upward mobility

noun

: the capacity or facility for rising to a higher social or economic position

upwardly mobile adjective

Examples of upward mobility in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The company’s impressive upward mobility was owed to its industry-changing design, first applied to the stunning 2003 Le Mans Quattro concept—which eventually became the R8—then quickly followed by the Nuvolari and Pikes Peak concepts, which led to the A5 and Q7 production cars, respectively. —Jonny Lieberman, Robb Report, 13 Dec. 2025

Vance once embodied that message—upward mobility, personal resilience and working-class roots. —Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025

Cheng’s accusations prompted discourse on Chinese social media about workplace exploitation and the difficulties people face when trying to achieve upward mobility and progress beyond entry-level jobs. —Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025

Lack of affordable housing, child care access and health care are among the main factors preventing single mothers from accessing upward mobility, according to the report. —Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for upward mobility

• acceptability
• accessibility
• adaptability
• admissibility
• advisability
• affordability
• allowability
• amenability
• amiability
• appealability
• applicability
• availability