# upwards

/ˈəpwɝdz/ (US) · /ˈʌpwədz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/upwards
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. toward a higher place

adverb · CEFR B1

moving or looking toward the sky or a higher position.

For teachers: directed toward a higher physical point or elevation.

- She looked upwards at the tall trees and the birds flying above.
- The smoke drifted upwards through the narrow chimney, eventually dissipating into the cold mountain air.

### 2. to a higher amount

adverb · CEFR B2

moving to a higher number, price, or level.

For teachers: indicating a movement toward a higher numerical value, quantity, or intensity.

- Prices have been moving upwards for several months now.
- The company revised its growth projections upwards following a surprisingly successful fiscal quarter in the European market.

### 3. more than a certain amount

adverb · CEFR C1 · Formal

used with 'of' to mean more than a specific number or amount.

For teachers: used in the phrase 'upwards of' to indicate a quantity exceeding a specified limit.

- It will cost upwards of five hundred dollars to fix the car.
- The charity gala successfully raised upwards of one million pounds, far exceeding the organisers' original expectations for the evening.

Usage: Usually appears in the fixed phrase 'upwards of' followed by a number.

### 4. toward a higher rank

adverb · CEFR B2

moving toward a more important or senior position in a group.

For teachers: directed toward a superior level in a hierarchy or social order.

- He has been working hard to move upwards in the company.
- Social mobility allows individuals to move upwards through the class structure based on merit and education rather than birthright.

## Examples

- She looked upwards at the tall buildings.
- The company expects its profits to trend upwards as the new product gains popularity in international markets.
- The smoke drifted upwards through the canopy, disappearing into the thick morning mist that hung over the valley floor.

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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.