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

The data from those animal trials showed a 400 percent uptick in lifespan, largely thanks to Klotho’s protective impact on the brain. — Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 9 Aug. 2026

But with the midterms less than three months away, any uptick in disfavor for ICE among independents could spell trouble for Republicans seeking to win over voters from the center, experts said. — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 9 Aug. 2026

While shootings involving indiscriminate killings are not common, the country has seen an uptick in high-profile shooting deaths in recent years. — ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026

Unfortunately, there seems to be a clear link between Murphy’s uptick in production and his ability to hit those high-water marks. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 8 Aug. 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