up

verb

upped ˈəpt  or in intransitive verb sense 2 up; upped; upping; ups or in intransitive verb sense 2 up

intransitive verb

1

a

: to rise from a lying or sitting position

b

: to move upward : ascend

2

—used with and and another verb to indicate that the action of the following verb was either surprisingly or abruptly initiated

he up and quit his job

transitive verb

1

: raise, lift

2

a

: to advance to a higher level:

(1)

: increase

upped prices

(2)

: promote sense 1a

b

: raise sense 8d

Synonyms of up

• increase
• expand
• accelerate
• boost
• augment
• raise

Examples of up in a Sentence

climbing fuel prices have forced the delivery company to up its prices

the road constantly ups and downs as it makes its way over the hills

Recent Examples on the Web

Goldman Sachs upped its PT on Dell to $500 from $230. —Jim Cramer, CNBC, 1 June 2026

Madonna upped the glamour in a statement diamond necklace. —Lara Walsh, InStyle, 1 June 2026

Deco and the board launched a €100 million bid for the Argentine on the same day Gordon was announced, and will have to up the ante to get their man alongside a potential pursuit of Jan Virgili. —Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026

Mater Dei upped the lead to 3-0, scoring twice in the third. —Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1635, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Rhymes for up

• cup
• pup
• sup
• yup
• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup

Kids Definition

up

1 of 5 adverb

ˈəp 

1

a

: in or to a higher position or level

especially : away from the center of the earth

held up my hand

b

: from beneath a surface (as ground or water)

pulling up weeds

c

: from below the horizon

watched the moon come up

d

: in or into an upright position

stand up

e

: out of bed

stayed up late

2

: with greater force

speak up

3

a

: in or into a better or more advanced state

worked our way up in the world

b

: at an end

our time was up

c

: in or into a state of greater activity

stir up a fire

d

: to or at a greater rate, speed, or amount

prices went up

4

a

: into existence, evidence, or knowledge

the missing ring turned up

b

: into consideration

brought the matter up

5

: into possession or control

gave himself up

6

: entirely, completely

eat it up

the house burned up

7

: in or into storage

lay up supplies

put our boat up for the winter

8

: so as to arrive or approach

came up the drive

9

: in or into parts

tear up paper

10

: to a stop

pull up

drew up at the curb

11

: for each side

score was 15 up

up

2 of 5 adjective

1

a

: risen above the horizon or ground

the sun was up

b

: being out of bed

c

: higher than usual

the river is up

prices are up

d

: raised so as to be open : lifted

windows are up

e

: put together : built

the house is up

f

: grown above a surface

the corn is up

g

: moving or going upward

the up escalator

2

a

: being on one's feet and busy

was eager to be up and doing

b

: well prepared

the team was up for the game

c

: going on : taking place

find out what is up

3

: well informed

always up on the news

4

: being ahead of an opponent

was three games up in the series

5

a

: presented for or under consideration

up for reelection

b

: charged before a court

was up for robbery

c

: being the one whose turn it is

you're up next

up

3 of 5 preposition

(ˌ)əp, 

ˈəp

1

: to, toward, or at a higher point of

up the hill

2

a

: toward the beginning of

going up the river

b

: toward the northern or upper end or part of

sailed up the coast

3

: along the course of

walking up the street

up

4 of 5 noun

ˈəp

1

: an upward course or slope

2

: a period or state of success

had had my ups and downs

up

5 of 5 verb

upped or in sense 1 up; upped; upping; ups or in sense 1 up

1

: to act suddenly or surprisingly

up and left town

2

: to rise from a lying or sitting position

3

: to move or cause to move upward : ascend, raise

upped the prices

Medical Definition

UP

abbreviation

urticaria pigmentosa