upwards

Upwards is a word in the English language used as an adverb indicating motion or orientation toward a higher position. It describes direction and can modify verbs or phrases such as look upwards or move upwards. In British English, upwards is a common form for directions and descriptions of ascent; American English tends to favor upward as the standard adjective and adverb, though upwards is still understood and used in many contexts, especially in formal or literary style.

Etymology and form: Upwards is formed from the simple preposition up combined with the directional suffix -wards. The root up comes from Old English up, while -wards reflects a common Germanic pattern meaning toward. The combined form appeared in Middle English and has cognates in other languages that express upward direction.

Usage notes: Upwards is primarily used to convey movement toward a higher location. It can appear in literal senses, such as physical ascent (climbing upwards) and looking upwards toward the sky, as well as metaphorical senses, such as trends or aspirations (an upwards trend, moving upwards in rank). When used as an adjective, upward is the more common form in American English, while upwards is more frequent in British contexts, though both forms are widely understood. In some styles, especially journalistic or scientific writing, upward is preferred for clarity and conciseness; upwards may appear in more descriptive or regional texts.

Synonyms and related terms include upward, up, and toward the sky or higher ground. Related affixes include the suffix -ward, which forms directionally oriented words such as forward, backward, and upward.