up north

adverb

In the northern part of an area, country etc.

“She spent a few years up north.”

Opposite
down south
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Meanings

adverbup north (not comparable)

alternative up North

  1. not comparableIn the northern part of an area, country etc.

    She spent a few years up north.

    Antonyms: down south

  2. New York Citynot comparableslangdancingIn jail, in prison.

    Even if I'm locked up North you in the world Rocking three-fourths of cloth, never showing your stuff off, boo

    1994, Method Man, “All I Need”, in Tical
    1 more example

    And when the fella be walkin' you can tell a Whole lotta sugar's in his core Feed the soft, he be hittin' off He heads fresh home from up North

    1995, Masta Ace Incorporated, “People in my Hood”, in Sittin' on Chrome

Synonyms & antonyms

adverbIn the northern part of an area, country etc.

Opposite
down south

Origin

From up + north. The sense 2 comes from the fact that that in New York state many prisons are located in the northern part of the state.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

up north. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/up%20north

MLA

“up north.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/up%20north. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “up north,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/up%20north.

Source: up north on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.