of bed:

Examples:

What time did you get up?
61
finished, or to an end, finish, or state of being completed:

Examples:

Finish up your breakfast – it’s almost time for school.
My time is almost up on the parking meter.
62
(of a system or machine, esp. a computer) operating, esp. in its usual way:

Examples:

The new inventory system should be up and running by the end of the month.
63

Examples:

The house at the end of our street is up for sale.
Ray’s up for promotion.
64
to increase the amount or level of something:

Examples:

We won’t be able to make a profit unless we up our prices.
65
towards a higher value, number, or level:
66
if a level or amount is up, it has increased:

Examples:

The cost of insurance is up quite a lot this year.
up 5%, 20%, etc. on sth Last year the company's turnover was up 3% on the previous year.
67
in a state of being together with other similar things:

Examples:

Add up the column of figures.
68
to an end or state of being complete:

Examples:

Finish up this report before you leave tonight.
I'd like to wind up the meeting by thanking you for coming.
69
intended, suggested, or being considered for something:

Examples:

Jack is up for promotion this year.
They put the building up for sale.
70
willing and able to do or take part in an activity:

Examples:

After a long day of meetings, I wasn't really up for taking the clients out for dinner.
He asked if anyone wanted to try, and I said I was up for it.
71
as high as a particular level or number:

Examples:

The Competition Commission clamped down on lenders who charge borrowers in deprived areas interest rates of up to 900%.
Owners who hire illegal workers face up to five years in prison.
Women who have been with a firm for some time are told that their files have been reviewed and suddenly their work is not up to standard.
72
until a particular point in time:

Examples:

Up to now, we've had all the resources we needed.
I was treated as a trusted employee up until about six months ago.
73
able to do something:

Examples:

I had four hundred pages of reports to read, and I just didn't feel up to it.
up to the job/task Do you think he's up to the job?
74
if a computer, system, etc. is up, it is operating normally:

Examples:

The system is up again, so we have to get back to work.
Do you know when the network will be up again?
75
if a computer, machine, or system is up and running, it is operating normally:

Examples:

The air-conditioning is up and running again after two days of problems.
76

Examples:

It's only a small business but it's definitely on the up.
House prices are still on the up.
77
used to describe something that is done legally or honestly:

Examples:

Do you feel everything with the governor's land deal was done on the up and up?
Drug makers face at least one major challenge: convincing consumers that ads are on the up and up.
78
the normal good times and bad times that happen in any situation or period:

Examples:

Luard was looking to buy a new business to balance his other companies' dependence on the ups and downs of the oil sector.
The magazine industry has had its ups and downs.
79
to increase something such as a price:

Examples:

We won't be able to make a profit on the deal without upping the sale price.
It looks like tax rates are going to be upped again.

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