variants
or upwards
1
a
: in a direction from lower to higher
the kite rose upward
b(1)
: toward the source (as of a river)
(2)
: toward the interior (as of a region)
c
: in a higher position
held out his hand, palm upward
d
: in the upper parts : toward the head : above
from the waist upward
2
: toward a higher or better condition or level
young lawyers moving upward
3
a
: to an indefinitely greater amount, figure, or rank
from $5 upward
b
: toward a greater amount or higher number, degree, or rate
attendance figures have risen upward
4
: toward or into later years
from youth upward
1
: directed toward or situated in a higher place or level : ascending
2
: rising to a higher pitch
upwardly
adverb
upwardness
noun
Examples of upward in a Sentence
Adverb
The road gradually rose upward.
She directed my gaze upward.
They are moving upward socially and economically.
moving upward in the corporate world
Adjective
an upward revision of the vote tally
Recent Examples on the Web
Tony Blengino, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
According to Milk, apply short, hair-like strokes upward from the beginning of your brow to the tail both in the morning and at night.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 21 Jan. 2025
Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 23 Jan. 2025
But for the industry's women, that trend is more often an oscillating wave than an upward trajectory, as audiences tire of starlets, shove them aside, then rediscover them for a brief moment only to punish them for aging out of the ever-datable 20-45 range.
—Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for upward 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adverb
Look for Chase Utley to make a major upward in 2026, greasing the skids for future induction.
—Tony Blengino, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
According to Milk, apply short, hair-like strokes upward from the beginning of your brow to the tail both in the morning and at night.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 21 Jan. 2025
Adjective
As noted above, the Northeast and Southeast are seeing short-term upward trajectories in buck harvests, while the Midwest and West are seeing declines.
—Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 23 Jan. 2025
But for the industry's women, that trend is more often an oscillating wave than an upward trajectory, as audiences tire of starlets, shove them aside, then rediscover them for a brief moment only to punish them for aging out of the ever-datable 20-45 range.
—Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for upward
Dictionary Entries Near upward
Cite this Entry
“Upward.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upward. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
upward
2 of 2 adjective
: directed toward or located in a higher place or level : ascending
upwardly
adverb
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share