upward

[uhp-werd]

See more synonyms for upward on Thesaurus.com

adverb Also up·wards.

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 English upweard (cognate with Dutch opwaart). See up-, -ward

Related formsup·ward·ly, adverbup·ward·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for upwards

Contemporary Examples

Not surprisingly, rates for recovery vary enormously, from as low as three percent to upwards of 75 percent.
You’re Never ‘Cured’ of an Eating Disorder
Carrie Arnold
December 20, 2014
Some show benefits for upwards of 400, while others show 200 is better.
Forget 5-Hour Energy: Tea Is a Better Buzz
Gregory Ferenstein
July 22, 2014
Her oldest client was 70 years old, but she says they range in age from 18 upwards.
Private Prisons Rule With Little Oversight on America’s Border
Caitlin Dickson
June 20, 2014
They range in age from 18 upwards, but the majority look no older than 25.
Private Prisons Rule With Little Oversight on America’s Border
Caitlin Dickson
June 20, 2014
By contrast, in a regular primary, the 10th would have upwards of 180 stations.
The GOP Establishment Turns a ‘Firehose’ on Virginia Tea Partiers
Michelle Cottle
May 1, 2014

Historical Examples

You may command all my Warriors; I can furnish you with upwards of two thousand.
The History of Louisiana
Le Page Du Pratz
Upwards of a year had elapsed since Vivian Grey left England.
Vivian Grey
Earl of Beaconsfield, Benjamin Disraeli
I was myself an inmate of the Court for upwards of two years.
Vivian Grey
Earl of Beaconsfield, Benjamin Disraeli
There must have been upwards of fifteen louis taken to-night.
Scaramouche
Rafael Sabatini
Balfour squealed forth his disapprobation for upwards of an hour.
Punch or the London Charivari, Vol. 93, September 3, 1887
Various

British Dictionary definitions for upwards

upwards

upward

adverb

from a lower to a higher place, level, condition, etc
towards a higher level, standing, etc

upward

adjective

directed or moving towards a higher point or level

adverb

a variant of upwards

Derived Formsupwardly, adverbupwardness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for upwards

upward

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.

upward

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Examples from the Web for upwards

Contemporary Examples

Not surprisingly, rates for recovery vary enormously, from as low as three percent to upwards of 75 percent.

Some show benefits for upwards of 400, while others show 200 is better.

Her oldest client was 70 years old, but she says they range in age from 18 upwards.

They range in age from 18 upwards, but the majority look no older than 25.

By contrast, in a regular primary, the 10th would have upwards of 180 stations.

Historical Examples

You may command all my Warriors; I can furnish you with upwards of two thousand.

Upwards of a year had elapsed since Vivian Grey left England.

I was myself an inmate of the Court for upwards of two years.

There must have been upwards of fifteen louis taken to-night.

Balfour squealed forth his disapprobation for upwards of an hour.

upwards

upward

upward

Word Origin and History for upwards

upward

Origin of upward