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well up. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
well up, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
well up in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
well up you have here. The definition of the word
well up will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
well up, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology 1
Verb
well up (third-person singular simple present wells up, present participle welling up, simple past and past participle welled up)
- (intransitive) To gradually or steadily flow upwards or outwards so as to begin to fill or overflow something.
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.
- (figurative, by extension, chiefly of an emotion) To accumulate within one, to the point of overwhelming one.
Emotion welled up inside me.
2023 December 22, Robyn Vinter, “‘That’s how we’ve got to live’: the black market in England’s shoplifting capital”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:“I had to leave my job because I just couldn’t … yeah,” Tina says, welling up.
Translations
to flow upwards or outwards
(of an emotion) to accumulate, to the point of overwhelming
Etymology 2
Adjective
well up (comparative more well up, superlative most well up)
- (colloquial) Well versed; well acquainted (in or on).
- How well up are you on algebra?
Anagrams