well up
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, literally or figuratively.
- 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, and soon I was weeping helplessly.
- Emotion welled up inside me.
Translations
to flow upwards
|
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?