uptick

noun

up·​tick ˈəp-ˌtik 

plural upticks

1

: an increase, rise, or upward trend

For the professional middle class in particular, an uptick in innovation and a return to faster economic growth would solve many problems, and likely reignite income growth.

—Don Peck

Any near-term uptick in jobs will probably be small, because there's still plenty to be milked from existing workers.

—Rana Foroohar

2

finance : a stock market transaction at a price above the last previous transaction in the same security

Hong Kong has long required that stocks can only be sold short on upticks, meaning when the last trade of a specific stock in the market was higher than the preceding trade of that stock.

—Martin Fackler and Keith Bradsher

compare downtick sense 2

Synonyms of uptick

• increase
• boost
• gain
• addition
• rise

Examples of uptick in a Sentence

an uptick in sales over the last fiscal year

Recent Examples on the Web

Allison Hoeltzel Savini, founder of the ODP Collection and a leather goods development consultant, also noted an uptick in embossed and embellished exotic skins like eel and snake skin, enhanced with luxe materials and shiny finishings. —Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 17 Feb. 2026

And, as more investors jumped in to capitalize on silver's price uptick, the price of silver surged, driving it up past the $100-per-ounce mark just a few weeks into 2026. —Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026

Homicide and nonfatal shooting totals fell again in 2023, but the city was roiled by robbery and carjacking crews responsible for an overall uptick in violence. —Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026

For many, the uptick in posting only fueled speculation that something bigger could be coming, especially as fans await any more details regarding her unannounced Act III era. —Caché McClay, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

up entry 2 + tick entry 1

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for uptick

• broomstick
• dipstick
• homesick
• joystick
• lipstick
• nonstick
• pickwick
• picnic
• redbrick
• seasick
• sidekick
• slapstick

Kids Definition

uptick

noun

up·​tick ˈəp-ˌtik 

: an increase, rise, or upward trend

an uptick in cost