Dictionary

get up en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Meanings

1. (literally) To move in an upward direction; to ascend or climb.
   • I'm having difficulty getting up the stairs.
   • The tired horse eventually got up and over the hurdle.
   • When a train has to ascend the incline, it first runs down, engine first, from the station about 60 or 70 yards. Then comes behind it the aforesaid truck, or one similar, which, being attached to an endless wire rope, a communication is made by means of the electric telegraph to the engineman at the top of the incline, when the fixed engine begins to work, and the train, partly pulled by the locomotive before, and partly pushed by the truck behind, rapidly ascends, taking somewhere about three minutes to get up. 1957 September 14, M. D. Greville and G. O. Holt, “Railway Development in Manchester—1”, in Railway Magazine, page 620, from Herapath's Journal:
2. To rise from one's bed, usually upon waking up in order to begin one's day.
   • We know what it is to get out of bed on a freezing morning in a room without a fire, and how the very vital principle within us protests against the ordeal. Probably most persons have lain on certain mornings for an hour at a time unable to brace themselves to the resolve. We think how late we shall be, how the duties of the day will suffer; we say, "I must get up, this is ignominious," etc.; but still the warm couch feels too delicious, the cold outside too cruel, and resolution faints away and postpones itself again and again just as it seemed on the verge of bursting the resistance and passing over into the decisive act. Now how do we ever get up under such circumstances? If I may generalize from my own experience, we more often than not get up without any struggle or decision at all. We suddenly find that we have got up. 1918, William James, chapter 26, in The Principles of Psychology:
   • I didn't get up until midday.
3. To move from a sitting or lying position to a standing position; to stand up.
   • Get up off the couch and clean this mess!
   • That guy's not getting up, is he? 2008 July 14, Christopher Nolan, Jonathan Nolan, The Dark Knight, Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Comics, Legendary Pictures:
4. To materialise; to grow stronger.
   • As dusk fell a storm got up.
5. To bring together; to amass.
   • If you're short on cash this month I'll just find another way to get up my half of the rent. 1986, Craig G. Harris, “Weekend Plans”, in Joseph Beam, editor, In The Life: A Black Gay Anthology, page 139:
   • The general got up a large body of men.
6. To gather or grow larger by accretion.
   • The locomotive got up a good head of steam.
   • I could see that he was getting up a temper.
7. To go towards the attacking goal.
   • City sent on Adam Johnson for the ineffective Jo and the Englishman at least gave notice that he wanted to run at the Arsenal defence, but his team-mates had been run into the ground by then and no-one could get up in support of the winger. 2011 January 5, Jonathan Stevenson, “Arsenal 0 - 0 Man City”, in BBC:
8. (Australia, UK, colloquial) To criticise.
   • Alan, silver-haired and full of Aussie wit, tells me how his favourite cousin got up him recently, ‘Of course, you get yourself into these situations if you′re always trying to be the hero.’ That really annoyed him. 2011, Mark Whittaker, Brave: Ordinary Australians and their extraordinary acts of courage (non-fiction), page 205:
