upwelling

1 of 2

noun

up·​well·​ing ˌəp-ˈwe-liŋ 

: the process or an instance of rising or appearing to rise to the surface and flowing outward

especially : the process of upward movement to the ocean surface of deeper cold usually nutrient-rich waters especially along some shores due to the offshore movement of surface waters (as from the action of winds and the Coriolis force)

upwelling

2 of 2

present participle of upwell

Examples of upwelling in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This process produces stronger upwelling, which, in turn, results in more plankton and fish near the surface and greater yields of anchovies, sardines, and other commercial fishes. — John P. Rafferty, Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 Aug. 2026

Warm water sloshes eastward across thousands of miles of open ocean, and the cold upwelling off Ecuador slows or shuts down entirely. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 6 Aug. 2026

If these spacecraft do discover shallow liquid pools or similar surface features, Ojha's study suggests they are more likely created by localized melting inside the ice shell itself, rather than direct upwellings from the deep ocean. — Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 3 Aug. 2026

The warm water, the result of change in currents and stalling of the typical cold water upwelling that occurred along the coast, was nutrient-poor and led to steep crashes in phytoplankton and anchovy populations. — Susanne Rust follow, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1868, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for upwelling

• bookselling
• channelling
• compelling
• dispelling
• excelling
• expelling
• foretelling
• impelling
• indwelling
• labelling
• levelling
• marvelling

Kids Definition

upwelling

noun

up·​well·​ing ˌəp-ˈwel-iŋ 

: the process or an example of rising or appearing to rise to the surface and flowing outward

especially : the process of movement of deeper cooler layers of ocean water that are often rich in nourishing substances to the surface