upward

[uhp-werd]

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.

adjective

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

upward

/ ˈʌpwəd /

adjective

1. directed or moving towards a higher point or level

adverb

1. a variant of upwards

Other Word Forms

• upwardly adverb
• upwardness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of upward¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. upwards of, more than; above.

   My vacation cost me upwards of a thousand dollars.

Example Sentences

Tariffs, not domestic demand, are the main source of upward price pressure.

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A rooftop patio extends the experience upward, while a separate guesthouse and lighted tennis court offer additional flexibility for hosting and outdoor recreation.

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The stair does not lead the visitor upward with a clear indication that there is art to be seen, and that the journey is worth the effort.

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Still, this city of nearly 89,000 – just 20 miles south of Nashville – is on an upward, modern trajectory.

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Accelerated job cuts tied to AI advancements could add upward pressure to unemployment gauges that typically signal economic weakness.

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Related Words

• higher 
• skyward 
• uphill