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
Dana Milbank, Washington Post, 10 July 2024
This provides little incentive to stop detonating backyard fireworks, since perpetrators are already willing to spend upward of $300 on a single residential fireworks package.
—Fred Medinger, Baltimore Sun, 6 July 2024
Ganesh Rao, CNBC, 10 July 2024
Just apply a dab of face serum or oil, then glide them around your complexion — aim for upward strokes from the center of your face outwards to encourage lymphatic drainage.
—Claire Sullivan, WWD, 9 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for upward 
Adverb
At the northern end of the county, a developer is deforesting upward of 500 acres in an area known as Clevenger’s Corner.
—Dana Milbank, Washington Post, 10 July 2024
This provides little incentive to stop detonating backyard fireworks, since perpetrators are already willing to spend upward of $300 on a single residential fireworks package.
—Fred Medinger, Baltimore Sun, 6 July 2024
Adjective
Citi’s analysis reveals that high AI exposure stocks have seen a 36% return year-to-date, with 22% driven by price-to-earnings ratio expansion and 14% by upward earnings per share revisions.
—Ganesh Rao, CNBC, 10 July 2024
Just apply a dab of face serum or oil, then glide them around your complexion — aim for upward strokes from the center of your face outwards to encourage lymphatic drainage.
—Claire Sullivan, WWD, 9 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for upward
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'upward.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near upward
Cite this Entry
“Upward.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upward. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
upward
2 of 2 adjective
: directed toward or located in a higher place or level : ascending
upwardly
adverb
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