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well up

Meaning in simple English, pronunciation and examples

Pronunciation: US /ˌwɛl ˈʌp/ · UK /ˌwel ˈʌp/

well up means: If liquid does this, it slowly rises or comes out and begins to fill a place.

verb

LIQUID RISINGC1

If liquid does this, it slowly rises or comes out and begins to fill a place.

  • Tears welled up in her eyes.
  • Water was welling up through the floor.
  • Oil welled up from the hole as we watched.

How to use it: well up in something (Tears welled up in her eyes.); well up from something (Water welled up from a crack in the ground.)

Similar words: rise, seep up

Common phrases: well up slowly, well up inside

FEELING GROWINGC1

If a feeling does this, it grows stronger inside you and becomes hard to control.

  • Anger welled up inside him.
  • Joy welled up as she read the letter.
  • Old grief was welling up again.

How to use it: well up in someone (A sudden anger welled up in me.)

Similar words: surge, rise

Common phrases: well up inside, well up suddenly

adjective

KNOWLEDGEABLEC2

Knowing a lot about a particular subject.

  • She is well up on local history.
  • Are you well up in algebra?
  • Our guide was well up on the town’s traditions.

How to use it: be well up on something (She is well up on local history.); be well up in something (He is well up in mathematics.)

Similar words: knowledgeable, well informed, well versed

Opposites: uninformed

Common phrases: well up on something, well up in something

Questions about well up

What does well up mean?

If liquid does this, it slowly rises or comes out and begins to fill a place.

What is well up in other languages?

Türkçe: birikmek · Español: brotar · Français: monter · Deutsch: aufsteigen · Italiano: affiorare · 日本語: 湧き出る

How do you pronounce well up?

In American English /ˌwɛl ˈʌp/; in British English /ˌwel ˈʌp/.

How do you use well up in a sentence?

Tears welled up in her eyes. Water was welling up through the floor.

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well up in other languages

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