up

Everyday

1. Up means toward a higher place: climb up the tree. tree →
2. Up means at a higher place: the cat is up on the roof. tree →
3. Up means more or higher in amount: prices went up. tree →
4. Up means out of bed: are you up yet? tree →
5. Up means completely, until nothing is left: eat it up, use up. tree →
6. Up means along: walk up the street. tree →
7. «What's up?» means «What is happening?» or «What is wrong?» tree →
8. (casual) «Sup» or «wassup» is a clipped «what's up»; «up for it» means willing: «you up for footy?» tree →
9. (casual) To up something is to raise it: «they upped the price by 2». tree →
10. (casual) «Time's up» means time is over; «up to you» means you decide; «what are you up to?» means what are you doing. tree →
11. (rough) «Shut up», «belt up» and «wind someone up» (tease to anger) are rough uses. tree →
12. (formal) «Increase», «ascend» and «elevate» are stiff words: «The price increased by 2 dollars.» tree →
13. Up can also be used with "grow" to mean becoming an adult, as in "children grow up". tree →

In the lessons

Maths: going higher (climb up, prices go up) means add; «add up» means find the total; «used up» and «gave up» mean take away; round up. Everyday phrases: get up, stand up, give up, pick up, tidy up, look up a word, up to (as many as). Safety: look up and down the street before crossing. In casual talk: «sup», «up for it», «what you up to». In the exam voice: «increased by», «ascended a total of 20 steps», «not exceeding 3». Phrases: «ups and downs», «up and down», «up to date», «up north».

Examples

• The price went up by 2 dollars. tree →
• Add up all the numbers. tree →
• She used up 3 eggs. tree →
• He climbed up 20 steps. tree →
• Round 47 up to 50. tree →
• Time to get up for school! tree →
• You can bring up to 3 friends. tree →
• Tidy up your room, please. tree →
• sup, u up for footy? need 2 more for 5 a side (casual) tree →
• They upped the price again, 3 quid now, rip-off. (casual, annoyed) tree →
• Shut up and add them up, it's 12. (rough) tree →
• The price of a ticket increased by 2 dollars; determine the revised price given an initial price of 7 dollars. (formal exam) tree →
• All children, except one, grow up. tree →

Note

«Went up by» and «add up» mean add; «used up» and «gave up» mean take away. The verb before «up» decides. Trap: «up to 3» means 3 or fewer. Opposite: down. «What's up?» is a greeting, not a direction. «Upped» (casual) = raised. «Wind up» means tease, «wound up» means upset. Formal «increased by» = went up by (add); «not exceeding» = up to.

In Jewish tradition

In the Torah, "up" often goes with going up to a holy place or to the land of Israel, such as going "up" to Beer-sheba.

Interpretation. The Hebrew idea of "going up" (aliyah) later became a word for moving to the Land of Israel and for being called up to read the Torah.

Examples

• And Laban came up with Jacob. (Torah GEN.31.25, JPS 1917) tree →
• And he went up from thence to Beer-sheba. (Torah GEN.26.23, JPS 1917) tree →
• And the thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears. (Torah GEN.41.24, JPS 1917) tree →
• And who hath brought up these? (Prophets ISA.49.21, JPS 1917) tree →
• And the Philistines went up to Jezreel. (Prophets 1SA.29.11, JPS 1917) tree →
• Can the rush shoot up without mire? (Writings JOB.8.11, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

«Went up by» and «add up» mean add; «used up» and «gave up» mean take away. The verb before «up» decides. Trap: «up to 3» means 3 or fewer. Opposite: down. «What's up?» is a greeting, not a direction. «Upped» (casual) = raised. «Wind up» means tease, «wound up» means upset. Formal «increased by» = went up by (add); «not exceeding» = up to.