   • Back in January 1989, as soon as Rod got up me that night, I knew he rated me, cared about what I did and how I performed. I felt I′d climbed a big step up the credibility ladder. 2010 July 1 [2001], Ian Healy, Hands and Heals: The Autobiography (non-fiction), →ISBN:
   • To those of you who (and there a ^([sic]) a few) who got up me yesterday at Mt White for being a slack-arse and not replacing the rear tyre on the 'Bird, I can now state for the record that she's shod with a brand new 020. 2003 October 20, Dave Ello, “New Battlax to support the old Battle-axe...”, in aus.motorcycles (Usenet):
   • He got up me about the mess I made in the kitchen.
   • I said ok and resorted to only taunting or using a taunt spell to get mobs off the wizzy but the cleric got up me for that too. 2003 February 6, James Hicks, “New LoY spell info up.”, in alt.games.everquest (Usenet):
9. (colloquial) To annoy.
   • Well, Beaver said at last. Somethin′s got up him. Like you said—people have regrets. 2002 November 25 [2001], Tim Winton, “Four”, in Dirt Music (fiction), page 257:
10. To dress in a certain way, especially extravagantly.
    • You will stand out all the more at this time of the year, when most travellers are got up like John Candy in Summer Rental. 2025 August 2, Janan Ganesh, “How to travel”, in FT Weekend (Life & Arts section), London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 18:
    • There's so much getting up to please the town, / It takes a precious deal of “coming down ;” 1879, James Planché, “Mr. Buckstone's Ascent; Or, Mount Parnassus”, in The Extravaganzas of J. R. Planché, esq., page 274:
    • Leroy is gotten up in blaxploitation mod capes and jump suits, trying to look like Isaac Hayes as possible. 1973 December 15, Jonathan Cross, “The Fag in the Fifth Row”, in Gay Community News, volume 1, number 25, page 4:
    • She was all got up in the most ridiculous frilly dress.
    • He got himself up for the party.
11. (Australia, colloquial) To succeed; to win.
    • If the Blues happen to win, next day at Roma Saleyards you wouldn't know there'd been a game, but if the Maroons get up they drive it into the NSW buyers at every pen. 2009, John Gilfoyle, And They Came to Roma Saleyards, Boolarong Press, →ISBN, page 93:
    • 'The Curry for the Country' minister's rave was, 'If Labor got up, Albo and his lot of mad loony socialist greenies were going to force all Australians to drive electric vehicles. Imagine our nation without the heady aroma of diesel.' 2021 October 26, H. G. Nelson, The Fairytale: A real and imagined history of Australian sport, Macmillan Publishers Aus., →ISBN:
    • Looking at the polling, I don't reckon this referendum will get up.
12. (slang) To have sex; to penetrate sexually; to have a sexual or romantic liaison.
13. (qualifier:African-American Vernacular, slang) To leave or go to somewhere.
    • Get up out of there, fuck your ride. 1996 June 25, Jay-Z, The Notorious B.I.G., Brooklyn's Finest:
    • We better get up out of here.
14. (qualifier:African-American Vernacular, slang) To leave prison.
15. (US, slang) To meet with or get to know (someone); to hang out with someone.
16. (qualifier:African-American Vernacular, slang) To be excited about something; to act regarding something; to become cognizant of something.
    • You have to get up with your career.
    • He got up on his game.

