variants
or upwards
1
a
: 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
3
a
: 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
1
: directed toward or situated in a higher place or level : ascending
2
: rising to a higher pitch
upwardly
adverb
upwardness
noun
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
Recent Examples on the Web
PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024
One big risk to the tax titles of the IRA is a possible Republican move to cap its currently uncapped energy tax incentives, which could significantly slim down credits that many now expect to cost upward of $1 trillion.
—Nick Sobczyk, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024
Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024
The current market consensus is Trump's policies on immigration, tax cuts and tariffs would put upward pressure on inflation, bond yields and the dollar.
—Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for upward 
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Adverb
The speaker is rounded, and most of its front and top are protected by a grille that covers its subwoofer, six mid-woofers, and seven tweeters (two of which fire upward for spatial audio).
—PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024
One big risk to the tax titles of the IRA is a possible Republican move to cap its currently uncapped energy tax incentives, which could significantly slim down credits that many now expect to cost upward of $1 trillion.
—Nick Sobczyk, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
Those policies, if enacted, could put upward pressure on prices, wages and the federal deficit, according to many estimates.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024
The current market consensus is Trump's policies on immigration, tax cuts and tariffs would put upward pressure on inflation, bond yields and the dollar.
—Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for upward
Dictionary Entries Near upward
Cite this Entry
“Upward.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upward. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
upward
2 of 2 adjective
: directed toward or located in a higher place or level : ascending
upwardly
adverb
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