upward

American  

[uhp-werd] / ˈʌp wərd /

adverb

1. toward a higher place or position.

   The birds flew upward.

2. toward a higher or more distinguished condition, rank, level, etc..

   His employer wishes to move him upward in the company.

3. to a greater degree; more.

   fourscore and upward.

4. toward a large city, the source or origin of a stream, or the interior of a country or region.

   They followed the Thames River upward from the North Sea to London.

5. in the upper parts; above.

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adjective

1. moving or tending upward; directed at or situated in a higher place or position.

idioms

1. upwards of, more than; above.

   My vacation cost me upwards of a thousand dollars.

upward British  

/ ˈʌpwəd /

adjective

1. directed or moving towards a higher point or level

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adverb

1. a variant of upwards

Other Word Forms

• upwardness
  noun
• upwardly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of upward

before 900; Middle English; Old English upweard (cognate with Dutch opwaart ). See up-, -ward

Example Sentences

The 97 homes Plant Prefab currently has under contract may be only a tiny fraction of upward of 12,000 destroyed in the Eaton and Palisades fires.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 7, 2026

Until this past Supreme Court term, emergency applications fluctuated year to year but showed no clear upward trend.

From Salon • Jul. 3, 2026

But according to Rubner, all of this demand has been putting upward pressure on equity financing spreads.

From MarketWatch • Jul. 1, 2026

While allowing that data suggest a slowdown in upward mobility, he insists that plenty of opportunity remains for the taking.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 1, 2026

I forced back tears as I heaved upward again, got a grip, and clung on.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo

Related Words

• higher
• skyward
• uphill