on the up
idiom
chiefly British
: moving toward an improved or better state
After a slow period, sales are on the up.
Examples of on the up in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Simultaneously, this unhurried beachside city is one on the up, hot on the heels of being named both World Design Capital and Europe’s Green Capital in recent years.
—
Elizabeth Bennett, Vogue, 20 June 2025
Keeping all these aspects on the up and up requires clear decision making, nuanced judgment and flexibility/adaptability.
—Mahesh Rajasekharan, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025
But delivery delays at Boeing and Airbus are fueling a commercial jet shortage.
— Katrina Bishop
In the markets
After a downbeat couple of months dominated by global tariff fears, U.K. stock markets are back on the up in May.
—Ian King, CNBC, 28 May 2025
Well, after inevitably being sacked by Spurs soon, Postecoglou will want a club on the up, a club who’ll want to play attacking football, and a club who want to win a big trophy in two years.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for on the up
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.
Elizabeth Bennett, Vogue, 20 June 2025
Keeping all these aspects on the up and up requires clear decision making, nuanced judgment and flexibility/adaptability.
—Mahesh Rajasekharan, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025
But delivery delays at Boeing and Airbus are fueling a commercial jet shortage.
— Katrina Bishop
In the markets
After a downbeat couple of months dominated by global tariff fears, U.K. stock markets are back on the up in May.
—Ian King, CNBC, 28 May 2025
Well, after inevitably being sacked by Spurs soon, Postecoglou will want a club on the up, a club who’ll want to play attacking football, and a club who want to win a big trophy in two years.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for on the up
Cite this Entry
“On the up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20up. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share