up|surge /ʌ psɜː r dʒ/ N‑SING If there is an upsurge in something, there is a sudden, large increase in it. [FORMAL ] □ [+ in ] …the upsurge in oil prices. □ [+ of ] Saudi bankers say there's been an upsurge of business confidence since the end of the war.
up|swing /ʌ psw I ŋ/ (upswings ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] An upswing is a sudden improvement in something such as an economy, or an increase in an amount or level. □ [+ in ] …an upswing in the economy. □ Violent crime is on the upswing.
up|take /ʌ pte I k/
1 N‑SING A person's uptake of something is the amount of it that they use. [TECHNICAL ] □ The drug increases the number of red cells in the blood, enhancing oxygen uptake by 10 percent. □ [+ of ] …research in relation to the uptake of nitrate into vegetables.
2 PHRASE You say that someone is quick on the uptake when they understand things quickly. You say that someone is slow on the uptake when they have difficulty understanding simple or obvious things. □ She is not an intellectual, but is quick on the uptake. □ Carol was absent-minded and a little slow on the uptake.
u p-te mpo also uptempo ADJ [usu ADJ n] An up-tempo piece of music has a fast beat. □ …an up-tempo arrangement of 'Some Enchanted Evening'.
up|tick /ʌ pt I k/ (upticks ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] If there is an uptick in something, it increases. □ The worst that might happen is an uptick in inflation.
up|tight /ʌ pta I t/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] Someone who is uptight is tense, nervous, or annoyed about something and so is difficult to be with. [INFORMAL ] □ [+ about ] Penny never got uptight about exams.
u p-to-da te also up to date
1 ADJ If something is up-to-date , it is the newest thing of its kind. □ …Germany's most up to date electric power station. □ …enhancing the system and bringing it up to date. □ This production is bang up-to-date.
2 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are up-to-date about something, you have the latest information about it. □ We'll keep you up to date with any news.
u p-to-the-mi nute also up to the minute ADJ [usu ADJ n] Up-to-the-minute information is the latest information that you can get about something. □ …24 hours a day up-to-the-minute instant news. □ Computers give them up-to-the-minute information on sales and stocks.
up|town /ʌ ptaʊ n/ ADV [ADV after v] If you go uptown , or go to a place uptown , you go away from the centre of a town or city towards the edge. Uptown sometimes refers to a part of the city other than the main business district. [mainly AM ] □ He rode uptown and made his way to Bob's apartment. □ Susan continued to live uptown. □ There's a skating rink uptown. ● ADJ [ADJ n] Uptown is also an adjective. □ …uptown clubs. □ …a small uptown radio station. □ …uptown New York.
up|trend /ʌ ptrend/ N‑SING An uptrend is a general improvement in something such as a market or the economy. □ The company's shares have been in a strong uptrend. □ Many analysts think the dollar is on an uptrend.
up|turn /ʌ ptɜː r n/ (upturns ) N‑COUNT If there is an upturn in the economy or in a company or industry, it improves or becomes more successful. □ [+ in ] They do not expect an upturn in the economy until the end of the year. □ [+ in ] There has been a modest upturn in most parts of the industry.
up|turned /ʌ ptɜː r nd/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Something that is upturned points upwards. □ …his eyes closed and his palms upturned.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Something that is upturned is upside down. □ …upturned buckets. □ He clung to the upturned boat, screaming for help.
up|ward /ʌ pwə r d/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] An upward movement or look is directed towards a higher place or a higher level. □ She started once again on the steep upward climb. □ She gave him a quick, upward look, then lowered her eyes.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] If you refer to an upward trend or an upward spiral, you mean that something is increasing in quantity or price. □ …the Army's concern that the upward trend in the numbers avoiding military service may continue.
u p|ward|ly mo |bile ADJ If you describe someone as upwardly mobile , you mean that they are moving, have moved, or are trying to move to a higher social position. □ The Party has been unable to attract upwardly mobile voters. ● N‑PLURAL The upwardly mobile are people who are upwardly mobile. □ …the large detached houses of the upwardly mobile.
up|wards /ʌ pwə r dz/ also upward
1 ADV [ADV after v, n ADV ] If someone moves or looks upwards , they move or look up towards a higher place. □ 'There,' said Jack, pointing upwards. □ They climbed upward along the steep cliffs surrounding the village. □ Hunter nodded again and gazed upwards in fear. □ Lie face upwards with a cushion under your head.
2 ADV [ADV after v] If an amount or rate moves upwards , it increases. □ …with prices soon heading upwards in high street stores. □ Unemployment will continue upward for much of this year. □ The share price is likely to leap upwards.
3 PHRASE A quantity that is upwards of a particular number is more than that number. □ [+ of ] …projects worth upwards of 200 million pounds. □ [+ of ] It costs upward of $40,000 a year to keep some prisoners in prison.