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

• upwardly adverb
• upwardness noun

Etymology

Origin of upward

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

Example Sentences

At the Fed’s past two meetings, officials decided against publicly saying the next move could be upward, Chair Jerome Powell said this month.

From The Wall Street Journal

Around him, people looked upward, searching for the warplane.

From Los Angeles Times

That likely elongates efforts to end the conflict, adding to both upward pressure on crude prices and Treasury bond yields—both of which are likely to prevent stocks from escaping their current downturn.

From Barron's

That likely elongates efforts to end the conflict, adding to both upward pressure on crude prices and Treasury bond yields—both of which are likely to prevent stocks from escaping their current downturn.

From Barron's

I suddenly spring upward in my seat, alarmed at the touch of some sort of cloth — or perhaps a feather? — across my ankles.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• higher
• skyward
• uphill