upward

English

Etymology

From Old English upweardes, equivalent to up +‎ -ward.

Pronunciation

• Audio (US)

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• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈʌpwɜː(ɹ)d/
• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈʌpwəd/

Adverb

upward (comparative more upward, superlative most upward)

1. In a direction from lower to higher; toward a higher place; in a course toward the source or origin

   We ran upward

   • (Can we date this quote?) Richard Hooker

     Looking inward, we are stricken dumb; looking upward, we speak and prevail.

   • 1918, W. B. Maxwell, chapter 23, in The Mirror and the Lamp:

     If the afternoon was fine they strolled together in the park, very slowly, and with pauses to draw breath wherever the ground sloped upward. The slightest effort made the patient cough.

2. In the upper parts; above.
   • (Can we date this quote?) John Milton

     Dagon his name, sea monster, upward man, / And downward fish.

3. Yet more; indefinitely more; above; over.
   • Bible, Numbers i. 3.

     From twenty years old and upward.

Synonyms

• up, upwards

Antonyms

• down, downwards

Derived terms

• upward of
• upwards of

Translations

toward an upper level

• Finnish: ylös (fi), ylemmäs
• Hebrew: מַעְלָה‎ (he) (má'la)

• Maori: ki runga, whakarunga
• Russian: вверх (ru) (vverx), кве́рху (ru) (kvérxu), ввысь (ru) (vvysʹ), наве́рх (ru) (navérx)

in the upper parts; above

• Finnish: ylhäällä (fi), ylempänä

• Russian: наверху́ (ru) (naverxú), вверху́ (ru) (vverxú)

yet more; above; over

• Finnish: ylöspäin

• Russian: вы́ше (ru) (výše), свы́ше (ru) (svýše)

Noun

upward (uncountable)

1. (obsolete) The upper part; the top.
   • (Can we date this quote?) Shakespeare

     From the extremest upward of thy head.

Adjective

upward (comparative more upward, superlative most upward)

1. Directed toward a higher place.

   with upward eye; with upward course

Synonyms

• (toward a higher place): upwards

Translations

moving up, directed toward a higher place

• Finnish: ylös suuntaava
• Maori: whakarunga, ki runga

• Russian: поднима́ющийся (ru) (podnimájuščijsja), восходя́щий (ru) (vosxodjáščij)

Anagrams

• draw up, draw-up, updraw