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Synonyms

upstream

American  
[uhp-streem] / ˈʌpˈstrim /

adverb

  1. toward or in the higher part of a stream; against the current.

adjective

  1. directed upstream; situated upstream.

    an upstream journey; an upstream hideout.

  2. Commerce. of or relating to the early stages in the operations of a business or industry, as exploration and production in the oil business (opposed to downstream).

  3. against or opposite to the direction of transcription, translation, or synthesis of a DNA, RNA, or protein molecule.

upstream British  
/ ˈʌpˈstriːm /

adverb

  1. in or towards the higher part of a stream; against the current

  2. (in the oil industry) of or for any of the stages prior to oil production, such as exploration or research Compare downstream

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of upstream

First recorded in 1675–85; up- + stream

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.

This is becoming the standard position: A.I. for everything upstream of prose is acceptable; A.I. for the prose itself is a betrayal.

From Slate • Apr. 17, 2026

The company expects upstream production to be broadly flat and that prices would result in a working-capital build and an increase in net debt.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

Given the heightened inflation expectations, Nuveen evinces a clear preference for floating rate rather than fixed-credit instruments, energy and upstream assets across equities, and for hard assets and real return profiles.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026

The full Fish Moon refers to when shad fish came upstream to spawn and Breaking Ice Moon highlights the arrival of warmer weather.

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

I swam upstream, feeling the current against me.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein

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.