upward

1 of 2

adverb

up·​ward ˈəp-wərd How to pronounce upward (audio)
variants or upwards
1
a
: in a direction from lower to higher
the kite rose upward
b(1)
: toward the source (as of a river)
(2)
: toward the interior (as of a region)
c
: in a higher position
held out his hand, palm upward
d
: in the upper parts : toward the head : above
from the waist upward
2
: toward a higher or better condition or level
young lawyers moving upward
3
a
: to an indefinitely greater amount, figure, or rank
from $5 upward
b
: toward a greater amount or higher number, degree, or rate
attendance figures have risen upward
4
: toward or into later years
from youth upward

upward

2 of 2

adjective

1
: directed toward or situated in a higher place or level : ascending
2
: rising to a higher pitch
upwardly adverb
upwardness noun

Examples of upward in a Sentence

Adverb The road gradually rose upward. She directed my gaze upward. They are moving upward socially and economically. moving upward in the corporate world Adjective an upward revision of the vote tally
Recent Examples on the Web
Adverb
Individual House offices have since received hundreds of calls from TikTok users, at times fielding upward of 20 a minute, according to seven congressional aides, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the outreach. Drew Harwell, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2024 The video from Gallegos’ camera shows Boettcher approach Gallegos a second time and bump into him, at which time the lens turns upward, showing only the blue sky. Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024 Those departures follow the exits of nine large insurance companies and Vanguard leaving the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative in recent years, bringing the total assets under management that have left these groups upward of $19 trillion. Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2024 Russia has lost thousands of tanks, and upward of 400,000 dead and wounded, with figures regularly posted online and tracked by open-source military intelligence trackers. Peter Suciu, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024 The city spent upward of $135 million on initial renovations, lease payments and final buyout costs, not including interest fees or legal expenses. Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Mar. 2024 Accounting for the reality that some signatures inevitably are disqualified, experts in such matters have said that Sinema’s campaign would need to gather far more, perhaps upward of 60,000 before the deadline. Ronald J. Hansen, The Arizona Republic, 1 Mar. 2024 The highest points on Interstate 80 and Highway 50 — Donner Pass and Echo Summit, respectively — measured about one to two feet of snow overnight with gusts upward of 50 mph, said Craig Shoemaker, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Sacramento. Angela Rodriguez, Sacramento Bee, 1 Mar. 2024 Jennifer Robbins holds up a diagram to a new owner of an electric bike, a 13-year-old who just got a Christmas gift that can reach speeds upward of 25 mph. Laylan Connelly, Orange County Register, 25 Feb. 2024
Adjective
Inflation The major difference between the two periods boils down to inflation, or the upward change in prices for goods and services. Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2024 Apple was full of momentum and growing fatter with cash every day, but there was no guarantee that its devices would keep the company expanding with their upward sales trajectory. Wes Davis, The Verge, 3 Mar. 2024 Why hasn’t more Safe Streets money been awarded? Traffic deaths spiked in 2020, even with so many Americans staying home during COVID-19 lockdowns, following an upward trend that began over a decade ago. USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2024 The luxury housing market is continuing on an upward trajectory that started at the end of 2023, according to the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing, the result of a stable economy and extension of the market beyond traditional luxury hotspots like Los Angeles and New York. Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Before the upward surge for interest rates and inflation, here are examples of some per-unit prices: — The Platform Urban Apartments in San Jose near the Berryessa BART station, $575,506 a unit. George Avalos, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2024 What’s happening: Shares of Nvidia have exploded higher with no end to their upward trajectory in sight. Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 28 Feb. 2024 State tax revenue from 2009 to 2016 shows steady upward progress, except for a decline in the state's fiscal year 2013. The Arizona Republic, 28 Feb. 2024 The bird passes through every state in the lower 48 on its upward journey, so birders across the country can keep an eye out for these bright yellow birds. Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'upward.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of upward was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near upward

Cite this Entry

“Upward.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upward. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

upward

1 of 2 adverb
up·​ward ˈəp-wərd How to pronounce upward (audio)
variants or upwards
1
: in a direction from lower to higher
the land rises upward
2
: toward a higher or better condition
worked my way upward in the business
3
: toward a greater amount or higher number, degree, or rate
prices shot upward

upward

2 of 2 adjective
: directed toward or located in a higher place or level : ascending
upwardly adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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