Word
uptown
Phoneticsup·town, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈəpˈtaʊn/
UK/ˈʌptaʊn/
Adverb of place
Definition
adv. towards or in the part of a city that is away from the center, often where people live in nicer houses.
adv. towards or in the residential or more affluent part of a city, typically situated away from the central business district. Often functions as a directional modifier for verbs of motion.
Examples
“We are going uptown to see a show tonight.”
“After working in the crowded city center all day, she enjoys the quiet commute uptown to her apartment.”
“The city's expansion shifted the cultural weight further uptown, where new galleries and theaters began to outshine the aging establishments of the historic downtown core.”
Examples
simple
“We are going uptown to see a show tonight.”
contextual
“After working in the crowded city center all day, she enjoys the quiet commute uptown to her apartment.”
complex
“The city's expansion shifted the cultural weight further uptown, where new galleries and theaters began to outshine the aging establishments of the historic downtown core.”
Usage
Can function as an adverb of place or an adjective; when used as an adverb, it does not require a preposition like 'to'.
Pitfall
I am going to uptown
I am going uptown
Like 'home' or 'downtown', 'uptown' acts as a directional adverb and does not need the preposition 'to'.
Word family
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/uptown