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.
Upward revisions to both paired with an unchanged rate path “imply a dovish reaction function,” noted Citi economists.
From Barron's • Mar. 18, 2026
"Upward interest rates and sometimes particularly high marginal tax rates have clearly led to widespread dissatisfaction among graduates who may not have fully understood their repayment terms and the possibility they could change," she said.
From BBC • Mar. 11, 2026
Upward price pressures have eased, the central bank said, and it expects inflation to remain close to 2% for the next two years as higher costs associated with tariffs are offset by excess economic slack.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 28, 2026
Upward pressure on inflation and pressure to finance the U.S. deficit should result in the market “clearing with higher yields over time.”
From MarketWatch • Oct. 17, 2025
Upward he bounded, up, two bounds, three, hardly slowing, until he was among the lower limbs.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
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.
