Definition of up

What does the word up mean?

• part of speech: noun

  u. against (slang), confronted with (obstacle &c.); it is u. to one to do (United States), he is called upon, it is the time for him, it rests with or is incumbent on him, to.

• part of speech: adverb

  To or in a high (er) place, position, degree, amount, value, &c., to or in a capital or university or place further north or otherwise conventionally regarded as high (er), as bird flew up to the eares, high up in the air, what is he doing up there?, horse might have won with a better jockey up (in saddle), lives four floors up, a few feet further up, flames mount up, total mounts up, tide is coming up, water came up to his chin, a hundred up (on scoring-board, scored in game), sums up to 5, lives up to (spends all) his income, up to the MARK, am not up to (fit for) travelling, custom is traced up (back) to the Stuarts, up to DATE, lift up your head, as far up (north) as Aberdeen, Oxford men just going up, stayed up (at Oxford &c.) for the vacation, ran up to town (London) for the day, was had up (before magistrate) on a charge of drunkenness, sailed up (towards source) as far as the river was navigable, corn is up (at high price), is high up in the school, went up three places in class, ran up a bill, have looked for it up& down (in every direction); to the place in question or in which the speaker &c. is, as child came up& asked me the time, went straight up to the door, sure to TURN up late; to or in erect or vertical position (lit. & fig.) esp. as favourable to activity, out of bed or lying or sitting or kneeling posture, in (to) condition of efficiency or activity, as sprang up from his seat, stand up, (with get, stand, &c. understood) up!, up with you, get up, up with it, put it up, was (already) up early this morning, was (still) up late last night, must be up& doing, Home Secretary is up (has risen to speak, is speaking), stir up sedition, GET up, screw up your courage, wind up watch, beer is not up (is flat), nation is up in arms (armed& ready to fight lit. & fig., often against), whole of the west was up (in rebellion &c.), his blood is up (anger or spirit roused), is well up (instructed) in mathematics, what is up (going on)?, what tricks have you been up to (playing)?, up to SNUFF, do not feel up (equal) to work, this cigar is not up to much (is poor); (expr. complete or effectual result &c.) eat, drink, burn, dry, tear, up, speak up (loudly), hunt up, find by hunting, follow up, praise up, save up, accumulate by saving, pack, PUT, bind, store, lock, chain, tie, fasten, fix, nail, seal, up (securely), time is up (exhausted), GIVE up, hurry up, MAKE up, cheer up, clear up, it is all up with him, his case is hopeless; HARD-up. (Prep.) to a higher point of, on or along in ascending direction, as climbed up the ladder, up the hill, smoke goes up chimney, sailed up (towards source of) the river, walked up (towards higher or more central part of, or simply along) the street, up hill& down dale, up& down in every direction, taking the country as it comes; at or in a higher part of, as lives further up the road, somewhere up the river, saw him sitting half-a-mile up the hill, up a TREE, up the SPOUT. (Adj.) moving, sloping, going, towards a higher point or to the capital, as up stroke, line (of railway), train. (N.) ups& downs, rises& falls, undulating ground, alternately good& bad fortune. [old English]