How Do You Spell WELL UP?

Pronunciation: [wˈɛl ˈʌp] (IPA)

The phrasal verb "well up" means to fill or rise to the surface. Its phonetic transcription is /wɛl ʌp/. The "w" at the beginning is pronounced like the "wh" in "why". The "e" in "well" is pronounced like the "e" in "set". The double "l" is pronounced with a short "uh" sound, like in "hut". The "u" in "up" is pronounced like the "u" in "but". The complete pronunciation of "well up" is like "WEHL UHP".

WELL UP Meaning and Definition

  1. Well up (phrasal verb):

    1. To experience a sudden and intense upsurge of emotions that manifest physically, often by filling or moistening the eyes with tears. It refers to the act of tears welling up in the eyes due to strong emotions like joy, sadness, or nostalgia. The phrase implies that the emotions are too powerful to be contained, resulting in tears forming in the eyes and appearing on the verge of flowing down one's cheeks. For example, "As she walked down the aisle on her wedding day, feelings of overwhelming happiness caused tears to well up in her eyes."

    2. To rise or gush forth from a source, typically liquids. This usage of "well up" refers to the action of a liquid, such as water, springing forth or flowing out forcefully due to pressure or an abundant source. It can be used literally when referring to natural springs or figuratively when describing the emergence or appearance of a substance. For example, "After the heavy rain, water began to well up from the ground, forming puddles."

    In both contexts, "well up" conveys the idea of something rising or emerging gradually and with intensity, whether it be emotions or liquid. The phrasal verb captures the idea of an action or feeling building up and becoming more noticeable.

Common Misspellings for WELL UP

  • wellup
  • 2ell up
  • wdll up
  • wrll up
  • w4ll up
  • w3ll up
  • wekl up
  • wepl up
  • weol up
  • welp up
  • welo up
  • well yp
  • well hp
  • well jp
  • well ip
  • well 8p
  • well 7p
  • well ul
  • well u-

Etymology of WELL UP

The phrase "well up" has its origins in Middle English. In this context, "well" is derived from the Old English word "wellan", which means "to bubble or surge". It was often used to describe the action of a liquid rising to the surface, like a wellspring. Over time, "well up" came to be associated with an emotional response, specifically when tears rise to the eyes or one's feelings become intensely aroused. This metaphorical usage emphasizes the sudden surge or bubbling up of emotions within a person.

Idioms with the word WELL UP

  • well up with The idiom "well up with" refers to a strong, usually sudden, emotional reaction that causes tears or strong sentimental feelings to rise to the surface. It typically denotes an overwhelming feeling of sadness, joy, anger, or any intense emotion that fills one's eyes with tears or causes deep emotional resonance.
  • well up in years The idiom "well up in years" means someone is advanced in age or old.
  • be well up on The idiom "be well up on" means to have a significant or extensive knowledge or understanding about a particular subject, topic, or area. It implies being highly informed, well-versed, or knowledgeable about something.
  • be (not) well up on (something) To be well up on something means to have a good or extensive knowledge or understanding of a particular subject or topic. On the other hand, to be not well up on something means to have a limited or insufficient knowledge or understanding of a specific subject or topic.

Similar spelling word for WELL UP

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