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Glite Dictionary
upwardly

upwardly

8 4.1
In a direction from a lower to a higher level or showing improvement
  • adverb
  • /ˈʌpwərdli/
translation icon : hacia arriba
  • Mullen's is the après-work watering hole for the upwardly mobile.
  • upwardly mobile
  • upwardly mobile young
  • upwardly mobile working-class

They probably were, you know, basically secure, upwardly mobile people.

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Examples

  • But the wealthy Sheedy and Mullen were not necessarily representative of the upwardly mobile Irish as a whole.

    Academic text (1992)

  • The educational achievement and economic status of this upwardly mobile community have changed perceptions in the U.S. Congress.

    Academic text (2001)

  • I was your upwardly mobile, charming, successful boyfriend.

    God's Not Dead (2014)

  • As players proceed through minor hockey, they realize what is required to become upwardly mobile.

    Academic text (2001)

  • Nixon wanted to appeal to those urban, upwardly mobile voters stretching all the way from Florida to California.

    Death of a Nation (2018)

  • His example is typical of upwardly mobile Southern migrants in the early nineteenth century.

    Academic text (2011)

  • What Daniel experienced as he struggled with his schooling is typical of what many upwardly mobile Mexican Americans face.

    Academic text (1996)

  • The upwardly mobile, business-oriented half of the electorate loved the successful, no-nonsense rich guy.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Yuppie stands for “young, upwardly mobile professional.”

    The Last Days of Disco (1998)

  • Many upwardly mobile families are looking for new housing options to support their growth.

Synonyms

up
vsupwardly
∞ 1.0

In a higher place or moving to a higher level

focuses on improvement or status change rather than mere place change
upward
vsupwardly
74 1.3

In a higher direction

emphasizes progress that implies improvement or elevated social position
upwards
vsupwardly
56 1.0

Moves toward a higher place, level, or amount

refers more to progress suggesting improved rank or better condition
higher up
vsupwardly
3 3.2

At or towards a place above something

is used for advancement in rank or social standing rather than mere location

Antonyms

downwardly
1 3.9

In a direction from a higher level to a lower level

How High

skyward
1 3.2
upwardly
8 4.1
horizontally
25 3.2
downward
51 1.0

Surface Forms

upwardly positive

Morphology

upwardly = upward (transparent) = upward + ly

Formed by adding the productive adverbial suffix '-ly' to an already transparent base 'upward'; the meaning follows directly.

Etymology

The word upwardly comes from Old English parts up ('up') and ward ('toward'), and the ending -ly means 'in a way'. So, upwardly means moving or changing 'toward' a higher place or a better position, which fits both physical direction and improvement.