upwards of

IPA/ˈʌp.wədz ˌəv/
IPA/ˈʌp.wɚdz ˌəv/

upwards of — preposition

1. at or above a stated number or amount, and often higher.

1.prepositionB2
Definition

at or above a stated number or amount, and often higher.

Example

The renovation cost upwards of fifty thousand dollars.

Mei-Lin estimated that upwards of three hundred guests attended the wedding reception.

Common collocations
  • upwards of + [number/amount]
  • cost upwards of
  • reach upwards of
  • hold upwards of
  • raise upwards of
  • upwards of a dozen
  • upwards of [percentage]
  • for + upwards of + [duration]
Synonyms
  • more than

    neutral and widely used in both speech and writing

  • at least

    emphasises the minimum; 'at least ten' could be exactly ten, but 'upwards of ten' suggests more than ten

  • in excess of

    formal register, common in legal and financial contexts

  • over

    shorter and more everyday; less precise about the minimum

Antonyms
  • fewer than

    used with countable nouns to indicate a lower number

  • under

    the opposite of 'over'; indicates a figure is below the stated amount

  • less than

    the direct opposite; indicates a smaller amount

Grammar Patterns

upwards of + [number/amount]

Usage Note

The phrase implies the real figure is probably higher than the stated minimum (e.g. 'upwards of 50 guests' suggests there were over 50). In American English it can also simply mean 'more than' without the extra implication of uncertainty. The variant 'upward of' (without the 's') is common in American English.

Common Mistakes

There were upwards of ten people, exactly ten.
There were upwards of ten people, probably more.
'upwards of' implies a minimum that may be higher; do not use it when the exact number is known to be exactly the stated figure.

Synonym discussion

Sense: preposition/1

'Upwards of' carries the implication that the real figure is probably higher than the stated minimum — it is not simply a synonym for 'more than'. 'More than' is a neutral statement of excess with no extra nuance about uncertainty. 'At least' sets a floor and admits the possibility of exact equality (at least ten could be exactly ten), whereas 'upwards of ten' suggests eleven or more. 'In excess of' is the formal equivalent, found in legal documents and financial reports. 'Over' is the most conversational choice and is widely interchangeable with 'more than' in casual speech. For example: 'The concert drew upwards of twenty thousand fans' (suggesting the real number was higher) versus 'The concert drew more than twenty thousand fans' (a simple factual claim).

upwards of ↗more than ↗at least ↗in excess ofover ↗

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The phrase 'upwards of' dates back to the early 1500s, formed by combining the adverb 'upward(s)' (meaning 'toward a higher place or position') with the preposition 'of'. Originally used with a literal spatial meaning ('higher than'), it gradually shifted to figurative use with numbers and amounts by the 1600s. The variant 'upward of' (without the 's') emerged around the same time and remains common in American English.

First known use

1683

1683, in the meaning defined above