get up

What it means

To rise from bed after sleeping, or more generally to stand up from a sitting or lying position. It's the most common everyday way to talk about starting your day or leaving a seat.

Examples

• I usually get up at seven o'clock on weekdays.
• He got up slowly because his back was hurting.
• Come on, get up — we're going to be late for school!
• She doesn't like getting up early, even on sunny mornings.

Where it comes from

Inseparable: there's no object, so nothing goes between the words. 'Get up' contrasts with 'wake up' — you can wake up at 6 but not actually get up until 6:30. In informal speech it can also mean 'to dress up', as in 'she was got up in a fancy costume'.

Related phrasal verbs