All Definitions for Up
Below are all the dictionary definitions of up:
1Indicating movement towards or location at a higher place or position.
2Away from the surface of the Earth or other planet
3In opposite direction to the downward pull of gravity.
4To or at a physically higher or more elevated position.
5To an upright or erect position.
6To a higher level of some quantity or notional quantity, such as price, volume, pitch, happiness, etc.
7Indicating movement in any other direction visualised as "up".
8To or towards what is considered the top of something, irrespective of whether this is presently physically higher.
9To the north (as north is at the top of typical maps).
10Towards or at a central place, or any place that is visualised as 'up' by virtue of local features or local convention, or arbitrarily, irrespective of direction or elevation change.
11Towards the principal terminus, towards milepost zero.
12To university, especially to Cambridge or Oxford.
13Against the wind or current.
14Towards the source of a river, against the direction of flow.
15In a positive vertical direction.
16To or in a position of equal advance or equality
17Ot short of, back of, less advanced than, away from, etc.
18Usually followed by to or with.
19Used as an aspect marker to indicate a completed action or state
20Thoroughly, completely.
21To one's possession or consideration.
22From one's possession or consideration.
23Aside or away, so as no longer to be present or in use.
24Relatively close to the batsman.
25Without additional ice.
26Facing upwards.
27On or at a physically higher level.
28Headed or designated to go upward (as an escalator, stairway, elevator etc.) or toward (as a run-up).
29Fitted or fixed at a high or relatively high position, especially on a wall or ceiling.
30Available to view or use
31Made public
32Posted.
33Aloft.
34Raised
35Lifted.
36Built, constructed.
37Standing
38Upright.
39Awake and out of bed.
40Riding the horse
41Mounted.
42Above the horizon, in the sky.
43Larger
44Greater in quantity, volume, value etc.
45Indicating a larger or higher quantity.
46Ahead
47Leading
48Winning.
49Finished, to an end
50In a good mood.
51Willing
52Ready.
53Next in a sequence.
54Happening
55Ew
56Of concern. See also what's up, what's up with.
57Said of the higher-ranking pair in a two pair.
58Well-informed
59Current.
60Functional
61Working.
62Traveling towards a major terminus.
63Chilled and served without ice.
64Erect.
65At university (especially Oxford or Cambridge).
66Well-known
67Renowned
68The direction opposed to the pull of gravity.
69A positive thing, or a time or situation when things are going well.
70An up quark.
71An upstairs room of a two story house.
72To physically raise or lift.
73To increase the level or amount of.
74To promote.
75To rise to a standing position
76Hence, by extension, to act suddenly
77See also up and.
78To upload.
79Risen up, rebelling, in revolt.
80To ascend
81To climb up.
82Initialism of Upper Peninsula. [The northern of the two peninsulas that make up the US state of Michigan.]
83Initialism of Uttar Pradesh: a state of India. [A state in northern India. Capital: Lucknow.]
84Initialism of University of the Philippines.
85Initialism of United Presbyterian.
86Initialism of Unified Process.
87Initialism of unqualified prospect. [A person or company that is a potential client for a sale, but who has not been previously vetted.]
88Initialism of university press.
About synonyms for up
Finding the right synonym for up helps writers avoid repetition and add precision to their work. Defined as "Indicating movement towards or location at a higher place or position.", up has 3 alternatives that can fit different contexts and tones.
Each synonym carries a slightly different shade of meaning. Upward is the most direct replacement in most situations. Upwards works well in formal or professional contexts. Upwardly is often preferred when the context calls for a more specific or nuanced expression.
When choosing a synonym, consider the connotation, formality level, and audience. Some alternatives work better in casual conversation while others shine in academic or professional writing. For example, using a more formal synonym in a business email can elevate your tone, while a casual synonym might feel more natural in creative writing or dialogue.
It is also worth noting that not all synonyms are perfectly interchangeable. The context of your sentence, the surrounding words, and the intended emotional impact all play a role in selecting the best alternative. The list above provides the most common and useful replacements for up, but always read your sentence aloud to ensure the chosen word flows naturally.