# up

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/up
Updated: 2026-07-09

## Senses

### 1. toward a higher point

preposition · CEFR A1

moving from a lower position to a higher one.

For teachers: indicating movement from a lower to a higher point on a vertical or inclined surface.

- The cat ran up the tree to escape from the dog.
- The hikers struggled to maintain their pace as they climbed up the steep mountain trail in the thinning air.

### 2. further along

preposition · CEFR A2

further along a road, river, or path.

For teachers: indicating a position further along a linear path, often toward a source or a perceived 'top' end.

- There is a small grocery store just up the street from here.
- The research vessel travelled up the river to investigate the impact of industrial runoff near the headwaters.

### 3. higher position

adverb · CEFR A1

at or to a higher place.

For teachers: to or in a higher place or position; often used as a particle in phrasal verbs.

- She looked up at the stars through her telescope.
- The balloon drifted up until it was nothing more than a tiny red speck against the blue sky.

### 4. completely finished

adverb · CEFR B1

used to show that an action is finished or done completely.

For teachers: used as a telic aspect marker to indicate the completion or exhaustion of an action.

- The children ate up all their vegetables so they could have dessert.
- The fire quickly used up the remaining oxygen in the room, forcing the firefighters to retreat.

### 5. awake

adjective · CEFR A1

out of bed and awake.

For teachers: risen from sleep or bed; no longer reclining.

- Are you up yet, or are you still sleeping?
- He had been up since four in the morning, preparing the bakery for the early rush of commuters.

### 6. increased

adjective · CEFR B1

higher in price, amount, or level than before.

For teachers: indicating an increase in value, volume, or quantity relative to a previous state.

- Gas prices are up again this week because of the holiday.
- Despite the economic downturn, the company's quarterly profits were up by nearly twelve percent.

### 7. happening

adjective · CEFR A2 · Informal

happening or wrong.

For teachers: occurring or amiss; frequently used in interrogative phrases regarding a situation.

- You look very sad; what's up?
- The manager sensed something was up when the usually talkative team became silent as she entered the room.

### 9. to increase

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to make something larger or higher, like a price or a level.

For teachers: to increase the amount, level, or value of something. Transitive use.

- The landlord decided to up the rent by fifty dollars a month.
- The tech giant decided to up the stakes by announcing a rival product just days before the competitor's launch.

### 10. good times

noun · CEFR B1

good times or successful moments.

For teachers: periods of success, prosperity, or happiness; almost always paired with 'downs'.

- Every marriage has its ups and downs over the years.
- The entrepreneur reflected on the many ups and downs of her career before finally achieving international success.

## Examples

- We walked up the stairs to the second floor.
- The hikers spent all morning climbing up the steep mountain trail to reach the summit before noon.
- The smoke rose steadily up the chimney, indicating that the flue was clear and the fire was drawing properly.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.