up
$ \mathrm{up}^1 /ʌp/
1 towards or in a higher position
He jumped up from his chair.
Your mum said you were up here (= upstairs).
The sun was already up (= had risen) when they set off.
They live up in the mountains.
It didn't take long to put the tent up.
You look nice with your hair up (= arranged on top of or at the back of your head).
Lay the cards face up (= facing upwards) on the table.
Up you come! (= said when lifting a child)
The car was up on blocks.
I was up on deck at first light.
Two men were up on the roof, repairing a leak.
I pinned the notice up on the wall.
She tries to stay under water but she floats back up.
2 to or at a higher level
She turned the volume up.
Prices are still going up (= rising).
United were 3–1 up at half-time.
The wind is getting up (= blowing more strongly).
Sales are well up on last year.
3 to the place where somebody/something is
A car drove up and he got in.
She went straight up to the door and knocked loudly.
4 out of bed
I stayed up late (= did not go to bed until late) last night.
(British English) He's up and about again after his illness.
5 to or at an important place, especially a large city
We're going up to New York for the day.
(British English, formal) His son's up at Oxford (= Oxford University).
6 to a place in the north of a country; further north than somewhere else
They've moved up north.
We drove up to Inverness to see my father.
I'm up there almost every other weekend
Up here in Liverpool things are different.
We ate all the food up.
The stream has dried up.
8 so as to be finished or closed
I have some paperwork to finish up.
Do your coat up; it's cold.
9 into pieces or parts
She tore the paper up.
They've had the road up (= with the surface broken or removed) to lay some pipes.
How shall we divide up the work?
10 so as to be formed or brought together
The government agreed to set up a committee of inquiry.
She gathered up her belongings.
11 (of a period of time) finished; over
Time's up. Stop writing and hand in your papers.
12 (informal) used to say that something is happening, especially something unusual or unpleasant
I could tell something was up by the looks on their faces.
What's up? (= What is the matter?)
What's up with him? He looks furious.
Is anything up? You can tell me.
13 about to happen, be discussed, etc.
Next up in our top ten is a new release by Ariana Grande.
Up after the break we will be introducing our mystery guest!
Idioms
to be somebody’s duty or responsibility; to be for somebody to decide
It's not up to you to tell me how to do my job.
Shall we eat out or stay in? It's up to you.
(British English) to be of poor quality; to not be very good
His work isn't up to much.
(informal) facing problems or opposition
Teachers are up against some major problems these days.
She's really up against it (= in a difficult situation).
1 moving upwards and downwards
The boat bobbed up and down on the water.
2 in one direction and then in the opposite direction
She was pacing up and down in front of her desk.
3 sometimes good and sometimes bad
My relationship with him was up and down.
4 (North American English, informal) if you swear up and down that something is true, you say that it is definitely true
(of a system, for example a computer system) working; being used
By that time the new system should be up and running.
appearing in front of somebody in authority for a judgement to be made about something that you have done
He came up before the local magistrate for speeding.
1 on offer for something
The house is up for sale.
2 being considered for something, especially as a candidate
Two candidates are up for election.
3 (informal) willing to take part in a particular activity
We're going clubbing tonight. Are you up for it?
(informal) among or almost the best, worst, most important, etc.
It may not have been the worst week of my life but it's up there.
OK, it's not my absolute dream, but it's up there.
These people can’t live without the internet—it’s up there with air and water.
1 as far as a particular number, level, etc.
I can take up to four people (= but no more than four) in my car.
The temperature went up to 35°C.
Read up to page 100.
Up to now he's been very quiet.
e.g.
3 as high or as good as something
Her latest book isn't up to her usual standard.
4 (also up to doing something) physically or mentally capable of something
He's not up to the job.
I don't feel up to going to work today.
5 (informal) doing something, especially something bad
What's she up to?
What've you been up to?
I'm sure he's up to no good (= doing something bad).