Forms

Antonyms

sit down · go to bed

Relateds

get up early · getup · get up in someone's face · get up in

Synonyms

amound (amass) · exasperate (annoy) · gather (grow larger) · form · take shape · tear into · mount up · hoard · irritate · come into being (materialise) · stand up (stand) · alley oop (ascend) · rise (awaken) · berate (criticise)

Translations (233)

ceb bangon (to rise from one's bed) · hu talpra áll (to move to a standing position) · bn দাঁড়ানো (to move to a standing position) · fi nousta ylös (to move to a standing position) · ms bangun (to rise from one's bed) · fa بیدار شدن (to rise from one's bed) · sq Hip (to move in an upwards direction) · ru поднима́ться (to move in an upwards direction) · be устава́ць (to rise from one's bed) · hu felélénkül (to grow stronger) · scn vunchiàrisi (to grow larger by accretion) · pl nabierać (to grow larger by accretion) · uk устава́ти (to rise from one's bed) · it ergersi (to move to a standing position) · fi koota (to bring together) · la orior (to rise from one's bed) · de aufstehen (to move to a standing position) · is fara á fætur (to rise from one's bed) · sq Nje (gheg) (to rise from one's bed) · pl podnieść się (to rise from one's bed) · bg изправям се (to move to a standing position) · ota قالقمق (to move in an upwards direction) · cmn 起床 (to rise from one's bed) · sw kuondoka (to move to a standing position) · ota قالقمق (to rise from one's bed) · no stå opp (to rise from one's bed) · non rísa (to rise from one's bed) · ta எழு (to rise from one's bed) · scn diri i cosi ntâ facci (informal: to criticize) · eo ellitiĝi (to rise from one's bed) · sk vstať (to rise from one's bed) · it formarsi (to grow stronger) · fi yltyä (to grow stronger) · it riunire (to bring together) · izh noissa (to move to a standing position) · ka ადგომა (to rise from one's bed) · ne उठ्नु (to move to a standing position) · da angribe (sport: to go towards attacking goal) · be устава́ць (to move to a standing position) · hu feljut (to move in an upwards direction) · hu összeállít (to bring together) · scn dàrisi versu (to grow stronger) · aa ugute (to rise from one's bed) · eu jagi (to rise from one's bed) · pl podnieść się (to move in an upwards direction) · ur اٹھنا (to rise from one's bed) · ang ārīsan (to move to a standing position) · msk bangon (to rise from one's bed) · scn rinfurzàrisi (to grow stronger) · bn ওঠা (to rise from one's bed) · pl skrytykować (informal: to criticize) · pt levantar (to rise from one's bed) · sk vstávať (to rise from one's bed) · ru подня́ться (to move in an upwards direction) · sq Zgjohem (to rise from one's bed) · it elevarsi (to move to a standing position) · ko 일어나다 (to rise from one's bed) · bg ста́на (to rise from one's bed) · pl podnosić się (to move in an upwards direction) · gl erguer (to rise from one's bed) · eu jaiki (to rise from one's bed) · ta எழுந்திரு (to rise from one's bed) · hu gyűjt (to grow larger by accretion) · be ўстава́ць (to move to a standing position) · bxd ta̠³⁵ (to rise from one's bed) · fi nousta (sport: to go towards attacking goal) · nv ńdiijeeh (to rise from one's bed) · fi nousta (to move in an upwards direction) · he קָם (to rise from one's bed) · fa پا شدن (to move to a standing position) · hu kezdeményez (to bring together) · uk вста́ти (to rise from one's bed) · hu megélénkül (to grow stronger) · izh noissa yllää (to move to a standing position) · sv gå upp (to rise from one's bed) · km ក្រោក (to rise from one's bed) · hu feláll (to move to a standing position) · fi kerätä (to grow larger by accretion) · sw kuondoka (to rise from one's bed) · sga at·reig (to rise from one's bed) · lo ລຸກ (to rise from one's bed) · tg хестан (to rise from one's bed) · qu şarkui (to rise from one's bed) · izh noissa (to move in an upwards direction) · mi matike (to move to a standing position) · bg ста́вам (to rise from one's bed) · mn босох (to rise from one's bed) · vi đứng dậy (to move to a standing position) · ain ホプニ (to rise from one's bed) · pl zbierać (to bring together) · scn ammunziḍḍari (to bring together) · ja 起きる (to rise from one's bed) · nv ńdiitʼaash (to rise from one's bed) · sl vstajati (to rise from one's bed) · kaw wangun (to rise from one's bed) · la surgo (to move to a standing position) · it alzarsi (to rise from one's bed) · my ထ (to rise from one's bed) · qu hatariy (to rise from one's bed) · be уста́ць (to rise from one's bed) · ar تَسَلَّقَ (to rise from one's bed) · uk встава́ти (to rise from one's bed) · it elevarsi (to grow stronger) · gl erguer (to move in an upwards direction) · ar وَقَّفَ (to rise from one's bed) · pt crescer (to grow stronger) · ia levar se (to rise from one's bed) · hu feltámad (to grow stronger) · pt pôr-se de pé (to move to a standing position) · ne उठ्नु (to rise from one's bed) · fi nousta ylös (to rise from one's bed) · ro scula (to rise from one's bed) · ar