up-

prefix

Used to indicate increase.

“Over time the engine's power was uprated.”

OriginMiddle English up- ← Old English ūp- →
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Meanings

prefix
  1. Used to indicate increase.

    Over time the engine's power was uprated.

  2. Used to indicate higher position or direction, literally or figuratively.

    The uptake of tickets increased dramatically after the favorable review.

Origin

  1. Old Englishūp-“up-”
  2. Middle Englishup-
  3. Englishup-

From Middle English up-, from Old English ūp- (“up-”), from ūp (“up, from above”). Cognate with Dutch op- (“up-”), German auf- (“up-”). More at up.

More words from Middle English, Old English

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

up-. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/up-

MLA

“up-.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/up-. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “up-,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/up-.

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