upwardly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "upwardly" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe a direction or movement that is towards a higher position or level, often in a metaphorical sense, such as in personal or professional growth. Example: "She has been upwardly mobile in her career, consistently seeking promotions and new opportunities."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was not so long ago they could turn to a so-called smaller club and lure Lambert from Norwich City but would someone as proven as Steve McClaren trade an upwardly mobile Premier League hopeful such as Derby County for an ailing giant such as Villa?

The Guardian - Sport

And with the polls currently showing an across-the-board swing to Labour anyway, the Tories will have a still harder time attracting minority votes.So the Conservatives have lavished their attention on the most upwardly mobile Indian voters, who might be considered a natural Tory constituency.

The Economist

With smooth labels and prices high enough to carry a hint of snob value, a new crop of young winemakers is planning to provide something hip to Mexico's young, upwardly mobile middle class.In a land where about 1m new beer drinkers come of age each year and where tequila is sipped lovingly, this is a tough sell.

The Economist

Winston Churchill won a war, but he never created an "-ism .The essence of Thatcherism was to oppose the status quo and bet on freedom odd, since as a prim, upwardly mobile striver, she was in some ways the embodiment of conservatism.

The Economist

Upwardly mobile working-class voters there contributed to Margaret Thatcher's big majorities in the 1980s and gave Tony Blair his Labour landslide in 1997.Gavin Callaghan, Labour's candidate in Basildon, another Essex bellwether, cites his parents as typical local voters.

The Economist

"Koreans don't play church," says an American elder at Yoido.The people who have flocked to South Korea's megachurches are the upwardly mobile.

The Economist

That means Chrome OS applications will also work with other browsers that are compliant with the latest web standards.In this section One-dimensional Floppy discs Breaking Windows The fallout from a falling out Power struggle Living on scraps End of season Upwardly mobile Reprints Related items Google v Microsoft: Clash of the titansJul 8th 2009Microsoft has not yet officially responded.

The Economist

They are upwardly mobile, keener on cutting taxes than on raising government spending, and more concerned about law and order.So Tory modernisers think Mr Cameron should repeat the moves that have won partial success with gays.

The Economist

Consumer prices rose by 1.57% in February, about 0.7 percentage points less than in January.Inflation is still way above the central bank's (upwardly revised) target for this year of 8.5%.

The Economist

But this comes close: find a region where casinos are largely banned, but whose vast and upwardly mobile population is gambling mad.

The Economist

They are upwardly mobile and move to wealthy suburbs.But the movement of Indians around the fringes of London also points to a distinctive relationship between two minority groups.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "upwardly" to clearly convey movement towards a higher position, status, or level, especially when emphasizing social or economic mobility.

Common error

Avoid using "upwardly" when the context only requires indicating a direction (upward). "Upwardly" usually implies a change in status or level, not just physical direction.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "upwardly" modifies verbs or adjectives to indicate direction or manner. It is used to describe actions or states that are moving or changing towards a higher position or level, as seen in the examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adverb "upwardly" is a grammatically correct and frequently used term to describe movement toward a higher position, status, or level. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is commonly found in news and business contexts, indicating its suitability for formal writing. While alternatives like "on the rise" or "progressing" exist, "upwardly" specifically emphasizes the direction of movement and implies a positive change in status. When using "upwardly", ensure it appropriately conveys a change in status or level and not just a physical direction.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in an ascending manner

A more formal and somewhat redundant way of saying "upwardly", emphasizing the way in which something is rising.

moving up

A more informal way to describe advancement, often used in colloquial contexts.

on the rise

Implies increasing success or prominence, focusing on current momentum rather than the manner of movement.

climbing the ladder

Refers specifically to advancement in a career or hierarchical structure, using a more figurative image.

advancing

Indicates forward progress in a general sense, lacking the specific connotation of vertical movement.

ascendant

Describes something that is rising in power or influence, often used in a political or social context.

progressing

Similar to "advancing", this term denotes general improvement or development.

gaining ground

Suggests making progress against opposition or competition.

increasingly

Refers to a growing degree or amount, without necessarily implying upward movement in status.

improving

Focuses on enhancement or betterment, which may or may not involve a rise in position.

FAQs

How can I use "upwardly" in a sentence?

Use "upwardly" to describe something moving toward a higher level or status, like "upwardly mobile" or "upwardly revised".

What's the difference between "upward" and "upwardly"?

"Upward" is typically an adjective or noun indicating direction, while "upwardly" is an adverb describing the manner of movement towards a higher position or level.

Which is correct, "upwardly mobile" or "upward mobile"?

"Upwardly mobile" is the correct and commonly used phrase. It describes someone who is rising in social or economic status.

What are some alternatives to "upwardly" that I can use in my writing?

Depending on the context, you could use "on the rise", "progressing", or "advancing" as alternatives to "upwardly".