up to

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See also: upto

English

Etymology

From Middle English up to, from Old English up tō.

Pronunciation

Preposition

up to

  1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see up,‎ to.
    She went up to the third floor.
    Go up to the counter and ask.
    • 1900 May 17, L Frank Baum, “The Council with The Munchkins”, in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Chicago, Ill.; New York, N.Y.: Geo M Hill Co., →OCLC, page 21:
      But the little old woman walked up to Dorothy, made a low bow and said, in a sweet voice, “You are welcome, most noble Sorceress, to the land of the Munchkins. []
  2. Capable, ready or equipped, having sufficient material preconditions for, possibly willpower (at a particular moment).
    to feel up to it
    Are you up to lifting something that heavy?
    Are you up to the challenge?
    Are you up to going to the beach?
  3. As much as; no more than (also with of).
    You can make up to five copies.
    Violators may face a fine of up to $300.
  4. Until.
    Up to that point, I liked her.
    I've read up to chapter 5.
  5. Within the responsibility of, to be attributed to the sphere of influence of, having someone or something as authoritative in.
    Synonym: down to
    Hyponyms: incumbent upon, the obligation of, the duty of, the decision of
    It’s up to you whether to get the blue one or the red one.
    It's up to the prosecution to prove that the defendant is guilty.
  6. Doing, involved in.
    to be up to
    to get up to
    What are you up to today?
    1. Devising, scheming (planning something mischievous or inappropriate).
      He looked like a man up to no good.
      What are you kids up to with all that toilet paper?
  7. (mathematics) Considering all members of an equivalence class the same.
    English Wikipedia has an article on:
    Wikipedia
    There’s only one rooted tree with two leaves, up to ordering.
  8. (archaic, slang) Familiar with the meaning of; able to understand.
    • 1836 March – 1837 October, Charles Dickens, “Illustrative, like the preceding one, of the old Proverb, that Adversity brings a Man acquainted with strange Bed-fellows. Likewise containing Mr. Pickwick’s extraordinary and startling announcement to Mr. Samuel Weller.”, in The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, London: Chapman and Hall, , published 1837, →OCLC, page 447:
      “Oh,” said Mr. Pickwick. “My what, did you say?”
      “Your chummage ticket,” replied Mr. Roker; “you’re up to that?”
      “Not quite,” replied Mr. Pickwick, with a smile.
      “Why,” said Mr. Roker, “it’s as plain as Salisbury. You’ll have a chummage ticket upon twenty-seven in the third, and them as is in the room will be your chums.”
  9. (Eton College) Taught by; in the class of.
    • 1899, Alfred Lubbock, ‎Robin Lubbock, Memories of Eton and Etonians (page 62)
      I was up to Mr. Wayte, and, although he was a fairly easy and by no means strict master,
    • 2022, Maurice Baring, The Puppet Show of Memory:
      I was up to Mr. Luxmoore, who was to be a lifelong friend. The last days of my last half were like a dream. I was hardly conscious of the reality of things, and I did not yet fully realise that my Eton life was coming to an end []

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

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See also

Anagrams