upward
Americanadverb
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toward a higher place or position.
The birds flew upward.
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toward a higher or more distinguished condition, rank, level, etc..
His employer wishes to move him upward in the company.
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to a greater degree; more.
fourscore and upward.
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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.
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in the upper parts; above.
adjective
idioms
adjective
adverb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of upward
before 900; Middle English; Old English upweard (cognate with Dutch opwaart ). See up-, -ward
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.
The report was much hotter than expected and included a significant upward revision for September’s gains, Roach says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 9, 2026
Phillips caught a bad break when her approach to the green hit a tree branch on its upward flight and dropped 20 yards short of the green.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2026
That’s after a 2% upward adjustment for this year’s taxes.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 5, 2026
The surge in attacks has coincided with signs that the recent recovery in shipping through Hormuz is faltering, although the latest oil-flow figures are preliminary and subject to upward revision.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2026
When the seafloor springs up, it shoves millions of gallons of water upward and outward.
From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
