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well up

B2 neutral inseparable intransitive
In simple words

When water rises up from the ground, or when you feel a strong emotion coming up inside you.

Literal meaning: For water to rise upward from a source underground, like a spring.

Meanings

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."

Grammar: inseparable
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
Grammar: 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."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

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.

Commonly used with

tears emotion grief anger joy water

Forms

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

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