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)

1. (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

• Maori: whakapuke, whakapupuke
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}

Etymology 2

Adjective

well up (comparative more well up, superlative most well up)

1. (colloquial) Well versed; well acquainted (in or on).

   How well up are you on algebra?

Anagrams

• upwell