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1 towards a higher place or position [≠ down]: 
We walked slowly up the hill.She picked her jacket up off the floor. paths leading up into the mountains Tim had climbed up a tree to get a better view. Put up your hand if you know the answer. The water was getting up my nose. Karen lay on her back, staring up at the ceiling.
to a higher position
We walked slowly up the hill.She picked her jacket up off the floor.paths leading up into the mountainsTim had climbed up a tree to get a better view.Put up your hand if you know the answer.The water was getting up my nose.Karen lay on her back, staring up at the ceiling.2 in a higher place or position [≠ down]: John's up in his bedroom. a plane flying 30,000 feet up Her office is just up those stairs. The doctor's assistant was up a ladder in the stockroom.
in a higher position
John's up in his bedroom.a plane flying 30,000 feet upHer office is just up those stairs.The doctor's assistant was up a ladder in the stockroom.3 into an upright or raised position : Everyone stood up for the national anthem. Mick turned his collar up against the biting winds.
to be upright
Everyone stood up for the national anthem.Mick turned his collar up against the biting winds.4 in or to a place that is further along something such as a road or path [= down]: She lives just up the street. We walked up the road towards the church.
along
She lives just up the street.We walked up the road towards the church.5SG in or towards the north : They live up north. We're driving up to Chicago for the conference. a stormy voyage up the east coast from Miami to Boston
north
They live up north.We're driving up to Chicago for the conference.a stormy voyage up the east coast from Miami to Boston6 very close to someone or something : A man came up and offered to buy him a drink.
close
A man came up and offered to buy him a drink.7 used to show that the place someone goes to is more important than the place they start from : Have you been up to London recently?
to more important place
Have you been up to London recently?8 towards the place where a river starts [≠ down]: sailing up the Thames The river steamers only went up as far as Mandalay.
river
sailing up the ThamesThe river steamers only went up as far as Mandalay.9 at or towards a higher level or a greater amount [≠ down]: Turn up the radio. Violent crime went up by 9% last year. Inflation is up by 2%.
more
Turn up the radio.Violent crime went up by 9% last year.Inflation is up by 2%.10 beating your opponent by a certain number of points [≠ down]
winning
British English11 not in bed : Are the kids still up? They stayed up all night to watch the game.
not in bed
Are the kids still up?They stayed up all night to watch the game.12 used after certain verbs to show that something is completely finished, used, or removed : We've used up all our savings. The children had to eat up all their food. After a month, the wound had almost healed up.
finishing
We've used up all our savings.The children had to eat up all their food.After a month, the wound had almost healed up.13 used after certain verbs to show that something is cut, broken etc into pieces or divided into parts : Why did you tear up that letter? We still haven't decided how to divide up the money.
cutting/dividing
Why did you tear up that letter?We still haven't decided how to divide up the money.14 used after certain verbs to show that things are collected together : Let's just add up these figures quickly. Could you collect up the papers?
collecting
Let's just add up these figures quickly.Could you collect up the papers?15 used to say which surface or part of an object should be on top : Put the playing cards right side up. Isn't that painting the wrong way up?
part on top
Put the playing cards right side up.Isn't that painting the wrong way up?16 above and including a certain level, age, or amount : All the women were naked from the waist up.
above a level
All the women were naked from the waist up.17
up and down
a) backwards and forwards : Ralph paced up and down the room, looking worried.
Ralph paced up and down the room, looking worried.b) if someone is up and down, they sometimes feel well or happy and sometimes do not : Jason's been very up and down since his girlfriend left him.
Jason's been very up and down since his girlfriend left him.c) to a higher position and then a lower position, several times : They were all jumping up and down and screaming excitedly. Shivers ran up and down my body.
They were all jumping up and down and screaming excitedly.Shivers ran up and down my body. look somebody up and down (=look at someone in order to judge their appearance or character) Maisie looked her rival up and down with a critical eye.
Maisie looked her rival up and down with a critical eye.18
up to something
a) as much or as many as a certain amount or number but not more : The Olympic Stadium will hold up to 80,000 spectators.
The Olympic Stadium will hold up to 80,000 spectators.b) also up till for the whole of a period until a certain time or date : She continued to care for her father up to the time of his death. We've kept our meetings secret up to now.
She continued to care for her father up to the time of his death.We've kept our meetings secret up to now.c) [in questions and negatives] clever, good, or well enough to do something : I'm afraid Tim just isn't up to the job (=he does not have the necessary ability). You don't need to go back to school if you don't feel up to it.
I'm afraid Tim just isn't up to the job (=he does not have the necessary ability).You don't need to go back to school if you don't feel up to it.d) if something is up to a particular standard, it is good enough to reach that standard : I didn't think last night's performance was up to her usual standard.
I didn't think last night's performance was up to her usual standard.e) spoken doing something secret or something that you should not be doing : The children are very quiet. I wonder what they're up to. He knew Bailey was up to something. But what?
The children are very quiet. I wonder what they're up to.He knew Bailey was up to something. But what?19
be up to somebody
a) used to say that someone can decide about something : You can pay weekly or monthly - it's up to you.
You can pay weekly or monthly - it's up to you.b) used to say that someone is responsible for a particular duty : It's up to the travel companies to warn customers of any possible dangers.
It's up to the travel companies to warn customers of any possible dangers.20 if a period of time is up, it is finished : I'm sorry, we'll have to stop there. Our time is up.
finished time
I'm sorry, we'll have to stop there. Our time is up.21TTR if a road is up, its surface is being repaired
road repairs
22TDTD if a computer system is up, it is working [≠ down]:
computer
23 having to deal with a difficult situation or opponent : He came up against a lot of problems with his boss.
up against something/somebody
He came up against a lot of problems with his boss.24
up for something
a) available for a particular process : The house is up for sale. This week 14 of Campbell's paintings were put up for auction. Even the most taboo subjects were up for discussion.
The house is up for sale.This week 14 of Campbell's paintings were put up for auction.Even the most taboo subjects were up for discussion.b) being considered for election or for a job : Senator Frank Church was coming up for re-election that year. She is one of five candidates up for the chief executive's job.
Senator Frank Church was coming up for re-election that year.She is one of five candidates up for the chief executive's job.c) SCL appearing in a court of law because you have been accused of a crime : Ron's up for drinking and driving next week.
Ron's up for drinking and driving next week.d) spoken willing to do something or interested in doing something : We're going to the pub later - are you up for it?
We're going to the pub later - are you up for it?25 if something is up, someone is feeling unhappy because they have problems, or there is something wrong in a situation : I could tell by the look on his face that something was up.
something is up
spokenI could tell by the look on his face that something was up.26 to know a lot about something : I'm not all that well up in musical matters. Conrad's really up on his geography, isn't he?
be well up in/on something
informal also be up on something American EnglishI'm not all that well up in musical matters.Conrad's really up on his geography, isn't he?27 to appear in a court of law because you have been accused of a crime : He was up before the magistrates' court charged with dangerous driving.
be up before something/somebody
informalSCLHe was up before the magistrates' court charged with dangerous driving.28 to be very upset and angry because of a particular situation or person
be up to here
British English also have had it up to here spoken29 used to express support and encouragement for a particular group of people or for a sports team
up the workers!/up the reds! etc
British English spoken30 used as a very rude and offensive reply to someone who has said something that annoys you :
up yours!
spoken not polite• 'You're not allowed to park here.' 'Up yours, mate!'
31 if you say that someone is up himself or up herself, you mean that they pay too much attention to themselves and what they do or what they look like - used to show disapproval
