up

• Als Adjektiv beschreibt es etwas Höheres, Erhöhtes oder in einem positiven oder aktiven Zustand Befindliches.

When used as an adjective, it describes something that is higher, increased, or in a positive or active state.

1. Upright, verticalA1formal

   Positioned upward; not lying down or horizontal.

   Aufrecht, vertikal

   • The flag is up on the pole.
   • Please keep the books up on the shelf.
   • The painting hung up straight on the wall.

   Synonymeerectperpendicularraisedstandinguprightvertical

   Antonymedownflathorizontallyingproneprostraterecumbentsupine

2. Awake or alert (British slang)A2informalbritish

   Being awake, energetic, and ready for activity.

   Wach und aufmerksam

   • I stayed up late studying for the exam.
   • He was up early to catch the train.
   • She’s always up for a night out.

   Synonymeactivealertawakeenergeticlivelyon the go

   Antonymeasleepdown

3. In a good mood, cheerfulB1informal

   Feeling happy, optimistic, or enthusiastic.

   Gut gelaunt, fröhlich

   • She’s really up today after hearing the news.
   • After the win, the whole team was up.
   • I’m up this morning; nothing can bring me down.

   Synonymebuoyantcheerfulelatedenthusiastichappyhigh-spiritedjovialjoyfuloptimisticupbeat

   Antonymebluedepresseddowngloomylowsad

4. In operation or activeB2formal

   Functioning, running, or being used.

   in Betrieb

   • The system is up and processing requests.
   • All servers are up after the maintenance.
   • The website was down yesterday but is up now.

   Synonymeactivefunctioningin operationonlineoperationaloperativerunningworking

   Antonymedownidleinactiveoffstopped

5. Increased or higherB2informalamerican

   Raised in amount, level, or intensity.

   Erhöht

   • The price is up by ten percent.
   • Interest rates are up again this month.
   • He turned the volume up because it was too quiet.

   Synonymeelevatedhighincreasedraised

   Antonymedecreaseddownlowerreduced

• Adverb, das eine Bewegung zu einer höheren Position, Ebene oder Stelle angibt sowie den Abschluss oder eine Steigerung bezeichnet (z. B. „aufstehen“, „sich beeilen“). Wird im britischen und amerikanischen Englisch häufig verwendet.

An adverb indicating movement to a higher position, level, or place, or signifying completion or increase (e.g., “stand up,” “speed up”). It is widely used in both British and American English.

1. Towards a higher positionA1formal

   In a direction that is higher or upward; moving to a place above the current level.

   Nach oben

   • She looked up at the sky.
   • The balloon floated up into the clouds.
   • He lifted the box up onto the shelf.

   Synonymealoftskywardupwardupwards

   Antonymedown

2. Finished or completedA2formal

   Indicates that something has been completed or is no longer ongoing.

   Beendet

   • The meeting is up; we can leave now.
   • The deadline is coming up soon.
   • Your time is up.

   Synonymeallcompletelyentirelyfullywholly

3. Increase or intensifyB1informalamerican

   Used to show that a quantity, intensity, or degree has risen.

   Erhöhen oder verstärken

   • The price went up after the holiday season.
   • She turned the volume up.
   • Things are really heating up.

   Synonymemoreupwards

   Antonymedecreasediminishdownlowerreduce

4. Awake, out of bedA1informal

   Refers to the state of being awake, especially early in the morning.

   Wach, aus dem Bett

   • I was up at six o’clock.
   • Are you still up? I need to talk to you.
   • He stayed up all night studying.

   Synonymeaboutastirawakerisenstirring

   Antonymeasleepdown

5. In good condition or functioningB1formal

   Describes something that is operational, functional, or in a good state.

   In Betrieb

   • The computer is up and running.
   • All systems are up after the maintenance.
   • The website stayed up despite the traffic surge.

   Synonymefunctionalfunctioningoperationaloperativerunningworking

6. In a higher rank or statusB2formal

   Used to indicate that someone has been promoted or is now in a higher position.

   In höherer Position

   • She’s moving up to senior manager next month.
   • He worked his way up from intern to director.
   • The player was promoted up the batting order.