نَهَضَ (to rise from one's bed) · pl wstawać (to move to a standing position) · pl wstać (to rise from one's bed) · da stå op (to rise from one's bed) · pl wstać (to grow stronger) · hu felkel (to rise from one's bed) · be ўстава́ць (to rise from one's bed) · hu szervez (to bring together) · ota قالقمق (to move to a standing position) · be уста́ць pf ўстаць (to move to a standing position) · la surgo (to rise from one's bed) · bxd ta̠ʔ⁵⁵ (to rise from one's bed) · vi dậy (to rise from one's bed) · tr kalkmak (to rise from one's bed) · hu összegyűjt (to grow larger by accretion) · nv ńdiiʼnééh (to rise from one's bed) · ar اَفَاقَ (to rise from one's bed) · hu megerősödik (to grow stronger) · sid kaʼa (to rise from one's bed) · hu felerősödik (to grow stronger) · es levantarse (to rise from one's bed) · cs vstát (to rise from one's bed) · el σηκώνομαι (to move to a standing position) · nl opstaan (to rise from one's bed) · it alzarsi (to move in an upwards direction) · scn susìrisi (to move to a standing position) · it radunare (to bring together) · pl wstać (to move to a standing position) · scn nzimulari (to bring together) · ca llevar-se (to rise from one's bed) · pl zebrać (to bring together) · ru встать (to move to a standing position) · ga éirigh (to rise from one's bed) · qu hatarii (to rise from one's bed) · izh yletä (to rise from one's bed) · hu leszid (informal: to criticize) · ru встать (to rise from one's bed) · hu letol (informal: to criticize) · hu felmászik (to move in an upwards direction) · pdt oppstonen (to rise from one's bed) · scn jisàrisi (to move in an upwards direction) · uga 𐎖𐎎 (to move to a standing position) · ru вставать (to move to a standing position) · la orior (to move in an upwards direction) · th ลุก (to rise from one's bed) · jv tangi (to rise from one's bed) · hi उठना (to rise from one's bed) · fr se lever (to move to a standing position) · scn fàrisi largu (to grow larger by accretion) · pl wzmagać (to grow larger by accretion) · de aufstehen (to rise from one's bed) · cy codi (to rise from one's bed) · ang ārīsan (to rise from one's bed) · scn susìrisi (to rise from one's bed) · ro ridica (to rise from one's bed) · es pararse (to move to a standing position) · pl wstawać (to rise from one's bed) · mi matika (to move to a standing position) · mk ста́не (to rise from one's bed) · hu rendez (to bring together) · chr ᎠᏗᏗᎠ (to move to a standing position) · scn spincìrisi (to rise from one's bed) · scn crìsciri (to grow stronger) · ar قَامَ (to rise from one's bed) · sq Ngjitem (to move in an upwards direction) · uk уста́ти (to rise from one's bed) · scn spincìrisi (to move in an upwards direction) · el σηκώνομαι (to rise from one's bed) · fi haukkua (informal: to criticize) · scn jisàrisi (to rise from one's bed) · la orior (to move to a standing position) · fi nousta (to move to a standing position) · hy վեր կենալ (to rise from one's bed) · es ponerse de pie (to move to a standing position) · cs vstávat (to rise from one's bed) · frr uf baad kem (to rise from one's bed) · fa خاستن (to rise from one's bed) · pt levantar (to move to a standing position) · pl nabrać (to grow larger by accretion) · chr ᎠᏗᏗᎠ (to rise from one's bed) · scn assumari (to bring together) · unm amwi (to rise from one's bed) · pl krytykować (informal: to criticize) · ssy ugute (to rise from one's bed) · izh noissa (to rise from one's bed) · hu összehoz (to bring together) · sh ustajati (to rise from one's bed) · it raggruppare (to bring together) · pl wzmóc (to grow larger by accretion) · scn susìrisi (to move in an upwards direction) · fr se lever (to rise from one's bed) · scn jiri 'n anzi (sport: to go towards attacking goal) · uga 𐎖𐎎 (to rise from one's bed) · scn mittìrisi â dritta (to move to a standing position) · scn jùnciri (to bring together) · mk ста́нува (to rise from one's bed) · pl wstawać (to grow stronger) · sh устати (to rise from one's bed) · id bangun (to rise from one's bed) · pt subir (to move in an upwards direction) · scn ncugnari (sport: to go towards attacking goal) · ro ridica (to move to a standing position) · om ka'uu (to rise from one's bed) · ta எழுந்திரு (to move to a standing position) · sh устајати (to rise from one's bed) · scn jiri avanti (sport: to go towards attacking goal) · scn spincìrisi (to move to a standing position) · apw náô’da (to rise from one's bed) · gd èirich (to rise from one's bed) · sl vstati (to rise from one's bed) · hu felül (to move in an upwards direction) · hu indít (to bring together) · hu felmegy (to move in an upwards direction) · be ўстаць (to rise from one's bed) · lv celties (to rise from one's bed) · sh ustati (to rise from one's bed) · pl podnosić się (to rise from one's bed) · scn jisàrisi (to move to a standing position) · fi nousta (to grow stronger) · ru встава́ть (to rise from one's bed) · gl erguer (to move to a standing position)