upswing

American  

[uhp-swing, uhp-swing] / ˈʌpˌswɪŋ, ʌpˈswɪŋ /

noun

1. an upward swing or swinging movement, as of a pendulum.

2. a marked increase or improvement.

   an upswing in stock prices.

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verb (used without object)

upswings, present (3rd person singular) upswung, past participle, past upswinging present participle

1. to make or undergo an upswing.

upswing British  

noun

1. economics a recovery period in the trade cycle

2. an upward swing or movement or any increase or improvement

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verb

1. (intr) to swing or move up

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?

• uptick
• success
• streak
• downswing

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

• upswinging
  present
• upswung
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• upswing
  simple
• upswings
  simple
• have upswung
  perfect
• has upswung
  perfect
• am upswinging
  progressive
• are upswinging
  progressive
• is upswinging
  progressive
• have been upswinging
  perfect progressive
• has been upswinging
  perfect progressive

Past

• upswung
  simple
• had upswung
  perfect
• was upswinging
  progressive
• were upswinging
  progressive
• had been upswinging
  perfect progressive

Future

• will upswing
  simple
• will have upswung
  perfect
• will be upswinging
  progressive
• will have been upswinging
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of upswing

First recorded in 1920–25; up- + swing ¹

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

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

We were on a big upswing for that for a while, and then it just kind of went south real bad.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 2, 2026

Memory stocks are back on the upswing, and Morgan Stanley analysts say their recent breather was necessary to support more explosive gains.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 11, 2026

The hiring upswing isn’t a textbook case “where you need to hike rates,” said Kevin Hassett, the director of the White House National Economic Council.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 6, 2026

So Father saw this pageant as a splectacular mark of things being on the upswing.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

Related Words

• upturn