Phrase guide

well up

adj · verb · 4 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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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Well versed; well acquainted (in or on).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: colloquial

Examples

  • How well up are you on algebra?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To gradually or steadily flow upwards or outwards so as to begin to fill or overflow something.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • Oil was welling up out of the borehole.
  • As soon as I heard news of his death, tears started to well up in my eyes.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To accumulate within one, to the point of overwhelming one.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly, figuratively

Examples

  • Emotion welled up inside me.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

come up (as of feelings and thoughts, or other ephemeral things)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Strong emotions welled up
  • Smoke swelled from it

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: swell

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: originate, arise, rise, develop, uprise, spring up, grow

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

27 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: but see съм на ти (sǎm na ti) — colloquial: well versed; well acquainted
  • Bulgarian: бликам (blikam) — to flow upwards or outwards
  • Bulgarian: заструявам (zastrujavam) — to flow upwards or outwards
  • Bulgarian: шуртя (šurtja) — to flow upwards or outwards
  • Dutch: opwellen — to flow upwards or outwards
  • Esperanto: suprenflui — to flow upwards or outwards
  • Finnish: pursuta — to flow upwards or outwards
  • Finnish: pulputa — to flow upwards or outwards
  • Finnish: kummuta — to flow upwards or outwards
  • German: hervorquellen — to flow upwards or outwards
  • Italian: sgorgare a fiotti — to flow upwards or outwards
  • Māori: whakapuke — to flow upwards or outwards
  • Māori: whakapupuke — to flow upwards or outwards
  • Polish: wzbierać — to flow upwards or outwards
  • Polish: wezbrać — to flow upwards or outwards
  • Swedish: välla — to flow upwards or outwards
  • Swedish: välla fram — to flow upwards or outwards
  • Swedish: välla ut — to flow upwards or outwards
  • Ottoman Turkish: شیشمك (şişmek) — to flow upwards or outwards
  • Ottoman Turkish: قبارمق (kabarmak) — to flow upwards or outwards
  • Finnish: kummuta — (of an emotion) to accumulate, to the point of overwhelming
  • Italian: salire in petto — (of an emotion) to accumulate, to the point of overwhelming
  • Māori: kōmanawa — (of an emotion) to accumulate, to the point of overwhelming
  • Polish: zbierać się — (of an emotion) to accumulate, to the point of overwhelming
  • Polish: zebrać się — (of an emotion) to accumulate, to the point of overwhelming
  • Russian: нахлы́нуть (naxlýnutʹ) — (of an emotion) to accumulate, to the point of overwhelming
  • Russian: напо́лнить (napólnitʹ) — (of an emotion) to accumulate, to the point of overwhelming