upward

upward — adverb

1. in a direction that goes from a lower point or level to a higher one, used for b

1.adverbB1
Definition

in a direction that goes from a lower point or level to a higher one, used for both physical movement and increases in amount, value, or quality.

Example

The hot air balloon floated gently upward into the bright morning sky.

collocation: floated upward

Sales figures have been moving upward steadily for three months in a row.

collocation: moving upward / trending upward

Common collocations
  • move upward
  • rise upward
  • float upward
  • drift upward
  • climb upward
  • point upward
  • trend upward
Synonyms
  • skyward

    more poetic and specific — only used for literal direction toward the sky

  • higher

    focuses on the result position rather than the direction of movement

Antonyms
  • downward

    opposite direction, towards a lower position or amount

Grammar Patterns

upward + verb phrase

modifies verb of movement

Usage Note

Common with verbs of movement (rise, climb, float, drift, move, point). The variant 'upwards' is interchangeable in British English but less frequent in American usage.

Common Mistakes

The plane flew upward to the sky.
The plane flew upward into the sky.
'into' is more natural when entering a space than 'to' after 'upward'.

2. from a particular earlier time continuing into later or more recent periods, sho

2.adverbB2
Definition

from a particular earlier time continuing into later or more recent periods, showing that something has lasted or extended over time.

Example

From childhood upward, Élise had always loved reading adventure stories.

pattern: from [time] upward

From the early 1920s upward, the harvest tradition continued in villages across the region.

pattern: from [starting point] upward

Common collocations
  • from childhood upward
  • from ... upward
Synonyms
  • onward

    more common for temporal extension in modern English; 'from childhood onward' is the more frequent form

  • forward

    emphasizes progression into the future rather than extension from the past

Grammar Patterns

from [starting time] upward

Usage Note

Only used in the fixed pattern 'from [starting time/age/period] upward'. The starting point must be a specific earlier time, age, or historical period. Cannot be used as a standalone temporal adverb — a sentence like 'The project continued upward' would be incorrect without a 'from' phrase.

Common Mistakes

The meeting will start upward at 3 PM.
From the 1990s upward, the company grew quickly.
'upward' in a temporal sense must follow 'from [starting point]', not attach directly to a time.

upward — adjective

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All three words express direction toward a higher place, but they differ in usage and register. 'Upward' is the standard form in both American and British English for physical and metaphorical direction ('prices moved upward'). 'Upwards' is interchangeable in British English but less common in American writing; it sounds slightly more informal. 'Skyward' is narrower and more poetic — it refers only to the literal sky or heaven ('The rocket shot skyward'), and is rarely used for abstract increases like prices or ranks. For learner purposes, 'upward' is the safest and most versatile choice, suitable for both concrete and figurative contexts.

upward ↗upwards ↗skyward

Common collocations

Nouns

  • upward trend
  • upward movement
  • upward motion
  • upward path
  • upward slope
  • upward direction
  • upward arrow
  • upward curve

Adverbs

  • steadily upward
  • gently upward
  • slowly upward
  • sharply upward

Phrases

  • from childhood upward
  • from ... upward
  • move upward
  • trend upward
  • point upward

Prepositions

  • upward from
  • upward of
  • upward toward
  • upward through

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Comes from Old English 'upweard' (up + -weard, meaning 'in the direction of' or 'turning toward'). The suffix '-ward' appears in many English direction words like 'downward', 'forward', 'backward', and 'toward'. A parallel form exists in German 'aufwärts'.