upward

Upward is a directionally oriented term used as both an adjective and an adverb. As an adjective, it describes something oriented toward a higher position, level, or direction, as in "an upward trend" or "upward mobility." As an adverb, it describes movement toward a higher place or level, as in "the balloon rose upward" or "prices continued to rise upward."

Etymology: The word combines up with ward, a productive English suffix meaning "in the direction of." It entered English in the early modern period. Variants include upward and upwards; the latter is more common in British English in some contexts, while American English often prefers upward, especially in formal writing.

Usage notes: Upward is common in technical and formal registers, used before nouns as an attributive adjective (upward trajectory, upward pressure) and after verbs to describe direction (move upward, look upward). Upwards can function as an adverb or as an attributive adjective in British usage, e.g., "upwards momentum" or "an upwards movement" in some contexts. In modern style guides, both forms are generally acceptable, with choice determined by regional convention or house style. Related terms include skyward, ascendant, and rising, which share overlapping senses of direction or increase.