up-
Toward the ceiling
Up- is a prefix indicating upward movement or position, as in uphill, upstairs, upend.
It often suggests increase or improvement: upgrade, uplift, upscale.
In some words it intensifies the base verb: uphold means to hold firmly, uproot means to pull out entirely.
The prefix appears in countless compounds, sometimes hyphenated when newly coined or when attached to proper nouns.
Elegant and expensive
- upgradeRaise to higher standard
- upliftRaise emotionally or physically
- upsurgeRapid marked increase
- upturnImprovement in conditions
uptick · upswing · upsize · uprising · uptrend · upcycle · upcharge · upshift
Raise to higher standard
- upliftRaise emotionally or physically
- upskillDevelop additional work capabilities
- upendFlip to reverse orientation
- upturnImprovement in conditions
upswing · upmarket · upscale · uptrend · upcycle · upshift · upfit
Flip to reverse orientation
- upsetDisturb, topple, or shock
- upturnImprovement in conditions
- upheaveLift forcibly upward
- uprootRemove from the ground
upthrow · upstage · upbraid · uproar · uprising · upheaval · upshift · upchuck
Elevated land area
- uphillToward higher elevation
- upstreamToward a river's origin
- upstairsOn a higher level
- uptownAffluent city area
upcountry · upslope · updraft · upthrust · uprise · upheave · uplift · upstanding
upscale
Elegant and expensive
upturn · uptick · upswing · upsize · uprising · uptrend · upcycle · upcharge · upshift · uppercut
upgrade
Raise to higher standard
- upliftRaise emotionally or physically
- upskillDevelop additional work capabilities
- upendFlip to reverse orientation
upturn · upswing · upmarket · upscale · uptrend · upcycle · upshift · upfit
upend
Flip to reverse orientation
uproot · upthrow · upstage · upbraid · uproar · uprising · upheaval · upshift · upchuck · upcast
upland
Elevated land area
uptown · upcountry · upslope · updraft · upthrust · uprise · upheave · uplift · upstanding · upraise
update
New version or information
uphold
Maintain or confirm officially