upward

American  

[uhp-werd] / ˈʌp wərd /

adverb

1. toward a higher place or position.

   The birds flew upward.

2. toward a higher or more distinguished condition, rank, level, etc..

   His employer wishes to move him upward in the company.

3. to a greater degree; more.

   fourscore and upward.

4. toward a large city, the source or origin of a stream, or the interior of a country or region.

   They followed the Thames River upward from the North Sea to London.

5. in the upper parts; above.

---

adjective

1. moving or tending upward; directed at or situated in a higher place or position.

idioms

1. upwards of, more than; above.

   My vacation cost me upwards of a thousand dollars.

upward British  

/ ˈʌpwəd /

adjective

1. directed or moving towards a higher point or level

---

adverb

1. a variant of upwards

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• upwardness
  noun
• upwardly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of upward

before 900; Middle English; Old English upweard (cognate with Dutch opwaart ). See up-, -ward

Example Sentences

This has "helped keep something of a lid on global energy prices that have been under upward pressure" from the supply shock, he added.

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026

For many young Indians, higher education is no guarantee of upward mobility.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026

Businesses fought back, spending upward of $30 million on ads against Mr. Steyer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026

Nonfarm payrolls grew by 172,000 in the month, while payroll growth for February and March was revised upward by 93,000.

From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026

Her walker sank an inch into the sandy lakeshore each time she leaned on it and she had to yank upward to lift it enough to move it forward again.

From "Earthquake Terror" by Peg Kehret

Related Words

• higher
• skyward
• uphill