1 B2 neutral
For a liquid, especially water, to rise up from below or to flow upward.
"Fresh water welled up from the spring at the base of the mountain."
inseparable
well up
B2 neutral inseparable intransitive
For a liquid to rise up or for an emotion to rise strongly inside someone.
In plain English
When water rises up from the ground, or when you feel a strong emotion coming up inside you.
What does "well up" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
For tears to gather in someone's eyes, especially due to strong emotion.
"Tears welled up in her eyes as she listened to the final movement of the symphony."
“
Tears welled up in my eyes.
— Nelson Mandela, 'Long Walk to Freedom', 1994
inseparable
3 B2 idiomatic neutral
For a strong emotion to rise powerfully inside someone.
"A sudden wave of anger welled up inside him as he read the unfair review."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
For water to rise upward from a source underground, like a spring.
Actually means
When water rises up from the ground, or when you feel a strong emotion coming up inside you.
Usage tip
In the physical sense, it is used for natural springs or water rising. In the emotional sense, it is commonly used with 'tears' or emotions like 'grief,' 'anger,' or 'joy.' It often appears in literary writing.
Words that pair with "well up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
tears emotion grief anger joy water
How to conjugate "well up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
well up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
wells up
he/she/it
Past simple
welled up
yesterday
Past participle
welled up
have + pp
-ing form
welling up
continuous
Hear "well up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "well up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.