upward

/ˈʌp.wəd/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈʌp.wɚd/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈəp-wərd/ (ame, mw) · /ˈʌpwəd/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈʌpwərd/ (ame, ipa)

upward — adverb

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

1.副詞B1
釋義

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.

例句

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

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞
  • downward

    opposite direction, towards a lower position or amount

文法句型

upward + verb phrase

modifies verb of movement

用法筆記

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.

常見錯誤

❌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.副詞B2
釋義

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

例句

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

同義詞
  • 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

文法句型

from [starting time] upward

用法筆記

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.

常見錯誤

❌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