upswing

noun

up·​swing ˈəp-ˌswiŋ 

1

: an upward swing

2

: a marked increase or improvement

a dramatic upswing in profits

—often used in the phrase on the upswing

Her career is on the upswing.

Examples of upswing in a Sentence

an upswing of the arms

Recent Examples on the Web

The combination of the city’s purchase of the historic building and development of The Gifford apartment project could help fuel an upswing in activity downtown, San Jose officials said. — George Avalos, Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2026

While great news for Doximity, the huge upswing the in the stock on Friday morning is bad for anybody who is shorting it. — Tobias Burns, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026

The move was part of the government’s efforts to combat the upswing in crime that had come with Prohibition, and Alcatraz was, well, fortified. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Aug. 2026

Josh, a perpetual self-optimizer, is convinced that an upswing is just around the corner. — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1922, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for upswing

• bowstring
• coiling
• downswing
• drawstring
• forewing
• hamstring
• lapwing
• mainspring
• offspring
• plaything
• shoestring
• texting

Kids Definition

upswing

noun

up·​swing ˈəp-ˌswiŋ 

: an upward swing

especially : a marked increase or improvement (as in activity)

business is on the upswing