D defs.my
Entry 11 senses · 4 variants Webster, 1913

Up

/(ŭp)/ · IPA /ʌp/
01 adv. Aloft; on high; in a direction contrary to that of gravity; toward or in a higher place or position; above; -- the opposite of down.
  1. 1.
    Aloft; on high; in a direction contrary to that of gravity; toward or in a higher place or position; above; -- the opposite of down.
    “But up or down, By center or eccentric, hard to tell.” Milton.
  2. 2.
    From a lower to a higher position, literally or figuratively; as, from a recumbent or sitting position; from the mouth, toward the source, of a river; from a dependent or inferior condition; from concealment; from younger age; from a quiet state, or the like; -- used with verbs of motion expressed or implied.
    “But they presumed to go up unto the hilltop.” — Num. xiv. 44.
    “I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up.” — Ps. lxxxviii. 15.
    Up rose the sun, and up rose Emelye.” Chaucer.
    “We have wrought ourselves up into this degree of Christian indifference.” Atterbury.
  3. 3.
    In a higher place or position, literally or figuratively; in the state of having arisen; in an upright, or nearly upright, position; standing; mounted on a horse; in a condition of elevation, prominence, advance, proficiency, excitement, insurrection, or the like; -- used with verbs of rest, situation, condition, and the like; as, to be up on a hill; the lid of the box was up; prices are up.
    “And when the sun was up, they were scorched.” — Matt. xiii. 6.
    “Those that were up themselves kept others low.” Spenser.
    “Helen was up -- was she?” Shak.
    “Rebels there are up, And put the Englishmen unto the sword.” Shak.
    “His name was up through all the adjoining provinces, even to Italy and Rome; many desiring to see who he was that could withstand so many years the Roman puissance.” Milton.
    “Thou hast fired me; my soul's up in arms.” Dryden.
    “Grief and passion are like floods raised in little brooks by a sudden rain; they are quickly up.” Dryden.
    “A general whisper ran among the country people, that Sir Roger was up.” Addison.
    “Let us, then, be up and doing, With a heart for any fate.” Longfellow.
  4. 4.
    To or in a position of equal advance or equality; not short of, back of, less advanced than, away from, or the like; -- usually followed by to or with; as, to be up to the chin in water; to come up with one's companions; to come up with the enemy; to live up to engagements.
    “As a boar was whetting his teeth, up comes a fox to him.” L'Estrange.
  5. 5.
    To or in a state of completion; completely; wholly; quite; as, in the phrases to eat up; to drink up; to burn up; to sum up; etc.; to shut up the eyes or the mouth; to sew up a rent.
  6. 6.
    Aside, so as not to be in use; as, to lay up riches; put up your weapons.
    Up, up, my friend! and quit your books, Or surely you 'll grow double.” Wordsworth.
    “Fortune . . . led him up and down.” Chaucer.
02 prep. From a lower to a higher place on, upon, or along; at a higher situation upon; at the top of.
  1. 1.
    From a lower to a higher place on, upon, or along; at a higher situation upon; at the top of.
    “In going up a hill, the knees will be most weary; in going down, the thihgs.” Bacon.
  2. 2.
    From the coast towards the interior of, as a country; from the mouth towards the source of, as a stream; as, to journey up the country; to sail up the Hudson.
  3. 3.
    Upon.[Obs.]
03 n. The state of being up or above; a state of elevation, prosperity, or the like; -- rarely occurring except in the phrase ups and downs.
  1. 1.
    The state of being up or above; a state of elevation, prosperity, or the like; -- rarely occurring except in the phrase ups and downs.[Colloq.]
    “They had their ups and downs of fortune.” Thackeray.
Phrases & compounds
Ups and downs — alternate states of elevation and depression, or of prosperity and the contrary.
04 a. Inclining up; tending or going up; upward; as, an up look; an up grade; the up train.
  1. 1.
    Inclining up; tending or going up; upward; as, an up look; an up grade; the up train.