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:
Nimesh Patel’s stock in comedy has been on an upswing lately.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
Still, the market’s hesitation to price in oversupply seems justifiable, as it likely considers the current upswing in Middle East exports to be unsustainable, he says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
After falling for much of 2025, US auto employment has been on an upswing for most of 2026.
From Barron's ● Oct. 4, 2026
The sizable pullback in hiring—not just in July, but in downwardly revised May and June numbers—marked a shift for a labor market that appeared on the upswing earlier this year.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
There was no single reason for the sudden turnabout, the surprising upswing, the unexpected rash of sales.
From "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier
"There's going to be big upswings and big downswings, because nobody knows the future," he said.
From Barron's ● May 17, 2026
That’s one side the market is focusing on, “giving rise to the types of upswings that we’ve seen.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 19, 2026
For much of modern history, even the richest nations have been subject to big perennial upswings and crashes in commercial activity almost as fixed as the four seasons.
From New York Times ● Apr. 11, 2024
Cities are ecosystems that are perpetually evolving, routinely experiencing downturns and upswings.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 16, 2024
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
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
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
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.
