Well up Definition and Meaning
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Published on March 21, 2025
Well up means to rise to the surface, particularly referring to emotions or tears. e.g., Tears began to well up in her eyes as she listened to the song.
Table of Contents
Well up Definitions
For emotions to rise strongly and become noticeable.
Anger welled up in him during the argument.
To fill up with liquid to the point of overflowing.
Water welled up in the hole after the rain.
To come up to the surface, as in tears in one’s eyes.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she waved goodbye.
To accumulate or gather.
Pressure welled up in the air tank as it was pumped.
To spring up or flow out, like water from a well.
Water began to well up from the newly drilled well.
To arise or emerge from a deep place within.
A sense of pride welled up inside her as she received the award.
To form a pool or mass, usually of liquid.
Blood welled up from the wound.
To increase or swell in intensity.
Excitement welled up among the crowd as the concert began.
To overflow or spill out, usually in reference to emotions.
Joy welled up in her heart when she saw him.
To emerge or come forth in abundance.
Applause welled up from the audience at the end of the performance.
Well up Snonyms
Surge
To rise and move forward in waves.
Emotions surged within him unexpectedly.
Burgeon
To begin to grow or increase rapidly.
Feelings of hope burgeoned in her heart.
Overflow
To fill beyond capacity, often with emotions.
Happiness overflowed in the room.
Brim over
To fill to the top and start to overflow.
Her eyes brimmed over with tears of joy.
Spill out
To flow out rapidly and uncontrollably.
Secrets began to spill out during the meeting.
Spring
To arise suddenly.
Inspiration sprung up during the quiet walk.
Erupt
To break out or burst forth suddenly.
Laughter erupted from the crowd.
Gush
To flow out in a rapid and plentiful stream.
Words gushed out as he apologized.
Bubble up
To rise up in small, round shapes as gas escapes from a liquid.
Ideas bubbled up during the brainstorming session.
Stream
To flow continuously and abundantly.
Tears streamed down her face as she laughed.
Well up Idioms & Phrases
Eyes well up
When eyes fill with tears due to emotions.
Her eyes welled up during the touching movie scene.
Well up with pride
To feel a strong sense of pride that seems to swell within oneself.
She welled up with pride when her son won the award.
Well up with joy
To feel joy that seems to flood one's emotions.
He welled up with joy at the birth of his daughter.
Well up with sorrow
To feel an intense sadness swelling within.
He welled up with sorrow during the memorial service.
Well up with gratitude
To feel a strong sense of thankfulness.
Gratitude welled up in him as he received help from strangers.
Emotions well up
When feelings become intense and rise to the surface.
Emotions welled up as they reunited after years apart.
Well up inside
An internal rising of emotion or feeling.
A wave of nostalgia welled up inside as he revisited his old school.
Well up with excitement
To feel excitement building up inside.
Excitement welled up inside the kids as they approached the amusement park.
Well up with enthusiasm
To become filled with enthusiasm.
Enthusiasm welled up among the team as the project took shape.
Tears well up
When tears gather in the eyes, ready to spill over.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she said farewell.
Well up with love
To feel love swelling in one's heart.
Her heart welled up with love when she saw her newborn.
Well up with anger
To become suddenly very angry.
She welled up with anger when she heard the unfair criticism.
Well up with relief
To feel a sudden, intense relief.
Relief welled up in her as the doctor announced the good news.
Well up with passion
To feel a deep and intense passion arise.
Passion welled up in her as she spoke about her research.
Well up with hope
To start feeling hopeful intensely.
Hope welled up within the community after the successful fundraiser.
Well up with energy
To suddenly feel energetic.
Energy welled up in him as he approached the finish line.
Well up with fear
To suddenly become very afraid.
Fear welled up in her as she heard the footsteps behind her.
Well up with disappointment
To feel disappointment growing within oneself.
Disappointment welled up in her when she saw the closed sign at the store.
Well up with nostalgia
To feel a strong wistfulness or longing for the past.
Nostalgia welled up as he looked through old photos.
Well up Example Sentences
She felt her eyes well up as the music began.
He could feel anger well up every time he thought of the injustice.
She felt inspiration well up during the quiet moments of the morning.
Common Curiosities
How many syllables are in well up?
"Well up" has two syllables: well-up.
How do we divide well up into syllables?
Well up is divided as: well-up.
Why is it called well up?
It is called "well up" because it metaphorically describes emotions or tears rising and filling up like water in a well.
What is a stressed syllable in well up?
The stressed syllable in "well up" is on "well".
What is the root word of well up?
The root words are "well" and "up."
What is the first form of well up?
The first form of well up is "well up."
How is well up used in a sentence?
Well up is used to describe the rising of emotions or liquids, e.g., Tears began to well up in his eyes as he laughed.
What is the verb form of well up?
The verb form is "well up," and it is used as is, e.g., to well up with tears.
What is another term for well up?
Another term for well up is "brim over."
What is the third form of well up?
The third form of well up is "welled up."
What is the second form of well up?
The second form of well up is "welled up."
What is the pronunciation of well up?
Well up is pronounced as /wɛl ʌp/.
Is the well up term a metaphor?
Yes, well up is often used metaphorically to describe emotions rising up like a liquid.
What is the plural form of well up?
Well up does not change in plural usage; it is used the same way.
What is the opposite of well up?
The opposite of well up could be "subside" or "ebb," especially in the context of emotions.
Is well up an abstract noun?
No, well up is not a noun; it is a verb.
Is well up a negative or positive word?
Well up is neutral; it can be used in both negative and positive contexts depending on the emotion involved.
Is well up a collective noun?
No, well up is not a noun; it is a verb.
What part of speech is well up?
Well up is a phrasal verb.
Is well up a countable noun?
Well up is not a noun; it is a verb.
Is the word well up imperative?
Well up can be used in an imperative form, e.g., Don't let your feelings well up.
Is the word well up Gerund?
The gerund form of well up would be "welling up," e.g., Welling up with tears is a common reaction.
Is the word “well up” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
As a verb, well up does not typically take a direct or indirect object but describes a state.
Which determiner is used with well up?
Determiners are not typically used with the verb phrase "well up."
Which vowel is used before well up?
There is no typical vowel used before "well up" as it is not a noun.
What is the singular form of well up?
Well up is used the same in both singular and plural contexts.
Is well up a noun or adjective?
Well up is a phrasal verb.
Is well up an adverb?
No, well up is not an adverb.
Which article is used with well up?
Articles are not used with the verb phrase "well up."
Is well up a vowel or consonant?
The word "well" starts with a consonant.
Which preposition is used with well up?
"With" is commonly used with well up, e.g., well up with tears.
Which conjunction is used with well up?
"And" can be used in sentences involving well up, e.g., His eyes welled up and he began to cry.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
