upswept

Upswept is an adjective meaning swept upward or angled upward. In descriptive writing, it is used for features, lines, or styles that rise toward the crown, back from the face, or in a generally upward direction. The term is most commonly encountered in grooming, fashion, and design contexts, where it conveys a lifted, outward-arching, or back-sweeping orientation.

In hairstyling, upswept describes hair arranged to sweep upward away from the face or toward the back. This includes upswept bangs or fringe, a voluminous crown with the sides pulled back, and formal updos in which the hair is lifted and swept back to create height and an open face. The look has strong historical ties to mid-20th-century glamour but remains common in contemporary styling across casual and formal settings.

Beyond hair, upswept can describe eyebrows that curve upward at the outer edge, or other design elements where a line or edge rises toward the apex. In broader fashion or product descriptions, the term may be used metaphorically to indicate silhouettes or profiles that ascend rather than descend, suggesting motion or lift.

The word is a straightforward compound formed from up and swept, used in English to convey a lifted or forward-leaning orientation.