well up
Verb (intransitive) 1. To rise to the surface; to emerge and increase: Used to describe a liquid, emotion, or other intangible thing that begins to rise, flow, or become more intense from within. 2. To fill with a strong emotion: Often used figuratively to describe a sudden, powerful feeling that begins to be felt strongly.
The verb "well up" is intransitive and describes a process of internal emergence or increase. It is often followed by the prepositions "in" or "from" to indicate the source or location. * It is commonly used for tears beginning to form in the eyes. * It is frequently used for emotions (like sadness, joy, anger, pride) that suddenly become overwhelming. * It can describe other things that rise or surge, like water or smoke.
- Emotions/Feelings:
- A feeling of gratitude welled up in her heart as she listened to the kind words.
- Sadness welled up inside him when he remembered his old friend.
- Tears:
- Tears welled up in his eyes during the emotional scene in the movie.
- Her eyes welled up with tears of joy.
- Other Substances:
- Water welled up from the natural spring.
- Smoke welled up from the chimney.
- "to well up and over": To rise so much that it spills over the edge or boundary.
- The river welled up and over its banks after the heavy rains.
- Figurative use for sounds or memories:
- The old song made memories well up from his childhood.
- Well (verb): The base verb, meaning to rise to the surface and flow. It is less common on its own in modern English and is almost always used with "up" or "out" (e.g., / ).
- Wellspring (noun): A source of a continuous supply, especially of something abstract like wisdom or creativity.
- She was a wellspring of new ideas.
- Surge: To increase suddenly and powerfully.
- Rise: To move upward.
- Bubble up: To rise in bubbles or as if in bubbles.
- Gush: To flow out suddenly and in large quantities.
- Well out: Similar to "well up," often implying a stronger or more outward flow.
- Blood welled out of the wound.
- Swell up: To become larger or rounder, often due to injury or emotion. It can be used similarly for emotions but more often describes physical swelling.
- His ankle began to swell up after the fall. / Pride swelled up in his chest.
- Choke up: To become too emotional to speak, often causing tears to well up.
- He choked up while giving his retirement speech.
- come up (as of feelings and thoughts, or other ephemeral things)
- Strong emotions welled up
- Smoke swelled from it