upriver

American  

[uhp-riv-er] / ˈʌpˈrɪv ər /

adverb

1. in the direction of or nearer the source of a river.

   It's hard to paddle a canoe upriver; an upriver settlement of tribes.

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upriver British  

/ ˈʌpˈrɪvə /

adjective

1. towards or near the source of a river

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noun

1. an area located upstream

Etymology

Origin of upriver

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40; up- + river ¹

Example Sentences

Billions of pounds of alumina barged upriver will feed the smelter, while the metal will typically leave by rail or truck, Plotkin said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

Pook said the district is releasing less water from its reservoirs now, in order to preserve more for the fall when salmon migrate upriver to spawn.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 21, 2026

With the leak's Maryland location upriver from Washington, much of it found its way to the waters skirting the US capital.

From Barron's • Feb. 18, 2026

Whilst bears are generally solitary, this one was heading to feast with others on the glut of sockeye salmon migrating upriver from the Pacific to their origin lake to spawn.

From BBC • Aug. 26, 2025

As we headed upriver along the Volta it was soothing to look out the window and see the sun bounce off its ripples.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo