well up
English
editEtymology 1
editVerb
editwell 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.
- 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.
- (figurative, by extension, chiefly of an emotion) To accumulate within one, to the point of overwhelming one.
- Emotion welled up inside me.
Translations
editto flow upwards or outwards
(of an emotion) to accumulate, to the point of overwhelming
Etymology 2
editAdjective
editwell up (comparative more well up, superlative most well up)
- (colloquial) Well versed; well acquainted (in or on).
- How well up are you on algebra?