toward a higher place or position: The birds flew upward.
toward a higher or more distinguished condition, rank, level, etc.: His employer wishes to move him upward in the company.
to a greater degree; more: fourscore and upward.
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.
in the upper parts; above.
adjective
moving or tending upward; directed at or situated in a higher place or position.
Idioms
upwards of, more than; above: My vacation cost me upwards of a thousand dollars.
Origin of upward
before 900;Middle English;Old Englishupweard (cognate with Dutchopwaart). See up-, -ward
Old English upweard, upweardes; see up + -ward. Cf. Middle Low German upwart, Middle Dutch opwaert, Middle High German ufwart. Phrase upward mobility first recorded 1949; mainly restricted to sociologists' jargon until 1960s.