   Synonymeupwardupwards

   Antonymedown

• Präposition, die eine Bewegung nach oben, eine Richtung entlang eines Weges, eine Annäherung an jemanden, einen Aufstieg in einer Hierarchie, eine geografische Richtung nach Norden oder gegen den Strom sowie einen Kontakt mit einer Oberfläche ausdrückt.

A preposition indicating movement to a higher position or level, direction along a path or road, approach towards someone or something, progression in hierarchy, geographic direction north or upstream, or contact against a surface.

1. Movement to a higher position or levelA1formal

   Used to show movement from a lower position to a higher one, often involving climbing, ascending, or rising along a vertical or sloped surface.

   Bewegung nach oben

   • They climbed up the mountain.
   • She walked up the stairs.
   • He ran up the hill to catch the bus.
   • The cat jumped up the tree.

2. Direction along a path, road, or riverA2formal

   Indicates movement or position along a linear feature such as a street, road, or river, often implying movement towards a specific destination or further along the route.

   Entlang, weiter entlang

   • We walked up the road to the shop.
   • His house is just up the street.
   • They sailed up the river.
   • She lives further up the lane.

3. Approach towards someone or somethingB1formal

   Used in the phrase 'up to' to indicate movement towards a person or object until reaching close proximity or contact.

   Hin zu, bis an

   • He came up to me and said hello.
   • She walked up to the counter.
   • The stranger came up to them.
   • He ran up to the door.

4. Progression in hierarchy or statusB2formalbusiness

   Used metaphorically to indicate movement towards a higher rank, level, or status within an organization, system, or social structure.

   Aufstieg in der Hierarchie

   • She worked her way up the corporate ladder.
   • He moved up the ranks quickly.
   • They are moving up the list.
   • He wants to climb up the hierarchy.

5. Geographic direction north or upstreamB1formal

   Indicates movement towards the north or against the current of a river, based on conventional map orientation or flow direction.

   Nach Norden, flussaufwärts, in die Hauptstadt

   • They drove up to London.
   • We traveled up north for the summer.
   • The fish swim up the stream.
   • He went up to Scotland.

6. Contact or opposition against a surfaceB2formal

   Used in the phrase 'up against' to indicate being in physical contact with a surface or facing opposition/difficulty.

   Gegen, an, gegen etwas

   • He pinned me up against the wall.
   • The ladder was leaning up against the roof.
   • We are up against a deadline.
   • She stood up against the door.

• Etwas erhöhen, anheben oder nach oben bewegen; umgangssprachlich auch verbessern oder verstärken.

A verb meaning to increase, raise, or cause something to move upward; also used in informal contexts to indicate improvement or intensification.

1. Increase or raiseA2formal

   To make something higher in amount, level, or intensity; to raise the quantity, price, or degree of something.

   Erhöhen

   • The manager decided to up the salaries after the successful quarter.
   • She up‑s the bid by $500 to outbid the competition.
   • The government plans to up the tax rate on luxury goods.
   • They up the volume because the music was too quiet.

   Synonymeaugmentboostbump upelevateenhanceescalatehikeincreaseintensifyjack upraisestep up

   Antonymedecreasediminishlessenlowerreduce

2. Intensify or improve (informal)B1informal

   To make something better, stronger, or more aggressive; often used in colloquial speech.

   Verstärken oder verbessern (informell)

   • You need to up your game if you want to win the championship.
   • She uped the décor of the restaurant with new lighting.
   • He up the pressure on his teammates during practice.
   • We should up our efforts on the marketing campaign.

   Synonymeamplifyaugmentboostenhanceescalateimproveincreaseintensifyraisestep upstrengthen

   Antonymedecreasedownlowerreduceweaken

3. Move upward (archaic/poetic)C1formalbritish

   To rise, ascend, or go upward; seldom used in modern everyday English, more common in literary or poetic contexts.

   Aufsteigen (veraltet, poetisch)

   • The spirit up into the heavens as the night fell.
   • The balloon up against the wind, drifting higher.
   • He up from the depths of the valley to the mountain ridge.
   • She felt her hopes up with each sunrise.

   Synonymeariseascendmountrisesoar

   Antonymedescendfallsink