up·ward | \ ˈəp-wərd 
\
\variants:
or upwards \ ˈəp-wərdz \
\Definition of upward
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a : in a direction from lower to higher
the kite rose upward
b(1) : toward the source (as of a river)
(2) : toward the interior (as of a region)
c : in a higher position
held out his hand, palm upward
d : in the upper parts : toward the head : above from the waist upward
2 : toward a higher or better condition or level
young lawyers moving upward
3a : to an indefinitely greater amount, figure, or rank
from $5 upward
b : toward a greater amount or higher number, degree, or rate
attendance figures have risen upward
4 : toward or into later years
from youth upward
upward
adjectiveDefinition of upward (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : directed toward or situated in a higher place or level : ascending
2 : rising to a higher pitch
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Examples of upward in a Sentence
Adverb
The road gradually rose upward.
She directed my gaze upward.
They are moving upward socially and economically.
moving upward in the corporate world Adjective
an upward revision of the vote tally
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Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb The Seattle Seahawks have usually ended recent regular seasons trending upward.
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oregonlive, "Seattle Seahawks displaying peak form ahead of Wild Card playoff against the Los Angeles Rams," 3 Jan. 2021 Meanwhile, new games, particularly live service games, have propelled space requirements forever upward.
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Washington Post, "The biggest questions facing the gaming world in 2021," 30 Dec. 2020 But more widespread testing is not necessarily the reason for the surge in cases; Bexar County’s test positivity rate has also been trending upward since early October.
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Andres Picon, ExpressNews.com, "San Antonio surpasses 110,000 COVID-19 cases; 1,000 people hospitalized with the virus," 27 Dec. 2020 Rigorous standards, elegant comportment and an easy way among influential people propelled him upward and outward.
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New York Times, "Jack Lenor Larsen, Innovative Textile Designer, Dies at 93," 23 Dec. 2020 Health officials caution about the upcoming holidays, which could have case numbers trending upward.
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Kevin Bessler, Washington Examiner, "Pritzker to consider loosening COVID-19 restrictions after holidays," 18 Dec. 2020 Sure, an 8-2 regular season, despite Saturday’s crushing 62-26 loss to North Carolina, worked to solidify, in the minds of the 21 signees, that the team is trending upward — but 20 of them committed to UM before any of those games were played.
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David Furones, sun-sentinel.com, "How did the Hurricanes recruit so well after 6-7 in 2019? It happened before 2020′s 8-2 turnaround," 17 Dec. 2020 But DoorDash’s growth, though accelerated by the pandemic, was already trending upward.
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Fortune, "DoorDash shares soar 80% after IPO," 9 Dec. 2020 But even with reporting gaps, the seven- and 14-day averages, which smooth out irregularities in data, are trending upward.
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Jon Emont, WSJ, "Coronavirus Live Updates: U.S. Infections, Deaths, Hospitalizations All Hit Record Highs," 4 Dec. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective That data will likely show a rebound in property crime and a continued upward trend in crimes like domestic violence as Florida reopened in the summer and early fall, Nobles said.
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Katie Rice, orlandosentinel.com, "Crime in Florida decreased in 2020, and numbers can provide insight into pandemic’s lasting effect," 1 Jan. 2021 Assessments on residential and commercial property around the state will rise in Maryland by an average of 8.1% in 2021, continuing a yearslong upward trend in the values used to calculate the taxes property owners must pay.
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Hallie Miller, baltimoresun.com, "Tax assessments to rise across Maryland in 2021 by average of 8.1%, continuing yearslong upswing," 30 Dec. 2020 Club executives will have to sort out what this winning streak means and if an upward-trend justifies retaining Lynn and his debatable play-calling next season.
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Los Angeles Times, "Column: Chargers’ tenacity finally starting to show even if it’s too late to save season," 28 Dec. 2020 But while the Midwest may be reining in the virus, the current upward trend in hospitalizations is being driven by the South and West, and even within those regions, by certain states.
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Whet Moser, The Atlantic, "December Is Now the Deadliest Month of the Pandemic," 23 Dec. 2020 Interest in outward migration has followed an upward trend since the start of the year, and in November, the percentage of Bay Area renters searching outside the region reached a high of 41%.
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Kellie Hwang, SFChronicle.com, "Renters fled S.F. and the Bay Area in 2020 — but many didn’t go far, data suggests," 22 Dec. 2020 For West Virginia athletic director Shane Lyons, there's a simple explanation for the upward trend in offensive line coach salaries.
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Steve Berkowitz, USA TODAY, "Why offensive line coach has become one of the most lucrative gigs in college football," 15 Dec. 2020 The Seattle Seahawks’ defense has been playing very good football in recent weeks, but there were the skeptics who wondered if the upward trend would stick.
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oregonlive, "Seattle Seahawks’ defense proving its upward trend is legitimate after dominating the New York Jets," 14 Dec. 2020 Florida on Friday continued on an upward trend and reported its highest new cases for a single day since July 25. Palm Beach County: 725 additional cases and 10 more deaths.
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Cindy Krischer Goodman, sun-sentinel.com, "COVID-19 in Florida: 11,699 new cases, the highest number since July," 11 Dec. 2020
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'upward.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for upward
upward
adverbEnglish Language Learners Definition of upward
(Entry 1 of 2)
: from a lower place or level to a higher place or level
: toward the ceiling, sky, etc.
: toward a higher or better condition or position
upward
adjectiveEnglish Language Learners Definition of upward (Entry 2 of 2)
: moving or going from a lower place or level to a higher place or level
: moving or going toward the ceiling, sky, etc.
: changing to a larger amount or higher number
See the full definition for upward in the English Language Learners Dictionary
upward
adverbup·ward | \ ˈəp-wərd \
\variants:
or upwards \ -wərdz \
Kids Definition of upward
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : in a direction from lower to higher
The balloon floated upward.
2 : toward a higher or better state
3 : toward a greater amount or a higher number or rate
4 : toward the head
From the waist upwards he was like a man, but his legs were shaped like a goat's …— C. S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
upward
adjectiveKids Definition of upward (Entry 2 of 2)
: turned toward or being in a higher place or level
an upward gaze an upward movement of prices
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Comments on upward
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Time Traveler for upward
The first known use of upward was before the 12th century
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