ENGLISH THESAURUS & DICTIONARY

up

adjective · adverb · verb

Words like up

Compare the definitions to choose the right meaning.

27 words · adjective, adverb, verbSort by

upward

Synonymadjective / adverb

Synonymadverb

Synonymadjective

Synonymadjective

Synonymadverb

Similar meaningadjective

ahead

Similar meaningadjective

awake

Similar meaningadjective

aweigh

Similar meaningadjective

dormie

Similar meaningadjective

dormy

Similar meaningadjective

finished

Similar meaningadjective

functioning

Similar meaningadjective

heavenward

Similar meaningadjective

in the lead

Similar meaningadjective

leading

Similar meaningadjective

prepared

Similar meaningadjective

raised

Similar meaningadjective

Related words aren’t always interchangeable. Check the definition before you choose.

MEANING & USAGE

Definitions & examples

01adjective

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

“the anchor is up”

“the sun is up”

02adjective

out of bed

“are they astir yet?”

“up by seven each morning”

03adjective

getting higher or more vigorous

“it's an up market”

“an improving economy”

04adjective

extending or moving toward a higher place

“the up staircase”

“a general upward movement of fish”

10 more meanings

05adjective

(usually followed by ‘on’ or ‘for’) in readiness

“he was up on his homework”

“had to be up for the game”

06adjective

open

“the windows are up”

07adjective

(used of computers) operating properly

“how soon will the computers be up?”

08adjective

used up

“time is up”

09adverb

spatially or metaphorically from a lower to a higher position

“look up!”

“the music surged up”

10adverb

to a higher intensity

“he turned up the volume”

11adverb

nearer to the speaker

“he walked up and grabbed my lapels”

12adverb

to a more central or a more northerly place

“was transferred up to headquarters”

“up to Canada for a vacation”

13adverb

to a later time

“they moved the meeting date up”

“from childhood upward”

14verb

raise

“up the ante”

Meanings and examples from Open English WordNet 2025. About our sources ↗

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Expressions with “up”

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Explore multiword dictionary entries containing this word. Each has its own meanings and related words.

do up go up up on up to act up add up bob up box up