Language Research

up · adverb

/ʌp/Full view

up (VERTICAL)

A1 vertical or as straight as possible

Dictionary examples:

He stood up.

She opened her eyes and sat up.

Learner example:

[The whole] class stood up and sang "Imagine". (Preliminary English Test; B1; Italian)

up (HIGHER POSITION)

A2 towards or in a higher place or position

Dictionary examples:

She looked up and smiled at me.

This road goes up into the Andes.

The water was up to the level of the windows.

Learner example:

As the concert finished, I heard someone call my name. I looked up and I saw my friend on the other side of the concert [hall]. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Swiss German)

go/walk, etc. up to sb/sth

B1 to walk directly towards someone or something until you are next to them

Dictionary example:

He came straight up to me and introduced himself.

Learner example:

She came up to him to help him with the luggage. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Malay)

up (NOT IN BED)

B1 not in bed

Dictionary example:

I stayed up all night finishing this report.

Learner example:

That night we were up until late talking and after a couple of days she left. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Turkish)

be up to sb

B1 If an action or decision is up to someone, they are responsible for doing or making it.

Dictionary examples:

I can't decide for you, Jack, it's up to you.

It's up to Sophie to decide whether she wants to enter the competition.

Learner example:

This is my opinion but it's up to you. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Spanish)

be up to sth

B1 to be doing or planning something

Dictionary examples:

What are you up to at the moment?

They're up to something - I can tell.

Learner example:

What have you been up to? (Preliminary English Test; B1; Russian)

up (INCREASE)

B2 to a greater degree, amount, volume, etc.

Dictionary examples:

Please speak up, I can't hear you.

The fire heats the room up within minutes.

The cost of car insurance is up, but not very much.

Learner example:

Moreover the microphone suddenly wouldn't work anymore, and even though I desperately tried to speak up, people began to lose interest in both my speech and me and simply started to talk to each other instead. (First Certificate in English; B2; Danish)

up (COMPLETE)

B2 used to emphasize that an action or process is complete

Dictionary examples:

Come on, Maria, drink up your lemonade.

By the time we left, she had bought up half of the shop.

Learner example:

Anna, I broke one of your beautiful vase[s] accidentally when I was trying to clean up the house one evening. (First Certificate in English; B2; Chinese)

up and down

B2 rising and falling

Dictionary example:

They were jumping up and down with impatience.

Learner example:

Well, you should be bouncing up and down with joy (just kidding)! (First Certificate in English; B2; Spanish)

not be up to much

C2 to be of bad quality

Dictionary example:

Her latest novel isn't up to much.

Learner example:

But above all, she had this extraordinary dining table, w[h]ich didn't look up to much when you first walked in the room, but as you lifted the three layers of tablecloths protecting a huge piece of glass, you discovered an amazing display of objects from Alabama. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; French)

up · preposition

/ʌp/

A2 to or in a higher place or position

Dictionary examples:

He ran up the steps.

We followed her up the stairs to a large meeting room.

Learner example:

We r[o]de up the mountain [on] our b[i]kes. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Spanish)

up the road/street, etc.

A2 along or further along the street/road, etc.

Dictionary example:

They live just up the road.

Learner example:

Go up the street and turn left on the square. (Key English Test; A2; Portuguese)

up to 10, 20, etc.

B1 any amount or number under 10, 20, etc.

Dictionary example:

We can invite up to 65 people.

Learner example:

A wedding can cost up to 10,000 SFr. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Swiss German)

up to/until/till, etc.

B1 until a particular time

Dictionary example:

You can call me up until midnight.

Learner example:

The party will be in my house up to 1:00 a.m., then we will go to Jean's house. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Spanish)

up and down

B2 from one end to the other and back again

Dictionary example:

They were running up and down the corridors.

Learner example:

Almost a thousand people [were] running up and down the ballroom shouting in panic: "Who's got matches?" "Turn the lights on!" (First Certificate in English; B2; Polish)

up to speed

C1 having all the most recent information about a subject or activity

Dictionary example:

The course should bring you up to speed with the latest techniques.

Learner example:

Apart [from] this you can keep yourself up to speed with what's happening around the world on various fronts. (International English Language Testing System; C1; Urdu)