Phrase guide

go up

verb · 17 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To move upwards.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: ascend, rise, descend, go down

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To be built or erected.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • There are new offices going up in town.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To rise or increase in price, cost, or value.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • Bananas have gone up because of a shortage.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: rise, increase

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To be consumed by fire.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • The building went up in smoke. Once the fire got out of the basement, the building went up in minutes.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: burn up, burn, combust, forburn, go up, outburn, torch

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To forget lines or blocks during public performance.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Qualifier: performing arts

Examples

  • The producer hopes nobody goes up opening night.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: foul up

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To attend university.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK, dated, intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: go to, read, study

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

To be imprisoned.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • He went up in the spring.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: go under

Antonyms: none provided

8

verb

Meaning 8

To appeal for a dismissal.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: ball-games, cricket, games, hobbies, lifestyle, sports

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

verb

Meaning 9

To go bankrupt; to be ruined.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: go bust, zero out

Antonyms: none provided

10

verb

Meaning 10

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see go, up.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

11

verb

Meaning 11

increase in value or to a higher point

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • prices climbed steeply
  • the value of our house rose sharply last year

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: rise, climb

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: grow

Narrower terms: soar, bull

12

verb

Meaning 12

burn completely; be consumed or destroyed by fire

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The hut burned down
  • The mountain of paper went up in flames

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: burn down, burn up

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: burn, combust

Narrower terms: incinerate

13

verb

Meaning 13

go upward with gradual or continuous progress

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Did you ever climb up the hill behind your house?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: climb, climb up, mount

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: rise, lift, arise, move up, go up, come up, uprise

Narrower terms: scale, escalade, ramp, mountaineer, ride

14

verb

Meaning 14

be erected, built, or constructed

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • New buildings are going up everywhere

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: rise, lift, arise, move up, go up, come up, uprise

15

verb

Meaning 15

move upward

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The fog lifted
  • The smoke arose from the forest fire
  • The mist uprose from the meadows

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: rise, lift, arise, move up, come up, uprise

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: travel, go, move, locomote

Narrower terms: scend, surge, climb, climb up, mount, go up, soar, soar up, soar upwards, zoom, rocket, skyrocket, bubble, uplift, chandelle, steam, rise, come up, uprise, ascend

16

verb

Meaning 16

travel up,

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • We ascended the mountain
  • go up a ladder
  • The mountaineers slowly ascended the steep slope

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: ascend

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: travel, go, move, locomote

Narrower terms: surface, come up, rise up, rise, uprise

17

verb

Meaning 17

move towards

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • We were approaching our destination
  • They are drawing near
  • The enemy army came nearer and nearer

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: approach, near, come on, draw near, draw close, come near

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: come, come up

Narrower terms: drive up, bear down on, bear down upon, edge in, edge up, close, push, crowd

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

75 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: صَعِدَ (ṣaʕida) — to move upwards
  • Arabic: يَصْعَدُ (yaṣʕadu) — to move upwards
  • Arabic: طلع (ṭiliʕ) — to move upwards
  • Basque: igo — to move upwards
  • Belarusian: падыма́цца (padymácca) — to move upwards
  • Belarusian: падніма́цца (padnimácca) — to move upwards
  • Belarusian: падня́цца (padnjácca) — to move upwards
  • Bulgarian: издигам се (izdigam se) — to move upwards
  • Catalan: pujar — to move upwards
  • Chinese Mandarin: 上昇 /上升 (shàngshēng) — to move upwards
  • Chinese Mandarin: 上去 (shàngqù) — to move upwards
  • Esperanto: alsupri — to move upwards
  • Esperanto: supreniri — to move upwards
  • Finnish: nousta — to move upwards
  • Finnish: mennä ylös — to move upwards
  • Finnish: kohota — to move upwards
  • Finnish: yletä — to move upwards
  • French: monter — to move upwards
  • French: s'élever — to move upwards
  • German: hinaufgehen — to move upwards
  • German: steigen — to move upwards
  • Greek: ανεβαίνω (anevaíno) — to move upwards
  • Ancient Greek: ἀναβαίνω (anabaínō) — to move upwards
  • Hebrew: עָלָה ('alá) — to move upwards
  • Ingrian: noissa — to move upwards
  • Ingrian: yletä — to move upwards
  • Ingrian: korota — to move upwards
  • Ingrian: kohota — to move upwards
  • Italian: salire — to move upwards
  • Japanese: 上がる (agaru) — to move upwards
  • Japanese: 登る (noboru) — to move upwards
  • Korean: 올라가다 (ollagada) — to move upwards
  • Lao: ຂຶ້ນ (khưn) — to move upwards
  • Latin: ascendō — to move upwards
  • Ligurian: muntâ — to move upwards
  • Ligurian: montâ — to move upwards
  • Lombard: andà su — to move upwards
  • Norman: monter — to move upwards
  • Occitan: pojar — to move upwards
  • Odia: ଉଠିବା (uṭhibā) — to move upwards
  • Persian: بالا رفتن (bâlâ raftan) — to move upwards
  • Polish: podnosić się — to move upwards
  • Polish: podnieść się — to move upwards
  • Portuguese: subir — to move upwards
  • Russian: поднима́ться (podnimátʹsja) — to move upwards
  • Russian: подня́ться (podnjátʹsja) — to move upwards
  • Spanish: subir — to move upwards
  • Tagalog: akyatin — to move upwards
  • Tetum: sa'e — to move upwards
  • Ugaritic: 𐎓𐎍𐎊 (ʿly) — to move upwards
  • Ukrainian: підніма́тися (pidnimátysja) — to move upwards
  • Ukrainian: підійма́тися (pidijmátysja) — to move upwards
  • Ukrainian: підня́тися (pidnjátysja) — to move upwards
  • Vietnamese: lên — to move upwards
  • Finnish: nousta — to be built
  • Finnish: kohota — to be built
  • Chinese Mandarin: 上昇 /上升 (shàngshēng) — to rise or increase
  • Finnish: nousta (hinnassa, arvossa) — to rise or increase
  • Finnish: kallistua — to rise or increase
  • German: ansteigen — to rise or increase
  • German: aufsteigen — to rise or increase
  • German: hochgehen — to rise or increase
  • Greek: ανεβαίνω (anevaíno) — to rise or increase
  • Japanese: 昇る (noboru) — to rise or increase
  • Persian: بالا رفتن (bâlâ raftan) — to rise or increase
  • Portuguese: subir — to rise or increase
  • Russian: повыша́ться (povyšátʹsja) — to rise or increase
  • Russian: повы́ситься (povýsitʹsja) — to rise or increase
  • Finnish: hävitä — to be consumed by fire
  • Finnish: kadota — to be consumed by fire
  • Finnish: palaa — to be consumed by fire
  • Portuguese: arder — to be consumed by fire
  • Portuguese: queimar — to be consumed by fire
  • Finnish: unohtaa vuorosanansa — to forget lines during public performance
  • Finnish: käydä — to attend university