upswing

Upswing is a noun describing an upward movement or improvement in value, level, or condition. It is used in a neutral, non-technical sense to indicate a rise or positive development, often marking a turning point from decline to growth. The term can apply to a variety of contexts, from economic indicators to performance metrics.

In economics and finance, an upswing denotes a phase in which activity begins to rise after a downturn—a recovery or upturn in areas such as production, demand, or GDP. It is typically characterized by improving indicators, such as rising output and falling unemployment, and may occur within a broader business cycle as conditions stabilize and expand.

Beyond economics, upswing is used in statistics, business performance, and public health to describe periods of increasing data values or improving outcomes. For example, a company may experience an upswing in quarterly earnings, or public-health data may show an upswing in vaccination rates or in a monitored health metric, depending on the domain.

Etymology-wise, the word is formed from up and swing, conveying upward movement, and dates from the 19th century in English. Related terms include upturn, uptrend, rebound, and recovery. While its precise meaning can vary by field, the core sense remains a positive movement or rise in a measured variable.