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sun up

B2 informal
In simple words

The moment in the morning when the sun comes up and it gets light.

Literal meaning: The sun coming up (rising).

Meanings

1 B1 informal

The time of day when the sun rises; dawn or sunrise.

"The farmers were already out in the fields by sun up, making the most of the long summer days."

2 B2 idiomatic informal

Used in the expression 'from sun up to sundown' to mean throughout the entire day, from morning to evening.

"During harvest season, they worked from sun up to sundown without a break."

"I work from sun up to sundown."

— Traditional American folk/labor expression; widely attested in US literature and song lyrics
Usage notes

Primarily used as a noun phrase ('from sun up to sun down') rather than as a verb. Common in American English, especially in Southern and rural dialects. Typically appears in the expression 'from sun up to sundown/sun down' meaning all day long. Not standard in formal written English.

Commonly used with

sundown dawn morning rise work day

Forms

Base
sun up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
suns up
he/she/it
Past simple
suned up
yesterday
Past participle
suned up
have + pp
-ing form
suning up
continuous

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