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Showing results for upward mobility. Search instead for upward motion.
Synonyms

upward mobility

British  

noun

  1. sociol the movement of an individual, social group, or class to a position of increased status or power Compare downward mobility See also horizontal mobility vertical mobility

"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

upward mobility Cultural  
  1. Rising from a lower to a higher social class or status. (See also social mobility.)


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:

They are "aspirational young Indians and their parents who see these exams as a path to upward mobility".

From BBC Jul. 23, 2026

Both paths offer young people upward mobility in an economy where the private sector isn’t creating enough jobs.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 20, 2026

Survey respondents said the dream's key elements were personal freedom, financial security and homeownership, and success and upward mobility.

From Barron's Jul. 1, 2026

Across the San Gabriel Valley, the article finds a pervasive sense of economic strain and declining faith in upward mobility.

From Los Angeles Times May 17, 2026

The reason is that upward mobility requires what sociologists describe as the twin pillars of success: human capital and social capital.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times

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