# uptown

/ˈəpˈtaʊn/ (US) · /ˈʌptaʊn/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Adverb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/uptown
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

towards or in the part of a city that is away from the center, often where people live in nicer houses.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I am going to uptown" but "I am going uptown" — Like 'home' or 'downtown', 'uptown' acts as a directional adverb and does not need the preposition 'to'.

## Usage notes

- Can function as an adverb of place or an adjective; when used as an adverb, it does not require a preposition like 'to'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.