upswing
Americannoun
-
economics a recovery period in the trade cycle
-
an upward swing or movement or any increase or improvement
verb
Usage
What does on the upswing mean? The expression on the upswing refers to something in the process of improving or increasing. It’s often used in the context of economics. How is on the upswing pronounced?[ on thuh uhp-swing ]What are some other words related to on the upswing?
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
upswingsimple
-
upswingssimple
-
have upswungperfect
-
has upswungperfect
-
am upswingingprogressive
-
are upswingingprogressive
-
is upswingingprogressive
-
have been upswingingperfect progressive
-
has been upswingingperfect progressive
Past
-
upswungsimple
-
had upswungperfect
-
was upswingingprogressive
-
were upswingingprogressive
-
had been upswingingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of upswing
Explanation
An upswing is a period of improvement or growth, like the upswing in a town's population that results in an upswing in its economy. An upswing is also a literal upward swing of the arms, the way you move a jump rope or golf club. The golf meaning dates from 1922. The first figurative use of upswing in 1934, during the Great Depression, described economic improvements that were on the horizon. If you've ever had a period of bad luck, you know how it feels when life seems to finally be on the upswing, becoming a little bit better every day.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Joseph Adinolfi dug into more reasons the AI-hardware makers may be on the upswing, based on stock trading activity and the Situational Awareness hedge fund’s fire sale.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 31, 2026
COVID-19 is on the upswing in California and across a swath of the West and the South, a sign that the virus may be starting its seasonal summer uptick.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026
Meanwhile, the number of voters who officially affiliate as dues-paying members of the DSA is also on the upswing, nearly doubling since Mamdani began his viral mayoral campaign in 2025.
From Salon ● Jul. 8, 2026
Barron’s noted in March that the company was on an upswing, but it was still better than even many bulls were expecting.
From Barron's ● Jun. 25, 2026
"I think I'm on an upswing," I said out loud.
From "Hole in My Life" by Jack Gantos
Bank of America analysts said that price upswings and further volume growth amid the global AI infrastructure buildout should continue to support the island’s tech exports.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 3, 2026
As upswings go, this one has been a doozy.
From Barron's ● Jan. 2, 2026
Penn State: Long entrenched as the third-best team in the Big Ten, the Nittany Lions must deal with Oregon, Washington and USC, plus potential upswings by Nebraska and Wisconsin.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 3, 2024
Though there have been some small upswings, Bitcoin hasn’t recovered, and the asset’s correlation with the U.S. dollar has reportedly gone negative.
From Slate ● Dec. 15, 2022
During his upswings, everyone wanted to be in his presence, but during his downswings, he was known to cast a cold shadow.
From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi
In the white glare the girl saw Winthrope, crouched beneath her upswung door; and his face was as the face of a beast.
From Into the Primitive by Robert Ames Bennett
Kille, kille, lambkin mine, Though it often be hard to climb Over the rocks upswinging, Follow thy bell's sweet ringing!
From Poems and Songs by Arthur Hubbell Palmer
All that your courage has brightened, All that your pity protected, Now it is grown; Over your shoulders upswinging, Folds round your frame, Bringing in roses your name, Joyous the sprite of your poetry bringing.
From Poems and Songs by Arthur Hubbell Palmer
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
