up
- 01 A1 Beginner
prep.moving from a lower position to a higher one.
prep.indicating movement from a lower to a higher point on a vertical or inclined surface.
Simple“The cat ran up the tree to escape from the dog.”
In context“The hikers struggled to maintain their pace as they climbed up the steep mountain trail in the thinning air.”
- 02 A2 Elementary
prep.further along a road, river, or path.
prep.indicating a position further along a linear path, often toward a source or a perceived 'top' end.
Simple“There is a small grocery store just up the street from here.”
In context“The research vessel travelled up the river to investigate the impact of industrial runoff near the headwaters.”
- 03 A1 Beginner
adv.at or to a higher place.
adv.to or in a higher place or position; often used as a particle in phrasal verbs.
Simple“She looked up at the stars through her telescope.”
In context“The balloon drifted up until it was nothing more than a tiny red speck against the blue sky.”
- 04 B1 Intermediate
adv.used to show that an action is finished or done completely.
adv.used as a telic aspect marker to indicate the completion or exhaustion of an action.
Simple“The children ate up all their vegetables so they could have dessert.”
In context“The fire quickly used up the remaining oxygen in the room, forcing the firefighters to retreat.”
Synonyms - 05 A1 Beginner
- 06 B1 Intermediate
adj.higher in price, amount, or level than before.
adj.indicating an increase in value, volume, or quantity relative to a previous state.
Simple“Gas prices are up again this week because of the holiday.”
In context“Despite the economic downturn, the company's quarterly profits were up by nearly twelve percent.”
- 07 A2 Elementary
- 08 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to make something larger or higher, like a price or a level.
v.to increase the amount, level, or value of something. Transitive use.
Simple“The landlord decided to up the rent by fifty dollars a month.”
In context“The tech giant decided to up the stakes by announcing a rival product just days before the competitor's launch.”
- 09 B1 Intermediate
n.good times or successful moments.
n.periods of success, prosperity, or happiness; almost always paired with 'downs'.
Simple“Every marriage has its ups and downs over the years.”
In context“The entrepreneur reflected on the many ups and downs of her career before finally achieving international success.”