Meaning of well up | Babel Free

Definitions

1. To gradually or steadily flow upwards or outwards so as to begin to fill or overflow something.
   intransitive
2. To accumulate within one, to the point of overwhelming one.
   broadly, figuratively

Equivalents

Examples

“Oil was welling up out of the borehole.”

“As soon as I heard news of his death, tears started to well up in my eyes.”

“A spring wells up in the centre of the village, and watercress beds lie beside the stream running alongside the main street.”

“Emotion welled up inside me.”

“A barely audible groan welled up in the Captain's throat as the grinning Freedom Fighter circled around behind the helpless American Soldier. The groan sputtered into a strangled, "No… no… don't.... " as Randall felt the juicy tip of the man's tumescent cock jab against his hair-ringed, virgin asshole.”

““I had to leave my job because I just couldn’t … yeah,” Tina says, welling up.”

CEFR level